on squats...

[Brandon]

so, i've been workin out for a while, and have never really done a whole lot of squatting (or legs in general for that matter). after much reading, i realized the importance of this exercise. onto my question...

today, at the gym, i was working on them with a friend. he showed me proper form for it. (he's also a trainer at the gym, i assume he knows what he's talking about) everything he said was inline with what i've read online from various sites. i was doing sets of 10 on very light weight for a lot of sets, just working on my form. then, this other guy came up and told me i would hurt myself doing squats the way i was. he said i should keep my chest pretty much parallel with the wall in front of me, and that i should arch my back to keep my chest in that position. i think i already know the answer to this, but i just wanna double check. is there any truth to what he said at all? or is this guy just a complete dumbass?

 

[P-funk]

can you post a video of what your squat looks like?

Some people can get a big arch and some people don't get such a big arch and have more of a neutral spine. DIfference in torso length and tightness will affect the way your squat looks. No two people squat the same way.

 

[Squaggleboggin]

Yes, we must know how you're currently doing them in order to correct or support anything you're doing. I've always read to keep an arch in the back, but like P-funk said, everyone is different. When you post a video, we can give you more specific help.

 

[Phred]

I suggest you ask your trainer/friend about it. He can watch your form. If he does not seem to answer your question to your satisfaction, then ask here. In general thou, you should not round your back. A slight arch is best with a deep inhale on the way down and exhale on the way up.

 

[moneymaker]

Having someone watch you that know what they're talking about helps, but having just a natural arch in your back and keeping your torso steady would work just work on it and concentrate on generating the force through your quads and into your heels and just act like you're sitting down. From there I think everything should fall into place.

 

[Brandon]

i can't post a video, as i have no way of taking it. i asked my friend about what the other guy said, and he completely disagreed. my big question was whether or not my chest shoudl stay parallel to the wall? that just doesn't make sense to me. i thought your chest should be at an angle.

 

[* Legion *]

I have read a considerably critical artical from an olympic weightlifting coach who criticizes the "power-squat" style, that many powerlifters employ. He said ( i can't remember right now who it was that said it, but ill find it for you) that a "real" squat, one that truly and fully incorporates exceptional form with strength and power, is that in which the back is kept as erect as possible... silly, when one compares a large person to a smaller person. P funk was right on in saying that everyone squats differently... DO NOT understimate the body's innate tendency to find the path of mechanical advantage. more often than not, once you have become familiar and proficient with a particular lift, the body will assume the postion of best mechanical advantage. this is something i have found in both lifting and in martial arts. train with light weights until you develop your form. in truth, you do not want to lean too far forward with your squats, nor do you want to have an excessively upright back. you'll get it, keep training. DO NOT NEGLECT YOUR LEGS!!!!!!!!!!

 

[CowPimp]

I try to stay as upright as possible, but I definitely lean forward a little bit as I approach failure. I don't think there is anything inherently wrong with a reasonable amount of forward lean as long as you don't round your back.

 

[P-funk]

I try to stay as upright as possible, but I definitely lean forward a little bit as I approach failure. I don't think there is anything inherently wrong with a reasonable amount of forward lean as long as you don't round your back.

right, as long as you keep a neutral spine.

I sit really upright.

 

[* Legion *]

I have seen some people do squats that look like really heavy good-mornings

 

[The Monkey Man]

If they can somehow get below parallel like that, it counts -

 

[CowPimp]

For some reason, when I do PL style squats I lean forward a lot more. If you watch some videos of powerlifters squatting massive weight, you will notice a good number of them leaning forward more than you might think is safe.

 

[* Legion *]

For some reason, when I do PL style squats I lean forward a lot more. If you watch some videos of powerlifters squatting massive weight, you will notice a good number of them leaning forward more than you might think is safe.

exactly.. looks scary, but that's what i mean by mechanical advantage.

 

[P-funk]

For some reason, when I do PL style squats I lean forward a lot more. If you watch some videos of powerlifters squatting massive weight, you will notice a good number of them leaning forward more than you might think is safe.

yea, some guys squat more with their lumbar. I could never do that, maybe that is why I was never good at good mornings.

 

[JayBee]

to keep your shins perpendicular to the ground, you have to lean forward quite a bit more than you do in an olympic squat...