The One Exercise Hugh Jackman Swears By for Staying Strong (and Jacked) at 56
When you think of The Wolverine, you think of Hugh Jackman. And when you think of Hugh Jackman, chances are his lean, muscular build is the first thing that comes to mind. His physique became the blueprint for the modern superhero—ripped, powerful, and impossibly shredded.
The high-intensity “Wolverine workouts” he created with trainer David Kingsbury took the fitness world by storm, and for good reason. Jackman’s been in top-tier shape for the better part of two decades, so when he shares a fitness tip, it’s basically gospel.
In a recent Instagram video, Jackman shared one of the moves he swears by to stay strong and shredded at 56. And if you know anything about him, it’s no surprise it’s a compound lift that pairs heavy weight with an explosive movement: the trap bar deadlift. Jackman didn’t get in superhero shape by lifting light, after all.
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How to Do a Trap Bar Deadlift
- Standing in the center of a trap bar, bend your hips back and grasp the bar’s handles with both hands.
- Keeping your lower back in its natural arch and your chest facing forward, drive through your heels to lift the bar off the floor and lock out your hips.
- Make sure to keep the bar close to your body throughout the movement.
- Perform several warmup sets, increasing the weight gradually until you reach your desired weight.
- Perform 3 sets of 5 to 8 reps.
Trap Bar Deadlift Muscles Worked
Deadlifts of all variations are known for building serious strength in your posterior chain—including the glutes, hamstrings, traps, and lats. The trap bar deadlift hits all of these, but because you're lifting from the sides instead of in front of your body, it also recruits more quads and traps. This setup reduces stress on the lower back and shifts more of the load to the quads and traps, making it easier for beginners to learn proper form. Overall, the trap bar is more beginner-friendly and joint-friendly.