squats...again

[mish12345]

i posted a thread the other day about having small legs and whats best to... most the advice was to squat low and with good form. i was doing that today, going very low but had to go quite a bit lighter than normal. a guy in my gym spoke to me about what i was doing, and said to add muscle i'd be better off goin heavier and not so low. he reckoned going very low puts too much strain on your knees and your quads do less of the work.

is this true?? wud i better boosting the weight up but not so low. i have good form so thats not a problem. any help appreciated

 

[BiggT]

No, keep going low....the only kind of squat that should be stopped at parallel is the Pl-style, ultra-wide stance squat, where by nature, the hips are activated. In a moderate-narrow stance squat you should go as low as you possibly can, this transfers the stress from the knees, to the hips, which are better-equipped to handle it.

Cutting a close-moderate squat off high will ruin your knees faster than anything.

 

[mish12345]

No, keep going low....the only kind of squat that should be stopped at parallel is the Pl-style, ultra-wide stance squat, where by nature, the hips are activated. In a moderate-narrow stance squat you should go as low as you possibly can, this transfers the stress from the knees, to the hips, which are better-equipped to handle it.

Cutting a close-moderate squat off high will ruin your knees faster than anything.

so not going so low is actually worse for your knees? can i still build much muscle cos there's not much weight on there rite now wen im goin deep

 

[xblitz44x]

so not going so low is actually worse for your knees? can i still build much muscle cos there's not much weight on there rite now wen im goin deep

That's correct. Going down all the way shifts the workload from your knees to your hips. Stopping yourself before you get to this point ensures that your knees are handling the workload so make sure you dip all the way down.

Doing more weight will only build muscle when you're performing the exercise with the right form. Get your ass onto the floor and slowly increment your weights and you'll notice strenght/size gains and healthy knees.

 

[tay1506]

First of all not going as heavy ads more muscle mass than going heavy does. Going heavier will get you stronger faster, but will not add as much muscle mass. Go in the whole 8 - 12 times for hypertrophy and you will add muscle mass. Second, most people would not want their quads getting that big. Your hamstrings are incorporated the most during the lift with right form along with your lower back and abs.
Also, you can try box squatting off of a very low box like i started doing recently and this helps alot.

 

[mish12345]

First of all not going as heavy ads more muscle mass than going heavy does. Going heavier will get you stronger faster, but will not add as much muscle mass. Go in the whole 8 - 12 times for hypertrophy and you will add muscle mass. Second, most people would not want their quads getting that big. Your hamstrings are incorporated the most during the lift with right form along with your lower back and abs.
Also, you can try box squatting off of a very low box like i started doing recently and this helps alot.

whats best for gettin big quads then?

 

[xblitz44x]

whats best for gettin big quads then?

Don't take this the wrong way but from the looks of your posts it doesn't seem like you have what it takes to get them anyway. It sounds like you're searching for the magic way to big legs. To get big legs you're going to have to incorporate squats into your workout at least twice a week. With that, throw in some deadlifts/stiff legs for your hams. Master perfect form on everything even if it means playing with 135 lbs for a few weeks.

Lift hard, frequent, and correctly, and eat everything is sight.

 

[djeclipse]

Don't listen to who ever it was that told you to use heavier weight and don't go as low, he/she is a moron.

Forget about the ego, learn to squat properly and in a few month's time when you're using more weight for a full ATF squat then him and his 1/2 assed 1/4 squat, you'll thank us.

 

[Protobuilder]

To get big legs you're going to have to incorporate squats into your workout at least twice a week.

I dunno about that. I think that's how you OUGHT to do it but I've heard from and seen lots of guys who get big legs w/out squatting, and w/out ATF squatting at that. Just my observation. I definitely recommend full squatting several times a week.

 

[mish12345]

Don't listen to who ever it was that told you to use heavier weight and don't go as low, he/she is a moron.

Forget about the ego, learn to squat properly and in a few month's time when you're using more weight for a full ATF squat then him and his 1/2 assed 1/4 squat, you'll thank us.

how do u actually hold the bar in place for atf squatting...did u find it took some gettin used to when u began? feels weird when i do it

 

[Protobuilder]

Study this link:

http://jva.ontariostrongman.ca/BadGood.htm

 

[Guinness5.0]

It takes time to master, but it's worth it.

Read this article to get acquainted with proper squatting:
http://www.elitefitness.com/forum/showthread.php?t=332299

 

[djeclipse]

how do u actually hold the bar in place for atf squatting...did u find it took some gettin used to when u began? feels weird when i do it

Check out the link above.

ATF squats do take some time to get used to doing. That's why everyone says to spend the time, use light weights and learn to lift properly, then start adding weight to the bar.

As far as bar position goes the #1 mistake I see is people placing the bar way to high on their back. Most people put the bar right behind their neck, on top of that top vertebra. The bar should be a little lower on the back across the traps.

Maybe someone else can explain it better.

 

[s8nlilhlpr]

a guy in my gym spoke to me about what i was doing, and said to add muscle i'd be better off goin heavier and not so low. he reckoned going very low puts too much strain on your knees and your quads do less of the work.

Yeah, he "reckoned" that squats do that. Unfortunately, most scientific proofs show otherwise. People like him perpetuate the myth that deep squatting is bad. Why you ask? Because he can go heavier if he doesn't go as deep. This makes him "feel" stronger, cause he can put more on the bar, but it is only a partial ROM. DO SQUATS CORRECTLY. Don't listen to assclowns telling you to stop at parallel, unless you are trying for PL.

 

[fortunatesun]

I was just re-reading The Squat sticky earlier today. (I also go back over Bench Press and Deadlift). Seems like ther more squats I do, the more I realize I could be doing them better. That thread contains a lot of common sense.

I always found watching vids of Arnold squatting both educational and inspirational. I believe he was truly able to elevate his squats to the level of art form.

 

[super_rice]

Put it this way:

Take 405lbs, a nice round weight.

You will find thousands of people with skinny legs "squatting" 405. No one with skinny legs squats this ass to the grass. It does not matter if you are weightlifter, bodybuilder, or weekend warrior, you will have large legs.

 

[tay1506]

You can think of going deep just as you can think of going all the way down on bench or not pulling from pins on deads. That is like someone telling you to only go 90 degrees on bench which many people have told me to do. This is one of the stupidest things you can do in the long run i can guarantee you!! Do it 4 - 12 weeks and then tell me what a torn rotary feels like when you try to max. You think you are stronger than you really are, but your really not that strong if you don't touch your chest. This goes the same for squatting and has anyone ever told you that touching your chest doesent get you as strong???? If they have they are morons!!!!!! Yes i know elite lifters etc. train with boards and only go 90, but it is not to gain mass and is for a specific reason such as breaking a barrier. Apparently you are not there for bench or squat so i would suggest sticking to what people on these forums tell you(or atleast the ones that know what they are talking about).