I know what you’re saying about giving away pounds squatting unnecessarily low, but I’ve never seen a lifter “bomb out” in a competition for being too low. I’ve seen plenty miss all three squats high and with the inconsistency in judgeing these days, surely its best to err on the side of caution and train “low”, than train at what you think is just parallel and then find the judge thinks different.
[quote]FarmerBrett wrote:
I know what you’re saying about giving away pounds squatting unnecessarily low, but I’ve never seen a lifter “bomb out” in a competition for being too low. I’ve seen plenty miss all three squats high and with the inconsistency in judgeing these days, surely its best to err on the side of caution and train “low”, than train at what you think is just parallel and then find the judge thinks different.[/quote]
That’s a good point. My plan in squats is to start light and bury the first one and probably the second one, but the third I want to hit right on. But, like Mike Tyson says, everyone gots a plan until you get punched in the face.
[quote]FarmerBrett wrote:
I have more respect for someone who breaks parallel with 200 than someone three quarter squatting 500. You’re just avoiding the most difficult part of the lift, it’s like not touching your chest when benching. There’s alot of self denial going on with squatting. I was guilty of it too, but now I’ve seen the error of my ways. It even goes on here a bit too. Someone posts a vid and everyone says “great squat mate, three white lights” etc, even though it was clearly high! I’m all for encouraging people but it will only come back to bite them on the arse especially if they aim to compete.[/quote]
Some of this depends on the lifting federation. A legal squat for one fed is not a legal squat for another. For example, watch this woman’s squat at about 4:35 in:
www.powerliftingwatch.com/node/16920
I know she’s highly respected and recordholding and famous and all, but she’s not even remotely near breaking the parallel plane in my book.
[quote]kpsnap wrote:
[quote]FarmerBrett wrote:
I have more respect for someone who breaks parallel with 200 than someone three quarter squatting 500. You’re just avoiding the most difficult part of the lift, it’s like not touching your chest when benching. There’s alot of self denial going on with squatting. I was guilty of it too, but now I’ve seen the error of my ways. It even goes on here a bit too. Someone posts a vid and everyone says “great squat mate, three white lights” etc, even though it was clearly high! I’m all for encouraging people but it will only come back to bite them on the arse especially if they aim to compete.[/quote]
Some of this depends on the lifting federation. A legal squat for one fed is not a legal squat for another. For example, watch this woman’s squat at about 4:35 in:
www.powerliftingwatch.com/node/16920
I know she’s highly respected and recordholding and famous and all, but she’s not even remotely near breaking the parallel plane in my book. [/quote]
I didn’t watch the video but BB will watch them on PLwatch and call an awful lot of them high. His opinion is that since it changed management, there are too many cheerleaders and not enough critique. Regardless, it really does depend on your fed.
I tried squatting with bands across the rack to make sure I was hitting below parallel a few years ago. For me, the band sat about 9" off the floor. It may have been a bit deeper than necessary but because of the length of my femurs, that was about how low it needed to be. I always wonder what the skinny boys 1/4 squatting big weights would do if their asses had to hit that rubber band 
Regarding competition, I’ve been in the situation where I’ve gone soft in the hole or gone forward on my first and couldn’t come up with it. It scared me enough that I cut the next two high and bombed. When that happened last year, it took months for me to get my head out of my ass before I competed again.
Ignore me Ouroboro, I know it’s my problem. I’m just a stickler for correct form. I guess it comes from working as a gym instructor in my past and having to teach complete novices the deadlift, squat and bench and obviously you have to teach them the basic lift, not how to get an extreme arch, how to deadlift sumo or squat with a super wide stance etc.
I do realise if you compete it makes sense to modify your form (within the rules of the particular federation) to go as heavy as you can. But personally I will always rate an olympic style sqaut over a powerlifting squat of the same weight and a conventional deadlift over a sumo deadlift of the same weight because of the range of motion involved. I don’t have any plans to compete (I don’t think I’m anywhere near strong enough yet) but when I do at least I know training the way I do I’ll be sure to hit depth, getting up though, that’s a different matter!!
I’ve notice a lot of the quarter squatters don’t have any idea where parallel. They just stop where it "feels’ difficult so that must be low enough.
[quote]kpsnap wrote:
[quote]FarmerBrett wrote:
I have more respect for someone who breaks parallel with 200 than someone three quarter squatting 500. You’re just avoiding the most difficult part of the lift, it’s like not touching your chest when benching. There’s alot of self denial going on with squatting. I was guilty of it too, but now I’ve seen the error of my ways. It even goes on here a bit too. Someone posts a vid and everyone says “great squat mate, three white lights” etc, even though it was clearly high! I’m all for encouraging people but it will only come back to bite them on the arse especially if they aim to compete.[/quote]
Some of this depends on the lifting federation. A legal squat for one fed is not a legal squat for another. For example, watch this woman’s squat at about 4:35 in:
www.powerliftingwatch.com/node/16920
I know she’s highly respected and recordholding and famous and all, but she’s not even remotely near breaking the parallel plane in my book. [/quote]
It does say in the description that she’s “squatting to 2” high chains in prep for a meet," which seems to imply that she’s working on the top portion of the lift, not that she thinks this is a legal squat. I could be wrong, of course.
1/11/2010
Deadlift @ 374 lbs 5/5/5/5/5
Inc DB Bench Press 102 lb’ers 9/6 (supersetted with) Chins @ bw 8/6
Deadlifts are definitely starting to get tougher now and 9 reps on incline DB BP is only one rep off all time PR.
[quote]ag918w35 wrote:
[quote]kpsnap wrote:
[quote]FarmerBrett wrote:
I have more respect for someone who breaks parallel with 200 than someone three quarter squatting 500. You’re just avoiding the most difficult part of the lift, it’s like not touching your chest when benching. There’s alot of self denial going on with squatting. I was guilty of it too, but now I’ve seen the error of my ways. It even goes on here a bit too. Someone posts a vid and everyone says “great squat mate, three white lights” etc, even though it was clearly high! I’m all for encouraging people but it will only come back to bite them on the arse especially if they aim to compete.[/quote]
Some of this depends on the lifting federation. A legal squat for one fed is not a legal squat for another. For example, watch this woman’s squat at about 4:35 in:
www.powerliftingwatch.com/node/16920
I know she’s highly respected and recordholding and famous and all, but she’s not even remotely near breaking the parallel plane in my book. [/quote]
It does say in the description that she’s “squatting to 2” high chains in prep for a meet," which seems to imply that she’s working on the top portion of the lift, not that she thinks this is a legal squat. I could be wrong, of course.
[/quote]
Good point. Thanks for pointing it out.
You know, Farmer Brett, I think your rationale is one reason why I don’t change my Oly-style squat even though I compete. I could probably squat more if I adopted more of a powerlifting style, but I’m proud of my depth and flexibility. My coach used to harp on me about going too deep, but he rarely says anything about it anymore. There’s just a certain impressiveness to me about really deep squatters.
Yep, keep your squat style the same, just get stronger, thats what I’m trying to do.
My idea of a “proper” squat. This blows my mind!!!
3/11/2010
Front Squats @ 270 lbs 6 sets of 3 reps
GHR @ Bw 5x5
Seated Row @ 198 lbs 9/6 (supersetted with) Military Press @ 154 lbs 6/4
5th set of Front Squats 3 x 270 lbs
Awesome front squats. Those were very solid.
[quote]FarmerBrett wrote:
5th set of Front Squats 3 x 270 lbs[/quote]
Nice! Looks like the lower rep sets solve the shoulder fatigue issue.
Thanks Jack. Right now I’m using you as my target. But each time you post a vid you pull further ahead. Damn you!
Yes giterdone, the lower reps did help a bit, but not as much as I’d have hoped. Was going for 8 sets but was shattered after 6. The 5 sets of deads on Monday is really taking its toll.
[quote]FarmerBrett wrote:
Thanks Jack. Right now I’m using you as my target. But each time you post a vid you pull further ahead. Damn you!
Yes giterdone, the lower reps did help a bit, but not as much as I’d have hoped. Was going for 8 sets but was shattered after 6. The 5 sets of deads on Monday is really taking its toll.[/quote]
5 sets of heavy deads is a lot. And don’t forget you upped your front squat weight.
Nice fronts.
Looking good. I’m not surprised.
And that Eduardo guy squatting? Crazy.
[quote]FarmerBrett wrote:
True words kpsnap. One of the few negatives of training alone at home is that you can’t check your own form. Outweighed by the positives though.
Train whenever I want
No queueing for equipment
All the sweat on benches is my own
I can wear what I want
I can make silly noises and faces while lifting without feeling self conscious and best of all
I can play Xanadu over my speakers without fear of being lynched!
Thanks for looking at my log.[/quote]
‘Wear what I want’…that’s a good one!!! 
Thats some fine front squatting.