Some squat questions - help me clear this up. K for responses.

[Carl Carlson]

I have a feeling this is going to be long, so please bear with me.

OK, so I'm a bit of a form-freak when it comes to squats, deadlifts, etc and in my reading, I've come to find out that ideally you want the back straight/slightly arched, look up, push your hips back before descending, push through the heels, don't let the knees drift past the toes, etc, etc, etc....

So, to accomplish this I'd go with a really wide stance with my toes pointed slightly outward. This allowed me to sit back and keep my knees/shin/heel all in-line. Then I started reading that going below parallel is easier on the knees, so I started trying to go lower... however, when I'd try this I'd just end up leaning further forward and not getting my arse any lower... I think this might be due to my inflexibility.

I then switched to a shoulder-width stance after seeing this video. This allows me to keep my upperbody upright, I can go well below parallel and my knees actually feel a lot better during this movement. The only problem is that as far as I can tell now my knees drift forward... I'm guessing they're about equal with my toes. How much of a problem is this? Is it a problem?

Which method should I use? I'm more inclined to stick with the latter (shoulder-width stance) since it feels better... I'm just wondering if my knees drifting forward is going to be an issue down the road.

 

[Illuminati]

do what ever is easier for you. if you want to start doing them with a wider stance, and you are having issues with your form, get a box that and practice sitting back on the box. you can start with a box that is slightly above parallel, and work on your form that way. then, as you get more comfortbale with your form, start lowering the box until you are at parallel, and then just below parallel.

 

[riverrock]

Your knees should have no influence over your squat.You squat by pushing the hips right back. Imagine your sitting on a toilet seat. That's a perfect squat,I'm serious.

Also, if you want to see a true expert squat,watch a toddler. Notice when a little kid drops something they squat perfectly by pushing right back from the hips with an arched back in order to pick that item up again? Its only as time goes on that we lose our natural ability and flexibility to squat.

So,take the advice of illuminati and start box squatting. You'll never miss a liftand certainly won't end uplike most guys in gyms who think they're squatting,but are actually wasting their time.

Good Luck Bro

 

[Illuminati]

Your knees should have no influence over your squat.You squat by pushing the hips right back. Imagine your sitting on a toilet seat. That's a perfect squat,I'm serious.

Also, if you want to see a true expert squat,watch a toddler. Notice when a little kid drops something they squat perfectly by pushing right back from the hips with an arched back in order to pick that item up again? Its only as time goes on that we lose our natural ability and flexibility to squat.

So,take the advice of illuminati and start box squatting. You'll never miss a liftand certainly won't end uplike most guys in gyms who think they're squatting,but are actually wasting their time.

Good Luck Bro

a good place to download some short clips of people squatting, is irongame.com then click on the video section. hundreds of videos there, all broken down by the lifter. just scroll through them, it will tell you the lifter, weight class, weight attempt, and the lift being done (squat, bench, dead.) check out mike miller or chuck vogelpohl.

 

[ghettostudmuffin]

Your knee's will go forward when going into a full squat. Don't worry about it.

 

[mayhems]

just try keeping ur ass back and shins straight... u can always try wide stance squats which will help different muscles and might be more comfortable and easier to keep good form..

 

[azul]

Knees will always go forward a bit. Idiot trainers will tell you it's bad, and pussies will use it as an excuse to stop above parallel. Watch any of the big powerlifters squat... they do it too.

Watch these beasts do it:
http://www.olmagazine.citymax.com/page/page/1801505.htm
http://www.irongame.com/videos/[email protected]

Second one isn't perfect form, but still damn impressive.

 

[Chambewy20]

I would go with a wide stance for a strong squat and a narrower if you want to work on quad strength.

If your bending to far over when going wide, try widening your grip to the sleeves, keep your elbows down and chest up. Also, pretend you are spreading the floor when squatting and push your knees out.