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5 Fantastic Ed Coan Deadlift Program Tips You Need to Know

by Rich

Who is Ed Coan?

First of all, what can you learn from the Ed Coan deadlift program?

If you’re new to deadlifting, you probably never seen or even heard of Ed Coan.

I understand, because neither did I.

But, deadlifting will hook you, and you will want to get better.

And before long, you run into the name of Ed Coan as I did too.

Ed Coan Deadlift Program Tips
Image Credit: Ed Coan’s 10 Week Training Template from Castironstrength.com

Here is why Ed Coan is the Deadlift Maven:

The International Sports Hall of Fame inducted Ed Coan in 2015. They wrote:

“Coan set over 71 powerlifting world records.

For many in the powerlifting community, he is the greatest powerlifter of all time.

He was also the lightest person to cross the 2,400-pound barrier in the powerlifting total.”

The powerlifting total is the sum of three lifts;

These three lifts make up the sport of powerlifting.

Here is the world record powerlifting total that Ed Coan set:

  • Squat – 1,003 pounds or 455 kilograms
  • Bench press – 573 pounds or 260 kilograms
  • Deadlift – 887 lbs or 402.5 kilograms
  • Powerlifting Total – All three lifts combined add up to 2,463 pounds or 1,117.5 kilograms

Ed Coan achieved this mind-bending total at a height of 5 feet 6 inches and a weight of 239 pounds.

Watch Ed Coan deadlift 901 pounds at a bodyweight of 220 pounds in this video:


Ed Coan is a six-time IPF (International Powerlifting Federation) World Champion.

He was born on July 24th, 1963 in Chicago, Illinois.

Today in 2020, Ed Coan is now age 56 years old.

Now that you saw Ed Coan deadlift over 900 pounds, who better to teach you?

Here are the five most excellent Ed Coan deadlift program tips:

1. The Foundation of the Ed Coan Deadlift Program

Ed’s number one tip is to record every single set, rep, and weight for every exercise you do.

This commitment to keeping a training record is the big difference between people who ‘workout’ and those who ‘train.’

Working out has no particular goal, whereas training needs a continual measurement.

The first rule of success in the deadlift or any other goal in life is to write a plan.

Ed wrote and used his plan and went on to spectacular achievements in powerlifting.

Do you currently write down every single set, rep, and weight that you lift?

Success leaves clues.

If you ever hope to beat the results of the Ed Coan deadlift program, take this first tip to heart.

Start to record and measure all of your training.

Here is a 12-week deadlift program that you can use.

2. Use a 3 Month or 12 Week Cycle

How long should a training cycle be?

It is difficult to see results when your training cycle is too short.

And you need rest periods at some point to recover for a new cycle.

Nature gives you a clue as to how long a cycle should be.

During every year, you experience four distinct phases, winter, spring, summer, and fall.

Magically, they are each 12 weeks long.

A 3-month cycle works well for weight loss and strength training.

If you need to lose weight, stop trying to lose 20 pounds in one month.

Or worse, in one week.

Instead, have patience, do not punish your body, and follow a safe plan to lose 20 pounds in 3 months.

Watch Training Intelligent Q & A with Ed Coan by Laurin Conlin

3. Do Assistance Work Exercises – Not Only the Squat, Deadlift and Bench Press

You need to do deadlifts and more.

You cannot deadlift only and expect to get a balanced training outcome.

Besides, you risk injuring yourself by overdoing one exercise.

If you deadlift every day, you might end up with lower back pain.

Or believe it or not, even tennis elbow, also known as lateral epicondylitis.

You need to mix up your style of training, exercises, and poundages.

Training with heavy deadlifts every day is a recipe for disaster.

Create a balanced training schedule that includes squats, deadlifts, bench press, as well as deadlift assistance exercises.

These assistance exercises will help improve your deadlift and contain recommended deadlift accessory exercises for beginners.

4. Deadlift Heavy Only Once a Week

Can you imagine deadlifting over 900 pounds?

You can save a lot of time by listening to an expert like Ed, who did it.

Why reinvent the wheel?

See this Ed Coan deadlift program created for Mark Phillipi.

Coan never scheduled heavy deadlifts more than once per week.

And he only prescribed 1 – 3 heavy deadlifts once per week.

The rest of the deadlift work is speed deadlifts resting 90 seconds between each set.

Phillipi said, “I used this routine the last ten weeks to take my deadlift from 505 to 540 pounds. I am a true believer in this routine.”

The Ed Coan Deadlift Program as described by Mark Phillipi

https://www.ontariostrongman.ca/resources/training/coanphildead.html

WEEK WORK SETS SPEED WORK
1 (75% of your 1 Rep Max) x 2 reps (60%) 8 sets x 3 reps (90 sec rest b/w sets)
2 (80%) x 2 reps (65%) 8 sets x 3 reps (90 sec rest b/w sets)
3 (85%) x 2 reps (70%) 6 sets x 3 reps (90-120 sec rest b/w sets)
4 (90%) x 2 reps (75%) 5 sets x 3 reps (90-120 sec rest b/w sets)
5 (80%) 3 sets x 3 reps (65%) 3 sets x 3 reps (120 sec rest b/w sets)
6 (85%) x 2 reps (70%) 3 sets x 3 reps (120 sec rest b/w sets)
7 (90%)x 2 reps (75%) 3 sets x 3 reps (120 sec rest b/w sets)
8 (95%)x 2 reps (70%) 3 sets x 3 reps (120 sec rest b/w sets)
9 (97.5%)x 1 rep (70%) 2 sets x 3 reps (Rest as needed)
10 (100%)x 1 rep (60%) 2 sets x 3 reps (Rest as needed)
11 MEET DAY – Achieve your desired max N/A

Coan Phillipi Deadlift Program

See this spreadsheet for the assistance exercises like power shrugs and good mornings during weeks 1-4, weeks 5-6, weeks 7-8, and weeks 9-10.

Additional credit goes to https://powerpage.net as well.

5. Beat Your Lifts Every Week Till You Max Out

Few people on the planet will ever pull the weight of an Ed Coan deadlift.

So, do not compete against anyone but yourself.

Make your goal to lift a bit more than last week until you reach your deadlift potential.

With a one week rest, try to add another 5 – 10 pounds on your lift.

Last but not least, for technical tips on how to do a conventional deadlift, watch this video from Mark Bell – Sling Shot below:

Ed Coan Deadlift Program – Final Thoughts

Who better to give deadlift advice than Ed Coan?

In summary, Ed shares five terrific deadlift secrets:

  1. Make a plan and record every training session
  2. Use a three-month cycle
  3. Do deadlift assistance exercises
  4. Deadlift once a week
  5. Compete against yourself

If you made it this far into the post, you will not be disappointed when you watch this treat – a Master deadlift class with Mark Bell and Ed Coan:

Learn to Deadlift Big Weights with the Greatest Powerlifter of All Time – Ed Coan

Deadlift Motivation and Tips – Related Posts:

Please take a moment to share 5 of the Best Ed Coan Deadlift Program Tips:

Ed Coan Deadlift Program Tips You Need to Know
5 Fantastic Ed Coan Deadlift Program Tips You Need to Know

About The Author

Rich is a NASM-CPT (Certified Personal Trainer), an Integrative Nutrition Health Coach and the author of Crossing the Bridge From Depression to Life. At the age of 55, he lost 75 pounds in 6 months, and discovered if you transform your body, you can change your life. You can read about his story here and send Rich a message here.

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The Fit Apprentice™ Program

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