How Deep Do You Squat? - Page 2

**spytech** · 05-29-2005, 04:14 AM

I use a wide stance and go parallel. anything past that and my knees bitch like there is no tomorrow - cannot get my hams to stop growing

to really nail my quads I do heavy ass parallel hack squats and close stance leg presses.

**EME** · 05-29-2005, 05:11 AM

I squat down to my ankles.
I'm very proud to have the deepest squats at my gym.

It's unbelievable what you see some people doing.

I'm much more impressed with someone squatting with 135 lbs and going to the floor, than with the jokers who load up the plates and move the bar 6 inches.

And for the love of God, if you have to put a pad on the bar to do your squats.... just go home. Or at least move on to the leg extension machine and leave the power rack to real lifters....

( Can you tell this is peave of mine... haha )

- EME

**spytech** · 05-29-2005, 05:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EME

I squat down to my ankles.
( Can you tell this is peave of mine... haha )

- EME

I personally love the guys doing their squats in the smith machine, then taking 10 minutes between sets to talk to their friends

Gappa238 · 05-30-2005, 05:33 PM

on regular squats i go just below parallel and when i do jump squats my ass it touching the earth

jram · 07-26-2005, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IronRapist

How deep do you guys squat?

I've always only gone parallel, any time I go below parallel my knees crack and hurt. I just ordered some knee wraps, hopefully I'll be able to go a bit deeper now.

Hey IR;

This is my first post here at Iron Mass and have I’ve read many of the threads and posts. I see a lot of good advice here and hope to use many of the informative suggestions listed. But, getting to the squat.

When I do a squat I make sure that when I lift off the rack and back up a step or two that I have the bar exactly where I want it, (normally just below the traps) then with a shoulder wide stance, (some go wider) feet pointed a little outward, head up (by keeping my head up helps me keep my back straight). I'll begin the squat by INHALING first, then as I proceed down I EXHALE slowly (like a leak in a high pressure pipe). At the bottom of the squat I make sure I do not bounce & make sure my feet are flat and I try to keep my knees from extending beyond my toes, as I come back up I'm still EXHALING. It's when I'm at the top of the completed squat that I stop exhaling. Then I either rack the bar or go for more reps. That's the way I do the ATG squat but, that's what feels comfortable for me. I’m 67 and I do 5X5’s. ATG’s up to 200 lbs. Anything over 200 lbs., I go just below parallel (presently, I’m at 270 lbs.). I'm a firm believer that strict form is the key to injury free squats and so far I've had no injuries as a result of using this method of squatting.

Although, to be honest, at times I may tend to lose strict form after 3+ reps and if I lose that form that's when I'm afraid I'll just hurt myself. So to combat this I do 5X2's sometimes twice, simply because it allows me to concentrate more on form and recovery. I still get in 10-20 reps.

Finally, some people hold their breath though out the squat (they say it helps support the spine during the squat) personally holding my breath through out the squat is too taxing on my system. But again, that's me.

Peace

Apootheosis · 07-26-2005, 02:50 PM

200, 3 reps, ATG :nosthumbs bad form on last rep though, have to go thru the semi-good morning thing to get back up.

I only do box squats and ATG squats. I dont have the link to this huge article on box squats...but its great for powerlifting and strength

**Peaked_18** · 07-26-2005, 04:50 PM

Always go Hams to Calves and deeper.

**BigZeke** · 07-26-2005, 06:01 PM

BigZeke can't squat ATG. His knees are bad, so we have to squat to parallel and/or a little below.

**Peaked_18** · 07-26-2005, 07:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigZeke

BigZeke can't squat ATG. His knees are bad, so we have to squat to parallel and/or a little below.

Read that "You Don't Know Squat" thread, it explains alot of things about Squatting with knee problems. Antihero posted it up awhile ago.

**johnsbod** · 07-26-2005, 07:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigZeke

BigZeke can't squat ATG. His knees are bad, so we have to squat to parallel and/or a little below.

Parallel is actually the hardest on the knees. If you go past parallel and have knee problems try not to let your knees go much past your toes. This movement is actually much better for the knees than parallel.

**BobThePotato** · 07-26-2005, 08:14 PM

I go almost ass to grass, just a couple inches short. I used to be one of those not even to parrellell guys but i learned the errror of my ways

, and i have no problem with my knees even after 2 knee surgereys, and im only about 2 months post op from one of them.

**jiza101** · 07-26-2005, 11:33 PM

Are any of you guys over 6ft2 ?? Because i was reading a thread by str8flexed, and he had the same problem as me. That was no matter how far we lean back, the knees still go a bit over our toes :evil: Im not sure what i can do ?? I already have back problems, so im going to concentrate more on my form, and make sure i don't good morning on the way up :nosthumbs

**powerman2000** · 07-27-2005, 06:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jiza101

Are any of you guys over 6ft2 ?? Because i was reading a thread by str8flexed, and he had the same problem as me. That was no matter how far we lean back, the knees still go a bit over our toes :evil: Im not sure what i can do ?? I already have back problems, so im going to concentrate more on my form, and make sure i don't good morning on the way up :nosthumbs

I'm just shy of 6'3" and my knees will always go a little over my toes. I squat down to somewhere between parallel and my ankles. I am most comfortable stopping just a few inches from the very bottom. I vary my stance with every squat workout.

Aftershock · 07-27-2005, 06:44 PM

Switch up between parallel and ATG.

AS

**BigZeke** · 07-27-2005, 11:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnsbod

Parallel is actually the hardest on the knees. If you go past parallel and have knee problems try not to let your knees go much past your toes. This movement is actually much better for the knees than parallel.

I've always been told to keep my knees behind my toes on the squating.

**johnsbod** · 07-28-2005, 12:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigZeke

I've always been told to keep my knees behind my toes on the squating.

Well, that's half of it, now just do full squats instead of parallel. Most likely you'll have to drop the weight, but they will give you better overall development and will put less stress on the knees.

AaronM · 07-28-2005, 03:12 AM

I used to go to parallel. I was told a few days ago that this is killer for the knees. I am now a full time ATG squater

!!!

05-29-2005, 04:14 AM	#31
spytech Getting Stronger Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 1,490 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 36	I use a wide stance and go parallel. anything past that and my knees bitch like there is no tomorrow - cannot get my hams to stop growing to really nail my quads I do heavy ass parallel hack squats and close stance leg presses. __________________ 5'10" - 230 @ 8-9% Status: Getting stronger... 692d/625s Create your own FREE Workout Journal at http://www.strengthandbody.com/ My Lifting Vids Spytech SHSHT: http://www.strengthandbody.com/shsht.html Spytech SHWSB: http://www.strengthandbody.com/shwsb.html

05-29-2005, 05:11 AM	#32
EME Super Moderator Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 3,264 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 51	I squat down to my ankles. I'm very proud to have the deepest squats at my gym. It's unbelievable what you see some people doing. I'm much more impressed with someone squatting with 135 lbs and going to the floor, than with the jokers who load up the plates and move the bar 6 inches. And for the love of God, if you have to put a pad on the bar to do your squats.... just go home. Or at least move on to the leg extension machine and leave the power rack to real lifters.... ( Can you tell this is peave of mine... haha ) - EME __________________ PhysiqueFXonline - Online Nutrition and Training with Michael and Kendra Elias: www.PhysiqueFXonline.com www.MichaelandKendra.com My wife, and IFBB Fitness Pro Kendra Elias' personal site: www.KendraElias.com Proud member of Team ALR: www.ALRIndustries.com

07-26-2005, 08:14 PM	#41
BobThePotato Nublarsaurusrex Join Date: May 2005 Location: Calgary//Alberta Posts: 513 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 21	I go almost ass to grass, just a couple inches short. I used to be one of those not even to parrellell guys but i learned the errror of my ways , and i have no problem with my knees even after 2 knee surgereys, and im only about 2 months post op from one of them. __________________ "Geadelt ist wer Schmerzen kennt vom Feuer das in Lust verbrennt."

07-26-2005, 11:33 PM	#42
jiza101 Rocco Siffredi Join Date: May 2005 Location: On Set Posts: 621 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 10	Are any of you guys over 6ft2 ?? Because i was reading a thread by str8flexed, and he had the same problem as me. That was no matter how far we lean back, the knees still go a bit over our toes :evil: Im not sure what i can do ?? I already have back problems, so im going to concentrate more on my form, and make sure i don't good morning on the way up :nosthumbs __________________

07-27-2005, 06:44 PM	#44
Aftershock Steel Pimp Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 285 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 6	Switch up between parallel and ATG. AS __________________ sholiz: im drunk and i want some fruit loops Aftershock: no i know you need to maintain a certain level of professionalism on ironmass Aftershock: how easily i can destroy that... sholiz: just in appearance `````````\\|\|\|/ `````````(o o) ,--ooO-----(_)-------------, \|````````` Aftershock ````\| \|```````````is```````````\| \|``````````sexy````````` \| '--------------Ooo----------' ````````\|__\|__\| `````````\|\|\| \|\| ````````ooO Ooo

05-30-2005, 05:33 PM	#34
Gappa238 Fast guy in training Join Date: May 2005 Location: Gappaville Posts: 614 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 25	on regular squats i go just below parallel and when i do jump squats my ass it touching the earth

07-26-2005, 02:50 PM	#36
Apootheosis Pro Stature Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 625 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 10	200, 3 reps, ATG :nosthumbs bad form on last rep though, have to go thru the semi-good morning thing to get back up. I only do box squats and ATG squats. I dont have the link to this huge article on box squats...but its great for powerlifting and strength

07-26-2005, 04:50 PM	#37
Peaked_18 a la commode Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 4,247 Recipes: 2 Rep Power: 96	Always go Hams to Calves and deeper.

07-26-2005, 06:01 PM	#38
BigZeke Bringing Lat Flares Back Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Hell Raisin' and Girl Chasin' Posts: 2,305 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 71	BigZeke can't squat ATG. His knees are bad, so we have to squat to parallel and/or a little below.

07-28-2005, 03:12 AM	#47
AaronM Pro Stature Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: SW Florida Posts: 253 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 6	I used to go to parallel. I was told a few days ago that this is killer for the knees. I am now a full time ATG squater !!!

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