In a sumo deadlift high pull, which fault is described as an inactive shoulder?

• A. Inactive shoulder
• B. Lack of hip extension
• C. Early arm pull
• D. Elbows below the bar at finish

Answer: (A)

Shoulder engagement during the sumo deadlift high pull is essential to transfer force from the hips through the upper back to the bar. An inactive shoulder means the shoulder blades aren’t actively engaged—no retraction and depression and little upper-back tightness—so the lift relies on the arms rather than the hips and upper back. This fault keeps the bar from climbing efficiently to the chin, can blunt the bar path, and reduces power. Focus on activating the shoulders and upper back (squeeze the shoulder blades, keep the chest tall) while driving with the hips and maintaining the bar close to the body with elbows high. The other faults describe different issues: lack of hip extension refers to insufficient hip drive; early arm pull means the arms pull before full hip extension; elbows below the bar at finish describes where the elbows end up rather than whether the shoulders were actively engaged.