I thought this tip from Karl Tillman was quite interesting
http://asp.elitefts.com/qa/default.asp?qid=62928&tid=141
It seems a little different than Louie’s recommendations but this may be just another way to explain what Louie suggests. I have tried it a few times and I can feel more tension in the hip area than when I have be leading with a bend at the hips first. I think for me this has improved my box squat form.
Anyone else try this?
There’s no MAJOR difference. Louie says break at the hip and people GM their squats. Karl says break at the knees and people go onto their toes…
Both styles are pretty much the exact same.
I do think they are very similar. However I don’t think that Karl is implying that you would have more weight on the ball of your foot. It also seems like the position at the bottom of both would be the same. I think the difference between the two is very small and subtle but heck, sometimes very small technique differences can make a bog difference.
To me it almost seems like Louie’s recommendation is push waist back first then spread knees whereas Karl has the reverse order of spreading knees first and then pushing waist back. If you looked at the difference of the hip path it seems like Karl’s method would more of a convex curve relative to a to the front of the body and Louie’s method would produce more of a concave curve.
Anyway, I compared the two methods for several sets and to me I feel more hip tightness/strength following what Karl is saying.
I think it’s worth a try to test them out. I would be curious if any other had a similar feeling.
[quote]Seattle_Lifter wrote:
I do think they are very similar. However I don’t think that Karl is implying that you would have more weight on the ball of your foot. It also seems like the position at the bottom of both would be the same. I think the difference between the two is very small and subtle but heck, sometimes very small technique differences can make a bog difference. [/quote]
My point was when you tell someone something subtle, they usually take it WAY over the top. Hence the GM and toe squat comments.
If you look at Karl’s vid the guys lower legs start perpendicular to the floor despite the fact he “breaks” at the knee.
It seems the point is to open your knees and then sit back rather than flat out letting your knees travel forward.
[quote]Seattle_Lifter wrote:
Anyway, I compared the two methods for several sets and to me I feel more hip tightness/strength following what Karl is saying.
I think it’s worth a try to test them out. I would be curious if any other had a similar feeling. [/quote]
Interesting. I tried this on Tuesday with moderate weight and I felt very loose in the hamstrings and hips using karl’s method. Then I tried it with a super wide stance and I can feel a bit more tension and see the possible benefit if you’re a monolift guy. but for squatting narrow and deep it felt like I had less control on the descent and a very sloppy rebound out of the hole.