Thread: Westside and Belts

Originally Posted by Rocco32

Should I be wearing a lifting belt for my Squats and Deads while doing Westside? Or does it matter? If I competed I'd be allowed to be belted correct?

Even in Raw meets you can wear a belt. if you are planning on wearing a belt in contest then you should be using it during your training to get used to working with it and using it properly.

Originally Posted by P-funk

Even in Raw meets you can wear a belt. if you are planning on wearing a belt in contest then you should be using it during your training to get used to working with it and using it properly.

Thanks Patrick!

using a belt is a veryt important part of westside squatting and deading, in the sense that it teaches you to breathe and use your abs correctly during a squat. This is of course assuming that you core training (especially abs in this instance) is up to par. Assuming that is the case, when squatting you should set your notch on the belt one notch looser than you normally would so it fits but is not super tight. By doin this you in turn expand your abs out into the belt and this is the way you need to use your abs during your squat, as well as showing you how to breath out. Transference of power from the bottom to the top during the movement is vital and can only happen if your core strength is adequate. So the belt is more than just a device used to give support, its a tool used to utilize and emphasize, make sense?

So the belt is more than just a device used to give support, its a tool used to utilize and emphasize, make sense?

yea, i think that is the most important part that people don't understand. I see a lot of people in the gym with a belt on and they don't even use it properly. they are just wearing it to..wear it I guess? because they think it is safer. Really work to learn how to get the most stable environment with the belt that you can get.

If you are going to do all this,
you may not want to buy your belt from Kmart

yes, and make sure you purchase a quality, durable belt.

the last thing that you want is to be coming out of the hole on a squat and have the belt break.

And what if you don't use a belt at all?

Originally Posted by CaptainDeadlift

And what if you don't use a belt at all?

then don't use one. I don't use a belt either. if I were going to were one for contest I would train in one though. I don't even own one.

Cool, thanks Gr81 and Patrick.

Gr81, btw I've been reading through some of the links in your sig and elitfitness. Good stuff