Hey Christian,
Appreciate all your work on the forums and all your articles, you are my first stop for training advice and motivation. Cheers if you can get to this; just wondering what your protocol is for teaching the squat to the beginner? Is knee break or hip break your preference when coaching them?
[quote]Jmaxido wrote:
Hey Christian,
Appreciate all your work on the forums and all your articles, you are my first stop for training advice and motivation. Cheers if you can get to this; just wondering what your protocol is for teaching the squat to the beginner? Is knee break or hip break your preference when coaching them?[/quote]
It depends on the individual’s body levers. First of all I never advise them specifically to “break the hips” or “break at the knees” first. I always try to first teach the basic movement pattern as a whole and then see if I need to give the individual specific pointers.
The way I teach the proper squatting technique is the wall squat.
Most people will have the perfect squatting form for their body right off the bat using that drill. If they lose lower back arch their knees will hit the wall… if they lean forward too much/don’t keep their chest high, their head will hit the wall.
The drill will also teach you if the individual has flexibility issues.
You’ll also find that depending on their levers, some will break at the hips first (those with longer limbs) other will break at the knees first (those with shorter limbs)… so you instinctively learn the proper technique for your body type.
Is there anything in particular you have people with tight calves and poor ankle mobility do? Basketball has left my left leg really stiff.
I’ve been a trainer for only a few months and have already used this technique on almost all of my clients at least once. I find many people who have never really worked out or have little proper training have terrible squats and this seems to really help them stay straight up. It makes coaching them a lot easier as well.
CT,
Is it common for a person to find the Back Squatting movement very difficult and front squat feel so much more natural?
Wall Squats… plus CT’s other treasure exercise the Lumberjack Squat (aka Corner Barbell Squat).
The Lumberjack really does demand proper squating technique, safely allows a beginner to go A2G, and it builds a beginner’s confidence quickly.
[quote]Ricochet wrote:
Wall Squats… plus CT’s other treasure exercises the Lumberjack Squat (aka Corner Barbell Squat).
The Lumberjack really does demand proper squating technique, safely allows a beginner to go A2G, and it builds a beginner’s confidence quickly.[/quote]
Yes, if anything I would call the lumberjack squat a loaded wall squat… the end of the barbell acts much like the wall does. If you lean forward you get it in the head by the barbell.
[quote]therajraj wrote:
CT,
Is it common for a person to find the Back Squatting movement very difficult and front squat feel so much more natural?[/quote]
It happens in people who use a drastically different technique in the back squat compared to the front squat. i.e. if someone is back squatting “powerlifting style” (hips brought back, more torso forward lean, wider stance) then it becomes a completely different movement than the front squat, and if someone is technically better at squatting with less forward lean and by bringing the hips straight down then the front squat will feel more natural.
Normally someone with a shorter lower leg compared to his upper leg will be better at squatting with a more upright torso and straighter down hips movement while someone with a longer lower leg compared to his upper leg will be better at squatting with more torso lean and by bringing the hips back more.
Hey CT thanks for your fast reply and your opinion, it is greatly appreciated.