[quote]black_angus1 wrote:
[quote]Consul wrote:
How do you pack your neck?
[/quote]
This article does a good job of explaining it:
It’s a technique that can help a lot of people. I need to work on it a lot, myself.
I have always used chalk to ark a spot directly in front and slightly down on the wall/mirror in front of me; Rippetoe says slightly down from eye-level. I then pack the neck and do NOT move my HEAD at all. I do, however, move my eyes as I descend to keep them on the mark…so I am looking slightly up while I am in the hole. But my head and neck have not moved - just my eyes. As I ascend, I continue to fix my eyes on the mark w/out moving my head/neck.
[quote]black_angus1 wrote:
[quote]black_angus1 wrote:
[quote]Consul wrote:
How do you pack your neck?
[/quote]
This article does a good job of explaining it:
It’s a technique that can help a lot of people. I need to work on it a lot, myself.
[/quote]
Packing the neck helps keep my spine and pelvis neutral a lot.
Mirror or no mirror…I use the same form every time I squat: stance not wider than shoulder width, chest out, shoulder blades locked down and jacked, chin in, abs tight and look straight ahead.
I’ve even squatted at gyms with no mirrors, and making a makeshift rack out of a seated shoulder pressing rack, by placing two 20 kg plates on either side to elevate my starting position, just to get a deep enough squat.
The form you’ve practiced over and over the years, never really breaks, no matter what kind of rack you use, head up or not, mirror or no mirror.
Lift safe, stay strong and happy lifting!
[quote]black_angus1 wrote:
[quote]black_angus1 wrote:
[quote]Consul wrote:
How do you pack your neck?
[/quote]
This article does a good job of explaining it:
It’s a technique that can help a lot of people. I need to work on it a lot, myself.
[/quote]
Thanks, Angus - I understand it now.
[quote]black_angus1 wrote:
Proprioception is a pretty big deal for overall performance and athleticism. Why would you not want to improve your kinesthetic awareness?[/quote]
I remember reading something about the ability of the body to respond to what you see in the mirror is to slow. The feedback loop completes faster than one can react.
For me it is enough that there will not be a mirror at the meet.
I usually look slightly up. Not because it is better, but it just feels more natural to me. I don’t really think about it. In fact, Even though my eyes are open, I honestly don’t see much. It’s like I’m in a different world when the bar is sitting on my back and the body goes down. For that short moment, you could probably put a naked Jessica Alba in front of me and I would not even notice. 