Love for Squats Comes and Goes

Training
41

[quote]mbdix wrote:

[quote]dagill2 wrote:

[quote]mbdix wrote:

[quote]Chris Colucci wrote:

[quote]BigEasy24 wrote:
im to the point that i have no desire to perform[/quote]
If you don’t want to squat, don’t squat. Fine, whatever. Unless you compete in powerlifting, like Pwnisher was saying, there’s nobody who has to squat. It’s a good and useful exercise, but there are options.

.[/quote]

I have to disagree with this. If you have a medical, or physical condition that makes squatting a high risk for injury or other complications, then yes find alternatives.

That’s it. Otherwise I believe you should be squatting. It’s like eating your vegetables some people don’t like it, but everyone should eat their vegetables. Everyone that doesn’t have a condition should be lifting weights to some extent, and everyone who is lifting weights should be squatting.

Maybe a person reaches an age when putting weight on their back and squatting it is not a great idea? At that age they should be doing body weight squats. And if a person is squatting throughout their life, the age at which they have to do body weight squats is going to be a lot higher than the person who doesn’t. There are exceptions to every rule, injuries, pushing past what your body is capable of, but as a general rule.

The two weightlifting exercises at the top are squats and deadlift. If you are going to the gym( in your home or membership) you should be doing those two exercises.[/quote]

Can you give a concise reason why you feel every able bodied person should be back squatting and deadlifting? What benefits do you feel these exercises give that cannot be obtained any other way?[/quote]

The benefits of squats over other exercises that target lower body muscles?

You can train muscles with multiple exercises that target the same areas that the squat does in one movement, but (1) when targeting those muscles in one functional movement (squat) you naturally release muscle building hormones and endorphins into your body. As well as having your entire body working in unison to get the weight BACK UP!

(2) Squats help to prevent injuries. When doing squats you are targeting every muscle of the lower body in unison and strengthening those muscles and the tendons around the joints of the lower body.

(3) Squats help in performance by increasing lower body strength, power, and speed allowing you to run faster and increase your jumping ability.

(4) Full ROM squats help with mobility and flexibility.

I’ll get to deadlifts in a little bit[/quote]

None of these points are exclusive to heavy back squats, nor are they universal goals.

42

[quote]mbdix wrote:
If it is someone that is stuck in their ways and I don’t have any vested interest in them[/quote]

Oh the irony.

43

[quote]dagill2 wrote:

[quote]mbdix wrote:
If it is someone that is stuck in their ways and I don’t have any vested interest in them[/quote]

Oh the irony.[/quote]

Ha. I can see how that is pretty ironic

44

[quote]dagill2 wrote:

[quote]mbdix wrote:

[quote]dagill2 wrote:

[quote]mbdix wrote:

[quote]Chris Colucci wrote:

[quote]BigEasy24 wrote:
im to the point that i have no desire to perform[/quote]
If you don’t want to squat, don’t squat. Fine, whatever. Unless you compete in powerlifting, like Pwnisher was saying, there’s nobody who has to squat. It’s a good and useful exercise, but there are options.

.[/quote]

I have to disagree with this. If you have a medical, or physical condition that makes squatting a high risk for injury or other complications, then yes find alternatives.

That’s it. Otherwise I believe you should be squatting. It’s like eating your vegetables some people don’t like it, but everyone should eat their vegetables. Everyone that doesn’t have a condition should be lifting weights to some extent, and everyone who is lifting weights should be squatting.

Maybe a person reaches an age when putting weight on their back and squatting it is not a great idea? At that age they should be doing body weight squats. And if a person is squatting throughout their life, the age at which they have to do body weight squats is going to be a lot higher than the person who doesn’t. There are exceptions to every rule, injuries, pushing past what your body is capable of, but as a general rule.

The two weightlifting exercises at the top are squats and deadlift. If you are going to the gym( in your home or membership) you should be doing those two exercises.[/quote]

Can you give a concise reason why you feel every able bodied person should be back squatting and deadlifting? What benefits do you feel these exercises give that cannot be obtained any other way?[/quote]

The benefits of squats over other exercises that target lower body muscles?

You can train muscles with multiple exercises that target the same areas that the squat does in one movement, but (1) when targeting those muscles in one functional movement (squat) you naturally release muscle building hormones and endorphins into your body. As well as having your entire body working in unison to get the weight BACK UP!

(2) Squats help to prevent injuries. When doing squats you are targeting every muscle of the lower body in unison and strengthening those muscles and the tendons around the joints of the lower body.

(3) Squats help in performance by increasing lower body strength, power, and speed allowing you to run faster and increase your jumping ability.

(4) Full ROM squats help with mobility and flexibility.

I’ll get to deadlifts in a little bit[/quote]

None of these points are exclusive to heavy back squats, nor are they universal goals.[/quote]

True, but the squat does all of these with one movement.

What exercise do you believe that you can substitute for the squat and get the same results?

45

There are a fair number of strongmen that don’t squat. Truthfully, it is hard to fit into the programming. Among those that do, a lot of them squat high.

Different goals. As long as it works.

46

[quote]mbdix wrote:

[quote]dagill2 wrote:

[quote]mbdix wrote:

[quote]dagill2 wrote:

[quote]mbdix wrote:

[quote]Chris Colucci wrote:

[quote]BigEasy24 wrote:
im to the point that i have no desire to perform[/quote]
If you don’t want to squat, don’t squat. Fine, whatever. Unless you compete in powerlifting, like Pwnisher was saying, there’s nobody who has to squat. It’s a good and useful exercise, but there are options.

.[/quote]

I have to disagree with this. If you have a medical, or physical condition that makes squatting a high risk for injury or other complications, then yes find alternatives.

That’s it. Otherwise I believe you should be squatting. It’s like eating your vegetables some people don’t like it, but everyone should eat their vegetables. Everyone that doesn’t have a condition should be lifting weights to some extent, and everyone who is lifting weights should be squatting.

Maybe a person reaches an age when putting weight on their back and squatting it is not a great idea? At that age they should be doing body weight squats. And if a person is squatting throughout their life, the age at which they have to do body weight squats is going to be a lot higher than the person who doesn’t. There are exceptions to every rule, injuries, pushing past what your body is capable of, but as a general rule.

The two weightlifting exercises at the top are squats and deadlift. If you are going to the gym( in your home or membership) you should be doing those two exercises.[/quote]

Can you give a concise reason why you feel every able bodied person should be back squatting and deadlifting? What benefits do you feel these exercises give that cannot be obtained any other way?[/quote]

The benefits of squats over other exercises that target lower body muscles?

You can train muscles with multiple exercises that target the same areas that the squat does in one movement, but (1) when targeting those muscles in one functional movement (squat) you naturally release muscle building hormones and endorphins into your body. As well as having your entire body working in unison to get the weight BACK UP!

(2) Squats help to prevent injuries. When doing squats you are targeting every muscle of the lower body in unison and strengthening those muscles and the tendons around the joints of the lower body.

(3) Squats help in performance by increasing lower body strength, power, and speed allowing you to run faster and increase your jumping ability.

(4) Full ROM squats help with mobility and flexibility.

I’ll get to deadlifts in a little bit[/quote]

None of these points are exclusive to heavy back squats, nor are they universal goals.[/quote]

True, but the squat does all of these with one movement.

What exercise do you believe that you can substitute for the squat and get the same results?[/quote]

That depends entirely on what results I was looking for.

47

[quote]T3hPwnisher wrote:
There are a fair number of strongmen that don’t squat. Truthfully, it is hard to fit into the programming. Among those that do, a lot of them squat high.

Different goals. As long as it works.[/quote]

Would you be willing to say that there are more strongmen that don’t squat than those that do squat in their training in your opninion?

48

[quote]Aopocetx wrote:

[quote]dagill2 wrote:

Can you give a concise reason why you feel every able bodied person should be back squatting and deadlifting? What benefits do you feel these exercises give that cannot be obtained any other way?[/quote]

Pretty sure it’s because they have so much bang for your buck. Look at the deadlift. It uses something like 60% of the muscles in your body? That’s a shitload of muscle being stimulated from ONE exercise.

But you don’t have to do them. But I will for the massive amounts of hypertrophy and strength. [/quote]

“Bang for your buck” is a rather silly reason for a non-beginner who is not restricted by time constraints.

49

[quote]mbdix wrote:

[quote]dagill2 wrote:

[quote]mbdix wrote:

[quote]dagill2 wrote:

[quote]mbdix wrote:

[quote]Chris Colucci wrote:

[quote]BigEasy24 wrote:
im to the point that i have no desire to perform[/quote]
If you don’t want to squat, don’t squat. Fine, whatever. Unless you compete in powerlifting, like Pwnisher was saying, there’s nobody who has to squat. It’s a good and useful exercise, but there are options.

.[/quote]

I have to disagree with this. If you have a medical, or physical condition that makes squatting a high risk for injury or other complications, then yes find alternatives.

That’s it. Otherwise I believe you should be squatting. It’s like eating your vegetables some people don’t like it, but everyone should eat their vegetables. Everyone that doesn’t have a condition should be lifting weights to some extent, and everyone who is lifting weights should be squatting.

Maybe a person reaches an age when putting weight on their back and squatting it is not a great idea? At that age they should be doing body weight squats. And if a person is squatting throughout their life, the age at which they have to do body weight squats is going to be a lot higher than the person who doesn’t. There are exceptions to every rule, injuries, pushing past what your body is capable of, but as a general rule.

The two weightlifting exercises at the top are squats and deadlift. If you are going to the gym( in your home or membership) you should be doing those two exercises.[/quote]

Can you give a concise reason why you feel every able bodied person should be back squatting and deadlifting? What benefits do you feel these exercises give that cannot be obtained any other way?[/quote]

The benefits of squats over other exercises that target lower body muscles?

You can train muscles with multiple exercises that target the same areas that the squat does in one movement, but (1) when targeting those muscles in one functional movement (squat) you naturally release muscle building hormones and endorphins into your body. As well as having your entire body working in unison to get the weight BACK UP!

(2) Squats help to prevent injuries. When doing squats you are targeting every muscle of the lower body in unison and strengthening those muscles and the tendons around the joints of the lower body.

(3) Squats help in performance by increasing lower body strength, power, and speed allowing you to run faster and increase your jumping ability.

(4) Full ROM squats help with mobility and flexibility.

I’ll get to deadlifts in a little bit[/quote]

None of these points are exclusive to heavy back squats, nor are they universal goals.[/quote]

True, but the squat does all of these with one movement.

What exercise do you believe that you can substitute for the squat and get the same results?[/quote]

Why is there a need to find ONE exercise to target specific bodyparts, especially if the goal is optimal development of each individual muscle?

50

[quote]dt79 wrote:

[quote]mbdix wrote:

[quote]dagill2 wrote:

[quote]mbdix wrote:

[quote]dagill2 wrote:

[quote]mbdix wrote:

[quote]Chris Colucci wrote:

[quote]BigEasy24 wrote:
im to the point that i have no desire to perform[/quote]
If you don’t want to squat, don’t squat. Fine, whatever. Unless you compete in powerlifting, like Pwnisher was saying, there’s nobody who has to squat. It’s a good and useful exercise, but there are options.

.[/quote]

I have to disagree with this. If you have a medical, or physical condition that makes squatting a high risk for injury or other complications, then yes find alternatives.

That’s it. Otherwise I believe you should be squatting. It’s like eating your vegetables some people don’t like it, but everyone should eat their vegetables. Everyone that doesn’t have a condition should be lifting weights to some extent, and everyone who is lifting weights should be squatting.

Maybe a person reaches an age when putting weight on their back and squatting it is not a great idea? At that age they should be doing body weight squats. And if a person is squatting throughout their life, the age at which they have to do body weight squats is going to be a lot higher than the person who doesn’t. There are exceptions to every rule, injuries, pushing past what your body is capable of, but as a general rule.

The two weightlifting exercises at the top are squats and deadlift. If you are going to the gym( in your home or membership) you should be doing those two exercises.[/quote]

Can you give a concise reason why you feel every able bodied person should be back squatting and deadlifting? What benefits do you feel these exercises give that cannot be obtained any other way?[/quote]

The benefits of squats over other exercises that target lower body muscles?

You can train muscles with multiple exercises that target the same areas that the squat does in one movement, but (1) when targeting those muscles in one functional movement (squat) you naturally release muscle building hormones and endorphins into your body. As well as having your entire body working in unison to get the weight BACK UP!

(2) Squats help to prevent injuries. When doing squats you are targeting every muscle of the lower body in unison and strengthening those muscles and the tendons around the joints of the lower body.

(3) Squats help in performance by increasing lower body strength, power, and speed allowing you to run faster and increase your jumping ability.

(4) Full ROM squats help with mobility and flexibility.

I’ll get to deadlifts in a little bit[/quote]

None of these points are exclusive to heavy back squats, nor are they universal goals.[/quote]

True, but the squat does all of these with one movement.

What exercise do you believe that you can substitute for the squat and get the same results?[/quote]

Why is there a need to find ONE exercise to target specific bodyparts, especially if the goal is optimal development of each individual muscle?[/quote]

There isn’t really a “need” for one exercise that accomplishes those benefits. But, there is one exercise that does accomplish those benefits with one movement. The squat. It increases, power, strength, hypertrophy, speed, balance, mobility, flexibility, toughness, cardio vascular health, and overall well being.

51

[quote]mbdix wrote:

[quote]dt79 wrote:

[quote]mbdix wrote:

[quote]dagill2 wrote:

[quote]mbdix wrote:

[quote]dagill2 wrote:

[quote]mbdix wrote:

[quote]Chris Colucci wrote:

[quote]BigEasy24 wrote:
im to the point that i have no desire to perform[/quote]
If you don’t want to squat, don’t squat. Fine, whatever. Unless you compete in powerlifting, like Pwnisher was saying, there’s nobody who has to squat. It’s a good and useful exercise, but there are options.

.[/quote]

I have to disagree with this. If you have a medical, or physical condition that makes squatting a high risk for injury or other complications, then yes find alternatives.

That’s it. Otherwise I believe you should be squatting. It’s like eating your vegetables some people don’t like it, but everyone should eat their vegetables. Everyone that doesn’t have a condition should be lifting weights to some extent, and everyone who is lifting weights should be squatting.

Maybe a person reaches an age when putting weight on their back and squatting it is not a great idea? At that age they should be doing body weight squats. And if a person is squatting throughout their life, the age at which they have to do body weight squats is going to be a lot higher than the person who doesn’t. There are exceptions to every rule, injuries, pushing past what your body is capable of, but as a general rule.

The two weightlifting exercises at the top are squats and deadlift. If you are going to the gym( in your home or membership) you should be doing those two exercises.[/quote]

Can you give a concise reason why you feel every able bodied person should be back squatting and deadlifting? What benefits do you feel these exercises give that cannot be obtained any other way?[/quote]

The benefits of squats over other exercises that target lower body muscles?

You can train muscles with multiple exercises that target the same areas that the squat does in one movement, but (1) when targeting those muscles in one functional movement (squat) you naturally release muscle building hormones and endorphins into your body. As well as having your entire body working in unison to get the weight BACK UP!

(2) Squats help to prevent injuries. When doing squats you are targeting every muscle of the lower body in unison and strengthening those muscles and the tendons around the joints of the lower body.

(3) Squats help in performance by increasing lower body strength, power, and speed allowing you to run faster and increase your jumping ability.

(4) Full ROM squats help with mobility and flexibility.

I’ll get to deadlifts in a little bit[/quote]

None of these points are exclusive to heavy back squats, nor are they universal goals.[/quote]

True, but the squat does all of these with one movement.

What exercise do you believe that you can substitute for the squat and get the same results?[/quote]

Why is there a need to find ONE exercise to target specific bodyparts, especially if the goal is optimal development of each individual muscle?[/quote]

There isn’t really a “need” for one exercise that accomplishes those benefits. But, there is one exercise that does accomplish those benefits with one movement. The squat. It increases, power, strength, hypertrophy, speed, balance, mobility, flexibility, toughness, cardio vascular health, and overall well being.[/quote]

If you recognise that all these benefits can be derived from other exercises, why did you disagree with Chris’s post?

52

The goals of the individual will inevitably affect the question of whether to squat. But the overall point about the general usefulness of the squat makes that factor kind of irrelevant, in my opinion.

Obviously not everyone HAS to squat. But I’d still recommend the movement to virtually everyone who wants to be in the gym.

Strongmen competitors with specific training goals related to competition are an EXCEPTION. They are probably doing other work that will provide most of the benefits of squats anyway, and have probably done squats previously in their training careers. I’ve gone an entire year without doing squats. No one is saying everyone should always be doing squats all the time.

Bodybuilders whose only goal is muscular development could be another exception, IF we assume they can achieve optimal hypertrophy without squats. Maybe they can. I don’t know. Some would probably argue they can’t – that heavy squats provide a growth stimulus that can’t be replicated through a leg press or alternate movement.

So if a bodybuilder wants to train quads and hams separately with 8 different exercises, that’s fine… but it doesn’t diminish the value of the squat. When it comes to legs I personally ONLY do squats – 3 to 4 heavy sets, then a 20-rep set – and it is fast and simple and I believe still delivers 90% of the growth stimulus that using more exercises would. A bodybuilder may need that extra 10%, but I don’t, and neither do most lifters, probably.

Point being… the general usefulness of the squat means it probably has value for most lifters, because it contributes to most lifting goals. If we’re talking about the optimal method to achieving one’s goals, I’d therefore think the squat would be included in nearly every program. If people don’t want to do it for other reasons (e.g. it’s hard), that’s a different subject.

53

[quote]craze9 wrote:
The goals of the individual will inevitably affect the question of whether to squat. But the overall point about the general usefulness of the squat makes that factor kind of irrelevant, in my opinion.

Obviously not everyone HAS to squat. But I’d still recommend the movement to virtually everyone who wants to be in the gym.

Strongmen competitors with specific training goals related to competition are an EXCEPTION. They are probably doing other work that will provide most of the benefits of squats anyway, and have probably done squats previously in their training careers. I’ve gone an entire year without doing squats. No one is saying everyone should always be doing squats all the time.

Bodybuilders whose only goal is muscular development could be another exception, IF we assume they can achieve optimal hypertrophy without squats. Maybe they can. I don’t know. Some would probably argue they can’t – that heavy squats provide a growth stimulus that can’t be replicated through a leg press or alternate movement.

So if a bodybuilder wants to train quads and hams separately with 8 different exercises, that’s fine… but it doesn’t diminish the value of the squat. When it comes to legs I personally ONLY do squats – 3 to 4 heavy sets, then a 20-rep set – and it is fast and simple and I believe still delivers 90% of the growth stimulus that using more exercises would. A bodybuilder may need that extra 10%, but I don’t, and neither do most lifters, probably.

Point being… the general usefulness of the squat means it probably has value for most lifters, because it contributes to most lifting goals. If we’re talking about the optimal method to achieving one’s goals, I’d therefore think the squat would be included in nearly every program. If people don’t want to do it for other reasons (e.g. it’s hard), that’s a different subject.
[/quote]

This was written much better than my previous posts and I agree with it almost 100% and pretty much my thoughts on it to a T. I don’t believe that strongman ARE an exception just that some are an exception. Many of the best strongmen in history used the squat throughout their career.

54

[quote]mbdix wrote:

[quote]craze9 wrote:
The goals of the individual will inevitably affect the question of whether to squat. But the overall point about the general usefulness of the squat makes that factor kind of irrelevant, in my opinion.

Obviously not everyone HAS to squat. But I’d still recommend the movement to virtually everyone who wants to be in the gym.

Strongmen competitors with specific training goals related to competition are an EXCEPTION. They are probably doing other work that will provide most of the benefits of squats anyway, and have probably done squats previously in their training careers. I’ve gone an entire year without doing squats. No one is saying everyone should always be doing squats all the time.

Bodybuilders whose only goal is muscular development could be another exception, IF we assume they can achieve optimal hypertrophy without squats. Maybe they can. I don’t know. Some would probably argue they can’t – that heavy squats provide a growth stimulus that can’t be replicated through a leg press or alternate movement.

So if a bodybuilder wants to train quads and hams separately with 8 different exercises, that’s fine… but it doesn’t diminish the value of the squat. When it comes to legs I personally ONLY do squats – 3 to 4 heavy sets, then a 20-rep set – and it is fast and simple and I believe still delivers 90% of the growth stimulus that using more exercises would. A bodybuilder may need that extra 10%, but I don’t, and neither do most lifters, probably.

Point being… the general usefulness of the squat means it probably has value for most lifters, because it contributes to most lifting goals. If we’re talking about the optimal method to achieving one’s goals, I’d therefore think the squat would be included in nearly every program. If people don’t want to do it for other reasons (e.g. it’s hard), that’s a different subject.
[/quote]

This was written much better than my previous posts and I agree with it almost 100% and pretty much my thoughts on it to a T. I don’t believe that strongman ARE an exception just that some are an exception. Many of the best strongmen in history used the squat throughout their career.
[/quote]

But what he wrote is not in contention. Nor is the quality of expression in your posts.

This is:

[quote]mbdix wrote:
…everyone who is lifting weights should be squatting.[/quote]

55

[quote]dt79 wrote:

[quote]mbdix wrote:

[quote]craze9 wrote:
The goals of the individual will inevitably affect the question of whether to squat. But the overall point about the general usefulness of the squat makes that factor kind of irrelevant, in my opinion.

I’d still recommend the movement to virtually everyone who wants to be in the gym.

Point being… the general usefulness of the squat means it probably has value for most lifters, because it contributes to most lifting goals. If we’re talking about the optimal method to achieving one’s goals, I’d therefore think the squat would be included in nearly every program. If people don’t want to do it for other reasons (e.g. it’s hard), that’s a different subject.
[/quote]

This was written much better than my previous posts and I agree with it almost 100% and pretty much my thoughts on it to a T. I don’t believe that strongman ARE an exception just that some are an exception. Many of the best strongmen in history used the squat throughout their career.
[/quote]

But what he wrote is not in contention. Nor is the quality of expression in your posts.

This is:

[quote]mbdix wrote:
…everyone who is lifting weights should be squatting.[/quote][/quote]

56

[quote]mbdix wrote:

[quote]dt79 wrote:

[quote]mbdix wrote:

[quote]craze9 wrote:
The goals of the individual will inevitably affect the question of whether to squat. But the overall point about the general usefulness of the squat makes that factor kind of irrelevant, in my opinion.

Obviously not everyone HAS to squat. But I’d still recommend the movement to virtually everyone who wants to be in the gym.

Strongmen competitors with specific training goals related to competition are an EXCEPTION. They are probably doing other work that will provide most of the benefits of squats anyway, and have probably done squats previously in their training careers. I’ve gone an entire year without doing squats. No one is saying everyone should always be doing squats all the time.

Bodybuilders whose only goal is muscular development could be another exception, IF we assume they can achieve optimal hypertrophy without squats. Maybe they can. I don’t know. Some would probably argue they can’t – that heavy squats provide a growth stimulus that can’t be replicated through a leg press or alternate movement.

So if a bodybuilder wants to train quads and hams separately with 8 different exercises, that’s fine… but it doesn’t diminish the value of the squat. When it comes to legs I personally ONLY do squats – 3 to 4 heavy sets, then a 20-rep set – and it is fast and simple and I believe still delivers 90% of the growth stimulus that using more exercises would. A bodybuilder may need that extra 10%, but I don’t, and neither do most lifters, probably.

Point being… the general usefulness of the squat means it probably has value for most lifters, because it contributes to most lifting goals. If we’re talking about the optimal method to achieving one’s goals, I’d therefore think the squat would be included in nearly every program. If people don’t want to do it for other reasons (e.g. it’s hard), that’s a different subject. [/quote]

This was written much better than my previous posts and I agree with it almost 100% and pretty much my thoughts on it to a T. I don’t believe that strongman ARE an exception just that some are an exception. Many of the best strongmen in history used the squat throughout their career.
[/quote]

But what he wrote is not in contention. Nor is the quality of expression in your posts.

This is:

[quote]mbdix wrote:
…everyone who is lifting weights should be squatting.[/quote][/quote]
[/quote]

Are we really going to play this silly game? I’m not one of those guys you will catch quoting people out of context.

[quote]mbdix wrote:

[quote]Chris Colucci wrote:

[quote]BigEasy24 wrote:
im to the point that i have no desire to perform[/quote]
If you don’t want to squat, don’t squat. Fine, whatever. Unless you compete in powerlifting, like Pwnisher was saying, there’s nobody who has to squat. It’s a good and useful exercise, but there are options.

.[/quote]

I have to disagree with this. If you have a medical, or physical condition that makes squatting a high risk for injury or other complications, then yes find alternatives.

That’s it. Otherwise I believe you should be squatting. It’s like eating your vegetables some people don’t like it, but everyone should eat their vegetables. Everyone that doesn’t have a condition should be lifting weights to some extent, and everyone who is lifting weights should be squatting.

Maybe a person reaches an age when putting weight on their back and squatting it is not a great idea? At that age they should be doing body weight squats. And if a person is squatting throughout their life, the age at which they have to do body weight squats is going to be a lot higher than the person who doesn’t. There are exceptions to every rule, injuries, pushing past what your body is capable of, but as a general rule.

The two weightlifting exercises at the top are squats and deadlift. If you are going to the gym( in your home or membership) you should be doing those two exercises.[/quote]

57

[quote]mbdix wrote:

[quote]T3hPwnisher wrote:
There are a fair number of strongmen that don’t squat. Truthfully, it is hard to fit into the programming. Among those that do, a lot of them squat high.

Different goals. As long as it works.[/quote]

Would you be willing to say that there are more strongmen that don’t squat than those that do squat in their training in your opninion?

[/quote]

This would be an impossible thing to have an opinion on due to the sheer number of strongmen competitors combined with the number of methods being employed.

That said, you tend to see a lot of folks opting for the front squat instead of the squat. The squat itself doesn’t make the most sense to a lot of people. I tend to include it due to my powerlifting background, but I actually think the safety squat bar carries over better.

58

[quote]dt79 wrote:

[quote]mbdix wrote:

[quote]dt79 wrote:

[quote]mbdix wrote:

[quote]craze9 wrote:
The goals of the individual will inevitably affect the question of whether to squat. But the overall point about the general usefulness of the squat makes that factor kind of irrelevant, in my opinion.

Obviously not everyone HAS to squat. But I’d still recommend the movement to virtually everyone who wants to be in the gym.

Strongmen competitors with specific training goals related to competition are an EXCEPTION. They are probably doing other work that will provide most of the benefits of squats anyway, and have probably done squats previously in their training careers. I’ve gone an entire year without doing squats. No one is saying everyone should always be doing squats all the time.

Bodybuilders whose only goal is muscular development could be another exception, IF we assume they can achieve optimal hypertrophy without squats. Maybe they can. I don’t know. Some would probably argue they can’t – that heavy squats provide a growth stimulus that can’t be replicated through a leg press or alternate movement.

So if a bodybuilder wants to train quads and hams separately with 8 different exercises, that’s fine… but it doesn’t diminish the value of the squat. When it comes to legs I personally ONLY do squats – 3 to 4 heavy sets, then a 20-rep set – and it is fast and simple and I believe still delivers 90% of the growth stimulus that using more exercises would. A bodybuilder may need that extra 10%, but I don’t, and neither do most lifters, probably.

Point being… the general usefulness of the squat means it probably has value for most lifters, because it contributes to most lifting goals. If we’re talking about the optimal method to achieving one’s goals, I’d therefore think the squat would be included in nearly every program. If people don’t want to do it for other reasons (e.g. it’s hard), that’s a different subject. [/quote]

This was written much better than my previous posts and I agree with it almost 100% and pretty much my thoughts on it to a T. I don’t believe that strongman ARE an exception just that some are an exception. Many of the best strongmen in history used the squat throughout their career.
[/quote]

But what he wrote is not in contention. Nor is the quality of expression in your posts.

This is:

[quote]mbdix wrote:
…everyone who is lifting weights should be squatting.[/quote][/quote]
[/quote]

Are we really going to play this silly game? I’m not one of those guys you will catch quoting people out of context.

[quote]mbdix wrote:

[quote]Chris Colucci wrote:

[quote]BigEasy24 wrote:
im to the point that i have no desire to perform[/quote]
If you don’t want to squat, don’t squat. Fine, whatever. Unless you compete in powerlifting, like Pwnisher was saying, there’s nobody who has to squat. It’s a good and useful exercise, but there are options.

.[/quote]

I have to disagree with this. If you have a medical, or physical condition that makes squatting a high risk for injury or other complications, then yes find alternatives.

That’s it. Otherwise I believe you should be squatting. It’s like eating your vegetables some people don’t like it, but everyone should eat their vegetables. Everyone that doesn’t have a condition should be lifting weights to some extent, and everyone who is lifting weights should be squatting.

Maybe a person reaches an age when putting weight on their back and squatting it is not a great idea? At that age they should be doing body weight squats. And if a person is squatting throughout their life, the age at which they have to do body weight squats is going to be a lot higher than the person who doesn’t. There are exceptions to every rule, injuries, pushing past what your body is capable of, but as a general rule.

The two weightlifting exercises at the top are squats and deadlift. If you are going to the gym( in your home or membership) you should be doing those two exercises.[/quote][/quote]

No we don’t need to play any games. He wrote a very good post that virtually expressed my exact thoughts on the subject. Maybe some slight disagreement, but yeah, what he said.

59

The squat is a basic movement pattern that everyone should train, however the actual back squat isn’t always necessarily the best way to do that.

Lot of people out there with horrendous mobility can’t back squat worth a damn but they can front squat, goblet squat, split squat etc etc etc.

So yes, while everyone should train a squat movement pattern, blanket statements like “everyone should squat” are just annoying.

60

[quote]Yogi wrote:
The squat is a basic movement pattern that everyone should train, however the actual back squat isn’t always necessarily the best way to do that.

Lot of people out there with horrendous mobility can’t back squat worth a damn but they can front squat, goblet squat, split squat etc etc etc.

So yes, while everyone should train a squat movement pattern, blanket statements like “everyone should squat” are just annoying.[/quote]

Fair enough. I wasn’t trying to be annoying to anyone. I just really didn’t like the saying “If you don’t want to squat, don’t squat” I disagree with that approach. It’s to valuable a lift to be treated like that. IMHO. I just feel like if you are able bodied, and can perform the squat, you should have it included in your weight training program with very few exceptions.