Would you stop someone with horrible form?

[mrzap]

I was at the gym the other day and there were 3 guys doing squats. Two of the 3 I think never did them before and the 3rd guy was apparently the "pro" showing them how to do them.

First off, he was using a manta ray for 225lb, but whatever...

The guy that apparently knew what he was doing had his knees too far forward and was looking up at the ceiling instead of straight ahead...isn't that a big no no?

Then he was spotting his buddies and they were all on their toes instead of driving from their heels with knees extremely far forward.

I stayed out of it, but shit I hope they don't hurt themselves.

 

[Allon]

Its fucked up, if you tell em what you think some people take it the wrong way, I have crossed this line once or twice though when the person looked like they could understand where I was coming from... I personally am happy if someone tells me they think I am doing something with bad form.

 

[eat big]

sometimes i do if they are young bc i see myself through them, bc i was once young and needed guidance, but old ppl who have been doing it for years and dont realize it, i just laugh

 

[cwick0]

I stayed out of it, but shit I hope they don't hurt themselves.

Unfortunately, some folks have to learn the hard way. In the past i have helped others, but not anymore. Some loved the advice, but others seem to think they know exactly what they are doing and dont want any advice. So, now i just let things slide or look over at them and just shake my head.

 

[d3track]

being younger i will take advice into consideration, especially if the guy is bigger
i have noticed lately i have been getting more compliments and little peices of advice or questions from obvious vets in the gym, which is always nice
but seeing as i am not very large yet, i dotn give out much unsoliceted advice, i just dont feel i have the "look" to back up my advice

 

[SuperDawgy]

If you use proper form, people will come to you. I see no need in forcing myself on others.

 

[gymtime]

Unless they're in real danger of hurting themselves, no. Let them figure it out for themselves, unless of course they ask you.

In eleven years of lifting, I've only interjected myself one time. Teenage kid on the bench, arching his back like a rainbow and bouncing a ton of weight off his chest just to impress his girlfriend, who was standing there watching. You could actually hear the bar hit this kid's rib cage from several feet away. I had to say something. But that's the only time.

 

[Dial_tone]

rarely if ever. I saw the worst ever about 2 months ago and I didn't stop the guy.

 

[waterboy44]

sometimes i do if they are young bc i see myself through them, bc i was once young and needed guidance, but old ppl who have been doing it for years and dont realize it, i just laugh

Ya if theyve been lifting that long and still cant ask or take any advice than nothing short of injury will get there attention, and then sometime that doesnt even help.

 

[curgeo]

Like previous poster said, I usually only help whenever somebody is doing something dangerous......either that or if they have asked me a question before I might help out a little more.

Other than that I mind my own business in regards to other people.

 

[SVT-TROY]

If I was a trainer and they paid me to show them proper form then yes, I would tell them. Other than that, I don't have enough time to worry about idiots.

 

[Griz1]

Doesn't matter anyway. Everytime someone asks me, or I offer and they say thank you so much, the next week they're doing the same shit anyway. Makes no dif. I helped a lady a few weeks back with her chest stuff (flys, db bench, etc.). The next day she thanked me cause her chest was sore and obviously did what it was supposed to, etc. This week, same shit she was doing before.

I usually preface it with something polite to see if they are even interested. If not, then fuck em. If they do, like I said next week they're doing it anyway "cause I find it easier that way..." Bwahahaha! IF it was supposed to be easy - we wouldn't have so many fat people around.

I love watching the guys do bicep curls as they rock the bar up and down at 60 mph. Always good for a laugh. Either that or doing one arm bench rows and "jerking" the weight up, then basically dropping it with no control. What the fuck is that?

 

[ghettostudmuffin]

I have offered unasked for advice a couple times in the past and all I got was smartass remarks made to me, so I never give anyone advice anymore. I just kinda shake my head. Now if someone asks me for advice I'll give it no problem.

As for squatting. Technically it's ok to look upwards at a spot on the ceiling while squatting. I prefer straight ahead, but everyone's different.

As for the knees. well I squat moderately wide with a little toe flare and sit back and down and even when I hit parallel my shins still aren't perpendicular to the ground. They still extend forward abit, but not past the toes. It depends on the type of squat being done. If I squat olympic style my knees are gonna go past my toes no matter what. Also if the person is tall and/or has long femurs it may be nigh impossible for them to squat to parallel without the knees going past their toes even with a wide stance.

Make sure you understand the different types of squat form before commenting on someone's form. There are olympic squats, athletics squats, power squats etc.

Best bet is to say nothing unless asked.

 

[Tweakle]

no, because everyone who squats like a pussy has 'bad knees' or a 'bad back'

Sometimes I do, but I come back the next week and see the jackass doing the same shitty reps with too much weight so why bother? And honestly, it's always funny seeing people trying to bench too much weight without collars or spotters and get pinned.

edit - looking up makes a big difference to my balance, I no longer topple forward which is nice when you're going heavy.

 

[Lee]

never, i just look at them and laugh so they see me. if they ask what im laughing at, ill fill them in. if they get an attitude i just laugh harder.

 

[Tweakle]

oh there's a guy who looks like Woody Allen's less muscular twin who trains at my gym, and he's caught me scoping his bench form a couple times with a smirk on my face at his 4" range of motion.. but he gives me a tough-guy look and adds another 25lb to each side and shaves another 2 inches off the lift.

but for every douche like that there's a couple guys who I think I've helped, or at least put on the right track.. usually it's younger kids who ask me for advice after seeing something. Not that that happens more than once every 2 months but then I'm all friendly and I'll tell them everything I (think) I know

 

[Beachbum1546]

people dont like to bevcorrected, hurts their ego. rather than saying they are wrong say something like this.

"sup guys, looks like you're working hard. hey, if you squats like this it will work better and even keep you from hurting yourself." include a side note about how the ladies like big muscles and that your way will give bigger muscles (keeps the homo-haters at bay).

 

[casualbb]

only if the form is wrong in a way to hurt themselves
Most exercises you can screw up to the nth degree but not endanger yourself, but there are a few that can be dangerous

Examples, bad squats with knees out, deadlifting with rounded back, etc.

I will absolutely tell people. Think about it, if there was ice on the sidewalk where you just came from and you almost slipped on it, why wouldn't you tell ppl heading towards you? It could prevent someone from getting hurt

 

[njlw226]

never, i just look at them and laugh so they see me. if they ask what im laughing at, ill fill them in. if they get an attitude i just laugh harder.

haha, thats the best response yet. karma for you!!

 

[SlavikHavik]

You know there are so many ways to do a movement. Its hard to say weather there doing that on purpose or not.

Like sometimes i Beng my torso at 90 degrees to my legs when im doing natural GHR's. To take The spinal erectors out of it.
Or Ill do quarter squats just to get used to having the weight on my back.
Or ill look like one of those idiots who has his buddy deadlift the weight off of him on the bench. Just because i want to work negatives or get used to handling the extra weight.
Or maybe im cheating cause i want to get out a few more reps.

Theres so many reasons "form" can be different.

Just mind your own business, cause someone else out there thinks your doing it wrong too.