Like many powerlifters, Wanda found herself flirting with squat depth in training. She worked hard to squat below parallel consistently and we used some reliable strategies to make sure her squats were low enough on meet day. In the end, she went 3-for-3 at her meet and set a 23-pound meet PR. Do YOU have …
Just when you think you’ve got it all figured out, life has a way of cutting you down to size. That’s how I felt at last week’s IPL Drug Tested North American Championships in St. Louis. We took six lifters to this national-level meet and had a great showing, coming in second place in the …
In the final installment of our How Deep Should You Squat? series of Technique Tuesday, I recruited fellow Cressey Sports Performance coach Miguel Aragoncillo to discuss his go-to assessments for evaluating an athlete’s ability to squat. Keep in mind, squatting requirements for powerlifters and athletes are drastically different. Powerlifters MUST squat in competition. Athletes don’t …
Technique Tuesday: How Deep Should You Squat? Part 4 Read More »
As we continue to delve into the question of “How Deep Should You Squat?”, this week we’ll discuss squat depth for powerlifters. Squat depth is simply defined in powerlifting, but getting deep enough isn’t always so easy. Here’s how to get there:
In part 1 of this multi-part series that answers the question, “How deep should you squat?” I discussed how your training goals will influence how deep you need to squat. This week’s Technique Tuesday dives further into the physical limitations that will determine how deep you can or should squat. Spoiler alert: good coaching is ALWAYS …
Technique Tuesday: How Deep Should You Squat? Part 2 Read More »
In the first installment of a multi-part series, this week’s Technique Tuesday begins to answer the age old question, “How deep should you squat?” Sounds like a simple question, but the answer isn’t as simple as it seems. This week, I step out of the gym and into the office to discuss why the number …
Technique Tuesday: How Deep Should You Squat? Part 1 Read More »
Squat depth (and therefore squat technique) can be a polarizing topic, which was made incredibly clear based on the response to my guest post for Tony Gentilcore on Monday. Every single day, I help powerlifters get stronger and improve their technique. A huge point of focus is improving torso and hip position during the squat. This …
3 Exercises to Help You Squat Deeper without a Single Mobility Drill Read More »
Squat depth is a funny thing. When people start lifting, they usually squat high. They don’t know how low they’re supposed to go, or they’re scared if they go too low, they won’t be able to stand back up. Then, once they read or hear that you “must” squat ass-to-grass, squat depth is everything. Like, …
Stack.com – Improve Your Squat Depth with 5 Easy Warm-Up Exercises Read More »
The other day, we concluded that box squats are awesome, although not interchangeable with regular squats. In part 1 of this three part series, we talked about all the good reasons to use box squats in a strength training program. Let’s recap: BOX SQUAT PROS They teach you to sit back, reinforcing good squat technique …
Squats are hands down my favorite exercise. They bring the full package – they can make you strong, huge AND athletic. They’re the exercise equivalent of the perfect woman – smart, funny AND beautiful. The problem is, squats are rarely beautiful. In fact, if you walk into the average gym, nine of out 10 squats …
