Squat-Bend at knees or hips first?

[BrockF5]

When squatting should I try to bend at the knees or hips first? I used to bend at the knees first after reading a squat form description which said to do so, then bend at the hips. However I tried bending at the hips and it felt like a much smoother motion, I went straight down and ended up bending the knees nearly simultaneously, very natural feel, unlike bending at the knees where I had to also make the bending at the hip motion and it felt a bit awkward and stressful on the knees. So which one is right? Thanks

 

[spatts]

HIPS. It's a back and forth movement.

 

[Liftbig]

HIPS. It's a back and forth movement.

it sure is


on a serious note. whenever i squat i never squat down. i push my butt back and knees out, and arch my back till i get to parrellel.

 

[spatts]

My legs hardly move from the knee down. Likewise, my torso doesn't change position much either. It's a knee to hip movement.

 

[thebrute]

bend at the hips, bro. tb

 

[Screwball]

Ass back... Chin up...


Memorize the mantra and your form will follow. Good luck!

 

[coolcolj]

why not both at the same time?
makes sense to me

 

[spatts]

They should happen at the same time, but the knees bend because of the action of the hips, not to start the action of the hips.

Supposedly.

 

[phatman42]

Yup... ass goes back until it won't go any further, then knees bend. Shins shouldn't go forward at any time.

 

[Gigantasor]

I was having this same problem until saturday. My training partner got on me about screwing the movement and made me fix it. As a result I am chair bound today, thank god, and plan on moving my legs as little as possible.

Ass back first is the only way to go. I find it keeps the pressure off of the spine and lower back a lot. Makes it hard as hell to go to the bathroom though.