Proper Squat

**DGuy** · 03-06-2005, 08:08 PM

I see many guys at my gym who say they squat 200 or whatever, yet when I watch them do it they hardly even go down at all. When I do it I almost touch to the ground, but obviously I can't do as much weight as what they're doing. I'm assuming I'm doing it the right way and those guys are just dumb, am I right? And is holding it on the front better than on the back?

**ChrisROCK** · 03-06-2005, 08:25 PM

A squat isn't a real squat until you've gone to at least Parallel...Some go even below that...some don't to save their knees.

Not sure what you mean by holding it in front or on the back?

**DGuy** · 03-06-2005, 08:35 PM

Some people hold the barbell on their shoulders, others hold it in front of their face.

**KPorter** · 03-06-2005, 08:44 PM

"others hold it in front of their face."

thats called a front squat, different than a back squat (and harder in my opinion). and yes, those guys that have a very small ROM on their squats are idiots, and should try a FULL squat (at least to parallel, or lower).

i think squating to parallel is called a power lifting (PL) squat. and squating all the way to the floor is called an Olympic squat, or ass-to-grass, ass-to-floor, etc.

**DGuy** · 03-06-2005, 08:49 PM

I'm not sure what you mean by parallel. What is parellel to what?

**ChrisROCK** · 03-06-2005, 09:21 PM

Originally Posted by DGuy

I'm not sure what you mean by parallel. What is parellel to what?

When your upper leg (thighs) are parallel to the floor...

**gr81** · 03-06-2005, 10:00 PM

Yes your right to go down to the bottom floor, and yes those other guys are chumps. keep it up son, your doin fine. And btw if these guys at your gym are only half squatting 200, thats really pathetic. you'll be up there in no time. get below parellel for the most part. Its not a problem for your knees and in turn its beneficial..

**Seanp156** · 03-07-2005, 02:59 PM

Oh my god. This reminds me, there's these two kids, maybe a year or 2 younger than me. They're both pretty small and skinny, but one of them is pretty short. I'm guessing he's about 5'6 130-140lbs. Anyway, they spot each other and use the curling/overhead chair for support. The short guy puts on 4 45 plates ON EACH SIDE and does about 1/4 or 1/3 of the motion. The guy spotting him litterally has to PUSH him back to get the bar racked again. I just want to go yell at him or something.

When he does it his arms and back are literally shaking under the weight. I'm afraid sometime his knees will give out and he and his partner will be screwed up. Not to mention the possibility of him dropping when I'm in the middle of the set and making me lose concentration.

You guys think I should say something to him, or to the staff about it?

**Yanick** · 03-07-2005, 03:06 PM

Originally Posted by Seanp156

Oh my god. This reminds me, there's these two kids, maybe a year or 2 younger than me. They're both pretty small and skinny, but one of them is pretty short. I'm guessing he's about 5'6 130-140lbs. Anyway, they spot each other and use the curling/overhead chair for support. The short guy puts on 4 45 plates ON EACH SIDE and does about 1/4 or 1/3 of the motion. The guy spotter him litterally has to PUSH him back to get the bar racked again. I just want to go yell at him or something.

When he does it his arms and back are literally shaking under the weight. I'm afraid sometime his knees will give out and he and his partner will be screwed up. Not to mention the possibility of him dropping when I'm in the middle of the set and making me lose concentration.

You guys think I should say something to him, or to the staff about it?

I say let natural selection run its course, less idiots for future generations to deal with.

**Seanp156** · 03-07-2005, 03:08 PM

Originally Posted by Yanick

I say let natural selection run its course, less idiots for future generations to deal with.

Lol, cruel, but I guess they might learn better from experience than someone telling them and hurting their ego(if they actually understand)...

**Yanick** · 03-07-2005, 03:16 PM

Originally Posted by Seanp156

Lol, cruel, but I guess they might learn better from experience than someone telling them and hurting their ego(if they actually understand)...

the way you describe them, they do not sound like rational human beings. I used to squat like a dick when i just started. its an awkward movement and if you're a newbie getting the depth etc is difficult, but i never ever went more than 2 plates. I remember one time i hit 225 for a couple of reps and someone came up to me and explained that i wasn't doing it right, need to go deeper, drop the weight all that jazz and i listened. These guys just like seeing plates on the bar, you telling them that what they are doing is useless won't help one bit.

**BIGDAVE** · 03-07-2005, 03:56 PM

Whats box squats that i read about,i probably know what it is but didnt know it was called this.

**Seanp156** · 03-07-2005, 05:04 PM

Originally Posted by Yanick

These guys just like seeing plates on the bar, you telling them that what they are doing is useless won't help one bit.

I got a feeling you're right. I mean, yeah I like being able to lift more weight but I'm not going to sacrifice form to put more weight on. Squats are tough to get used to. I just started them in november and I have to charge my mind every single time to not lean forward to the point my knees are over my ankles. To do that and go at least parallel is hard because it almost makes you feel like you're going to fall over backwards. I almost dropped squats for this next 8 week split and just did leg press instead b/c I didn't want to worry about form, but I put them in anyway and I'm trying the best I can.

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