Glute Emphasis On an RDL
In this instructional clip, Mark Ottobre provides hands‑on coaching cues to shift a Romanian deadlift (RDL) from a hamstring‑dominant movement to one that maximally activates the glutes. He demonstrates the correct bar path—keeping the bar aligned with the hip crease—and repeatedly cues the lifter to lift the sternum higher, which opens the thoracic spine and encourages a more upright torso. Ottobre stresses the importance of externally rotating the hips and adopting a wider grip, positioning the trainee so the hips are externally rotated, which he explains is optimal for glute recruitment. He contrasts this with the common tendency to stay in a more neutral hip position where the hamstrings dominate, highlighting how the described adjustments produce a glute‑focused RDL.
