Edit: Suppose I’ll offer something constructive as well.
Fact: All other things being equal, the longer a persons femurs, the further they’ll have to lean forward in order to keep balance and no matter what, there’s absolutely nothing they can do about it.
Other than that poor mobility/flexibility can probably negatively impact your squat form more than anything else. Defranco’s “Agile 8” has helped my squat form tremendously in a short time and it’s still getting better. I highly suggest buying a foam roller and lacross ball and getting to work.
[/quote]
You’re obviously more experienced than I am, but I still have to disagree with you. Do you have an article to prove this supposed “Fact” because I have long femurs and it takes work and a bit of humility in progressing slowly but I can still keep my back arched up right and get depth on my squats. I’m not so sure though what you mean by “all else being equal” are you saying all muscles on an individual being equal or two different individuals with equal strength but different bone structure? Please explain and show where the fact comes from.[/quote]
(my shoes have been altered to 2x standard olympic heel raise because i can’t dorsiflex my ankles properly due to old injury. they shift my weight forwards making the exercise more quad dominant. i have a very weak front squat because i can’t drive my hips up under the bar properly. but i can do it without canning on my ass. front squats work my quads good.)
Two words: Cambered bar. The best investment I ever made. I am able to keep a straight back, squat between my legs and not fold over like an accordion when descending.
It’s hard to tell from the video because of the angle. Can you fit your knee into your arm pit? I can’t. My knee is about 2" above the middle of my arm pit when I try. When I pull it up to my chest, it’s about an inch past the top of my shoulder.
I like the video. I may have to try front squatting.
i’d love to see some side on vids of your squatting. i know a basketball guy who definately has longer femurs than me (and arms too). in fact… he has inspired me to stop bitching about my levers (since he can powerjerk a hell of a lot more than me given his bodyweight, too).
heel raise might help you out significantly. otherwise you are going to need some crazy ass ankle dorsiflexion in order to keep your torso upright.
[quote]Raw Finn wrote:
Shit I lost my post. To Maiden: I have squatted for 6 years seriously and can only squat 308 pounds. Though I started with a 110 pound squat.
So you can’t say that people should be able to have some random strength level when they have trained for whatever time. It is highly individual.[/quote]
I didn’t outline some outlandish unattainable numbers for squatting. I said 315X1 and 225x10 which the average person should be able to attain well within six years training. This isn’t girl scout sports wher it’s “just show up and do your best and no matter what your a winner.” If you can’t squat those numbers after six solid years of training, sorry, you are way below average.
[quote]Raw Finn wrote:
Shit I lost my post. To Maiden: I have squatted for 6 years seriously and can only squat 308 pounds. Though I started with a 110 pound squat.
So you can’t say that people should be able to have some random strength level when they have trained for whatever time. It is highly individual.[/quote]
I didn’t outline some outlandish unattainable numbers for squatting. I said 315X1 and 225x10 which the average person should be able to attain well within six years training. This isn’t girl scout sports wher it’s “just show up and do your best and no matter what your a winner.” If you can’t squat those numbers after six solid years of training, sorry, you are way below average.
[/quote]
Yeah, I guess I suck but I’m thankful for all progress. I was pretty much waiting for a PXish response of: “Maybe you’re just not cut out for this.”
[quote]Raw Finn wrote:
Shit I lost my post. To Maiden: I have squatted for 6 years seriously and can only squat 308 pounds. Though I started with a 110 pound squat.
So you can’t say that people should be able to have some random strength level when they have trained for whatever time. It is highly individual.[/quote]
I didn’t outline some outlandish unattainable numbers for squatting. I said 315X1 and 225x10 which the average person should be able to attain well within six years training. This isn’t girl scout sports wher it’s “just show up and do your best and no matter what your a winner.” If you can’t squat those numbers after six solid years of training, sorry, you are way below average.
[/quote]
Yeah, I guess I suck but I’m thankful for all progress. I was pretty much waiting for a PXish response of: “Maybe you’re just not cut out for this.”[/quote]
Completely of topic, I know, but what kind of metal is that in your profile pic?
[quote]Raw Finn wrote:
Shit I lost my post. To Maiden: I have squatted for 6 years seriously and can only squat 308 pounds. Though I started with a 110 pound squat.
So you can’t say that people should be able to have some random strength level when they have trained for whatever time. It is highly individual.[/quote]
I didn’t outline some outlandish unattainable numbers for squatting. I said 315X1 and 225x10 which the average person should be able to attain well within six years training. This isn’t girl scout sports wher it’s “just show up and do your best and no matter what your a winner.” If you can’t squat those numbers after six solid years of training, sorry, you are way below average.
[/quote]
Yeah, I guess I suck but I’m thankful for all progress. I was pretty much waiting for a PXish response of: “Maybe you’re just not cut out for this.”[/quote]
Completely of topic, I know, but what kind of metal is that in your profile pic?[/quote]
Google image search iron, lol.
[quote]Raw Finn wrote:
Shit I lost my post. To Maiden: I have squatted for 6 years seriously and can only squat 308 pounds. Though I started with a 110 pound squat.
So you can’t say that people should be able to have some random strength level when they have trained for whatever time. It is highly individual.[/quote]
I didn’t outline some outlandish unattainable numbers for squatting. I said 315X1 and 225x10 which the average person should be able to attain well within six years training. This isn’t girl scout sports wher it’s “just show up and do your best and no matter what your a winner.” If you can’t squat those numbers after six solid years of training, sorry, you are way below average.
[/quote]
Yeah, I guess I suck but I’m thankful for all progress. I was pretty much waiting for a PXish response of: “Maybe you’re just not cut out for this.”[/quote]
Completely of topic, I know, but what kind of metal is that in your profile pic?[/quote]
Google image search iron, lol.[/quote]
If you have weak legs maybe you need to switch to bodyweight squats? Seriously, it would put your technique in check. weighted lunges, and bulgarian squats are decent.
Try goblet squats, they keep your form in check and when performed with a high frequency and a higher rep scheme you might learn to love back squats. o.0
[quote]Mike T. wrote:
If you have weak legs maybe you need to switch to bodyweight squats? Seriously, it would put your technique in check. weighted lunges, and bulgarian squats are decent.
Try goblet squats, they keep your form in check and when performed with a high frequency and a higher rep scheme you might learn to love back squats. o.0[/quote]
I second the suggestion of goblet squats. If I start to get a hitch in my gitty-up, I go back to goblets. Deep, strong arch, wide knees. It’s also a great warmup for the squat session. heavy isn’t necessary, just deep, elbows push out the knees, maintain the arch, drive through the heels.
[quote]Mike T. wrote:
If you have weak legs maybe you need to switch to bodyweight squats? Seriously, it would put your technique in check. weighted lunges, and bulgarian squats are decent.
Try goblet squats, they keep your form in check and when performed with a high frequency and a higher rep scheme you might learn to love back squats. o.0[/quote]
I second the suggestion of goblet squats. If I start to get a hitch in my gitty-up, I go back to goblets. Deep, strong arch, wide knees. It’s also a great warmup for the squat session. heavy isn’t necessary, just deep, elbows push out the knees, maintain the arch, drive through the heels. [/quote]
Ditto on this, Goblets are great for reconnecting proper form and work a treat
Little update, been a few months now, a few weeks back i hit 365 with a belt and a spotter who helped me some and it wasnt too parallel.
I did legs today and since them ive change my form. I now have my hands a lot wider and sit the bar lower on my back, resting on my traps/ontop of my rear delts instead of on my neck.
I can now sit back with ease and not wory about falling forward.
I worked up to 315 for a double, alone with no spotter and no belt.
On my 3rd rep i really started to grind and my left arm came off the bar so i had to bail and let the bar drop off my back.
I was happy with the 2 reps.
Although as i was working out my left hip was giving me some trouble.
It felt like it was my hip flexor, in the crease between my abs and quads.
After a minute or so i couldnt even do a bw forward lunge, my left leg just failed.
No idea what it is. Any clues? Maybe the muscle is just weak or i have mobility issues.
[quote]dnlcdstn wrote:
I know why you want to squat better/more. I do ask this though - why? Just for the strength you will receive or body composition? I’ve squatted like a warrior for a long time and all I got to show for it was a good squat. My legs didn’t grow much from them. People can call you a pussy or whatever they want, but leg presses and hack squats will do more for size than squatting every will.
There are more than few on this site that will say the same thing. Front squatting however is a different story.[/quote]