Strongman training allows you to build functional strength gains, cardiovascular endurance, and speed – all while achieving muscle mass gains.
Today, I will share the back workout routine of the infamous strongman Eddie Hall.
As a personal trainer, I dove deep into Eddie's training tips and methods and discovered how he harnesses brute strength, core strength, balance, and impressive grip strength.
Don't be intimidated by lifting weights – beginners can quickly adapt and gradually increase their load for progressive overload.
Quick Summary
- The best strongman back exercises include farmer carries, Zercher carries, thick bar lat pull-downs, cable rows, plate-loaded rows, deadlifts, and hammer curls.
- Eddie Hall relied on up to 15,000 calories to fuel his powerhouse performances as a strongman. However, since embracing boxing, he's toned things down a bit, opting for 6,000 calories.
- Eddie Hall takes hydrolyzed protein, vitamins, and CBD gummies to maximize his muscle gains.
Eddie Hall’s Stats
- Age: 35
- Height: 6’3”
- Weight: 181 kg
Strongman Eddie Hall’s Back Workout Routine
1. Zercher Carries
Zercher carries are one of the best strongman lifts to target muscles in your upper back. To perform a Zercher carry:
- Set up the bar below elbow height in a rack.
- Place your feet shoulder-width apart.
- Bend your knees to reach the bar with a flat back and place it in the crook of your elbows.
- Stand up tall and start walking. The key is to keep your core tight and your torso upright while you move, engaging your biceps and forearms to keep the weight steady.
- Continue walking until you reach the desired distance or time.
2. Thick Bar Lat Pull-Down
This lat pulldown alternative can help you strengthen your back, improve grip strength, and help with back pain [1].
To start:
- Sit facing the bar.
- With arms above your head, grab the bar with an overhand grip. Keep your chest up and engage your core.
- Pull the bar down towards the top of your chest.
- Pause briefly before slowly returning the bar to its starting position. Remember to control your movements and avoid using momentum to pull the bar down.
- Complete as many reps as possible.
3. Farmer’s Carry
This is one of the most widespread strongman lifts in average gyms.
The primary muscles worked in this exercise are your lower and upper back muscles, and studies showed that farmer’s carry could be an efficient alternative to deadlifts [2].
To do this exercise:
- Hold a pair of heavy dumbbells or kettlebells at your sides in a neutral grip with your shoulders back.
- Walk forward, taking short and controlled steps while keeping your core tight. The goal is to maintain good posture and not let the weights sway too much.
- Continue walking until you reach the desired distance or time.
“While you shouldn’t be afraid to use a heavier weight, if your form is being compromised, that weight is too much. Keep the weight heavier when going shorter distances and lighter if you’re carrying for a longer distance, such as 40 to 60 meters.”
- Sara Lindberg, Health & Fitness Writer
4. Bent-Over Row
The bent-over row is a great exercise to help build back, arm, and shoulder muscles.
To start:
- Hold a dumbbell in each hand, your palms facing in.
- Bend over at the waist with your knees slightly bent, your back straight, and your core engaged.
- Lift the weights towards your chest, keeping your elbows close to your body.
- Lower them back down, and repeat for a few sets of 8 to 12 reps. It's essential to maintain proper form to avoid injury.
5. Seated Cable Row
The seated row improves the strength of the back, posterior shoulder girdle, and elbow flexor muscles [3].
You can do this exercise with a V-grip, a lat bar, a D handle, a straight bar attachment, or a rope attachment.
To start:
- Sit on the machine with your feet planted on the floor.
- Grab the handle with both hands and extend your arms forward. Keep your back straight and pull the handle towards your torso, squeezing your shoulder blades together as you do so.
- Hold the position briefly before slowly returning the handle to the starting position.
- Repeat this motion for as many reps as possible.
6. Plate-Loaded Row
This exercise targets your lats and biceps.
To get started:
- Load the desired weight onto the machine and adjust the seat to your height.
- Sit with your chest against the pad and reach down to grip the handles with palms facing down.
- Pull the handles toward your chest while exhaling, keeping your back straight and your head in a neutral position.
- Hold the position for a few seconds before slowly lowering the weight while inhaling.
- Repeat for the desired number of reps.
7. Deadlifts
Deadlifts are one of the top compound exercises that target the lats, upper traps, rhomboids, and erectors, as well as your thighs, glutes, and abs.
To start:
- Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and grab the bar with an overhand grip.
- Next, hinge at the hips as you lift the bar, keeping your back straight and your shoulders down.
- Once you've lifted the bar to hip height, slowly lower it back to the ground. Remember to keep your form in check throughout the entire exercise.
Workout Principles
Eddie Hall’s workout routine features intense strongman training and bodybuilding.
He trains five times per week, focusing on strict lifts such as squats, bench presses, and deadlifts.
To top it off, he finishes each session with targeted strongman work and cardio sessions.
When he’s not on stage at a strongman competition, you can catch “The Beast” in the boxing ring, where he faced off against Thor in one of 2022’s most viewed fights with 30 million views.
“The transformation into boxing has seen me shift to a relentless training regime that makes my strongman preparation seem like a stroll in the park. Running in weights, gym work, sparring sessions, to name just a few, come thick and fast, day in day out – and I have never enjoyed training more.”
- Edie Hall, Former Strongman
Eddie isn’t one to shy away from challenges; the former national champion swimmer with an impressive track record in boxing has set his sights on a new goal: bodybuilding contests.
Lucky for us, he is documenting his journey for all to see.
Despite being a newcomer to the bodybuilding world, Eddie Hall is fearless in putting in the work and pushing himself to new limits.
In his latest social media post, he shares his plan to train with high reps and bulk for seven to nine months before beginning cutting for two to three months.
Related Articles:
Diet Plan
- Breakfast: Banana protein shake, eggs, bacon, toast, and beans.
- Lunch: 400g of rib-eye steak, 400g of rice, 200g of vegetables, one egg, and a cheesecake.
- Dinner: Chicken wraps and a cheesecake.
Nutrition Principles
With six meals daily, Eddie Hall consumes between 6000-15000 calories a day due to the intensity of his workout.
Hall focuses on high-protein foods, such as meat and chicken, healthy carbs for energy, and healthy fats to fuel his rigorous training regimen.
When Eddie was preparing for his boxing match, he had to reduce his calorie intake to meet the necessary weight requirements.
However, now that he has decided to embark on a bodybuilding journey, he must increase his calorie intake for seven to nine months. Then, he will switch to a low-calorie intake for two to three months.
Which Supplements Does Eddie Hall Use?
Eddie Hall uses quality hydrolyzed whey protein, Cannabidiol (CBD) gummies, vitamins, and protein powders from Myprotein.
As he is not a fasted cardio fan, he starts his day by taking a protein shake in the morning.
He also takes:
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin D3
- Iodine
- Glucosamine
- Omega-3s
- Selenium
- Turmeric
- CBD oil
FAQs
What Are the Best Back Exercises Strongmen Do?
The best back exercises strongmen do are the bench press, farmer’s carry, Zercher squats, thick bar lat-pulldowns, cable rows, plate-loaded rows, deadlifts, and hammer curls.
How Many Times per Week Do Strongmen Train Their Back?
Strongmen train their back once per week, sometimes more, depending on their individual training routines and competition schedules. These workouts typically involve a mix of heavy weightlifting, such as rows and deadlifts.
Get the Most Out of Your Strongman Back Workout
It all comes down to weightlifting, grip strength, cardiovascular capacity, and body conditioning for strongman workouts.
With the proper nutrition, these workouts will help you reach even higher levels of achievement. I also advise my clients to incorporate one of the pre-workouts below:
Drawing from our experience, these pre-workouts can help you increase your energy levels, focus, and overall athletic performance.
References:
- https://www.researchgate.net/publication/258030442
- https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1260/1747-9541.9.5.1127
- https://journals.lww.com/acsm-healthfitness/fulltext/2019/07000/do_it_right__the_seated_cable_row_exercise.9.aspx
About The Author
You May Also Like
