Squat Video

Well I got some good feedback from my deadlift video so I had Jason take a squat video today. So here goes!

http://s283.photobucket.com/albums/kk305/Whoa2323/?action=view&current=P1010003.flv

Critique away. No need to be gentle.

Age: 26 Height: 5'10
Weight as of 8/31/08: 160lbs.
Current weight: 180lbs.
Semi-Clean Bulkin!
Current Maxes as of 6/4/08:
Squat: 250lbs.
Deadlift: 255lbs.
Bench: 285lbs.

My only issue is that you are locking out the knees at the top of the movement, it takes the load off of the quads, and puts stress on the knee joint.  On a personal note, I don't like the shoes either....but thats another story...

props to u and fox first off for posting lifting vids. people can get pretty harsh when it comes to these.
 
as far as i can tell it looks pretty good but the bar is placed too high on ur back and it looks as if ur first motion is bending the knees. when ur squating ur first motion should be to kick ur hips back. dont move ur knees first!!!

Current: 19, 5'11", 190@7%

bench:305 squat:370(atg) deadlift:475
Goals: 4plate squat, 5plate dead

"obsessed is a word the lazy use to describe the dedicated"

ORIGINAL: optimumhealth

My only issue is that you are locking out the knees at the top of the movement, it takes the load off of the quads, and puts stress on the knee joint.  On a personal note, I don't like the shoes either....but thats another story...

 
What is wrong with his shoes?

you need a lot more hip drive, ive noticed thats been quite a few peoples problem.  It looks good dont get me wrong but you would move more weight with more explosiveness that way

well matt.  you've got some good feedback so far.

i thought his hip-drive was decent, but i guess i was wrong.   which means bad things for me ROFL.   my vid is coming soon.  just gotta get home and upload it.

his shoes are the knock-off brand of chuck taylors.  i don't see what's wrong with them either.  flat foot shoes FTW!

i'm gonna get torn apart when they see my hip-drive compared to yours matt haha.  goodjob.  prepare for more feedback, b/c i'm sure there's quite a few other peeps that'll chip in here soon.   especially interested to see what smoundz has to say. 


*oh yea, and don't forget to check out the chick in the LIME GREEN shirt in matts video in the left corner of the screen.   she's flipping HOT (kinda hard to tell)... and she's one of the trainers at the gym*

My name is FOX.... and I approve this message.

I noticed you looking dead ahead as well. When I squat, I tend to try to look up, helps me keep the weight distributed well. But, hey as long as ur not hurting your back, and ur making the gains, I say you're doing well.

i thought it look pretty good.

if the bar is not resting on your neck, it is fine.  i use a higher bar position too.

looking straight ahead or slightly down is better on your neck/back than looking up.

as far as hip drive goes, it did look like you could have more.  just have to focus on moving your hips first, down and up.  Maybe think about using your hamstrings to really move you up and down and it may make you have more hip drive.

I don't know about the not locking out thing.  rippetoe locks out.

depth looks great!

No the leg press is not the same as doing squats.

ORIGINAL: optimumhealth

My only issue is that you are locking out the knees at the top of the movement, it takes the load off of the quads, and puts stress on the knee joint. On a personal note, I don't like the shoes either....but thats another story...

Joint ARE made to lock out. That's the most stable position, and they adapt to the load like every other part of your body. The "don't lock out the weight" myth must die.

looked perfect to me but i donno much

coldfire,  what do you think of the squat form?   i'm interested in your critique.  my video will be up soon and my form looks similar to his, but with a lil bit less amount of hip-drive.

My name is FOX.... and I approve this message.

ORIGINAL: dmobley01

i thought it look pretty good.

if the bar is not resting on your neck, it is fine.  i use a higher bar position too.

looking straight ahead or slightly down is better on your neck/back than looking up.

as far as hip drive goes, it did look like you could have more.  just have to focus on moving your hips first, down and up.  Maybe think about using your hamstrings to really move you up and down and it may make you have more hip drive.

I don't know about the not locking out thing.  rippetoe locks out.

depth looks great!

I disagree, looking up causes you to keep your back straight in my opinion. Looking straight ahead will cause you to roll more forward and put all of the pressure on the balls on your feet. As for driving your hips, looking up will also increase the drive from your hips. Now if you are doing something like a box squat I would keep head straight forward.

well rippetoe disagrees with you.  i tend to go with what he says.  personaly i say use what your most comfortable with, but to say looking straight or slightly down is bad is not accurate.

No the leg press is not the same as doing squats.

i like to look straight, or slightly up myself.   As long as it's nothing CRAZY, i think the neck will be fine.   things work better for some, and not for others.

My name is FOX.... and I approve this message.

agree.  you just don't want to over exaggerate looking up or down.

No the leg press is not the same as doing squats.

ORIGINAL: TheSilverFox

coldfire, what do you think of the squat form? i'm interested in your critique. my video will be up soon and my form looks similar to his, but with a lil bit less amount of hip-drive.

I think it looks pretty good.

ORIGINAL: dmobley01

agree.  you just don't want to over exaggerate looking up or down.

I'm not saying turn ur head up all the way, just tilt it, and if u don't wanna tilt it, just use ur eyes and look up. If it works awesome, if not, keep doing what ur doing. We all have different bodys, and we all respond to different forms and exercises. I was just saying from personal experience. As long as ur not hurting urself, and you are going deep enough in ur squat, I say, good for you sir. There is a ton of "body builders" at my gym who don't even bother to squat bc they don't want their legs to get bigger, which, we all know is BS, so I always commend people for working their legs. If ur getting stronger and not hurting urself, then ur doing something right. Good job man, props for putting up a video.

ORIGINAL: MrAllStarChris

ORIGINAL: dmobley01

i thought it look pretty good.

if the bar is not resting on your neck, it is fine.  i use a higher bar position too.

looking straight ahead or slightly down is better on your neck/back than looking up.

as far as hip drive goes, it did look like you could have more.  just have to focus on moving your hips first, down and up.  Maybe think about using your hamstrings to really move you up and down and it may make you have more hip drive.

I don't know about the not locking out thing.  rippetoe locks out.

depth looks great!

I disagree, looking up causes you to keep your back straight in my opinion. Looking straight ahead will cause you to roll more forward and put all of the pressure on the balls on your feet. As for driving your hips, looking up will also increase the drive from your hips. Now if you are doing something like a box squat I would keep head straight forward.

 
Read Rippetoe's "Basic Barbell Training" and you will see why looking up is awful for your spine.  Honestly, this isn't about opinion, it is about the mechanics of how your body works.  Check it out, you will change your opinion.
 
 

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Thanks for all the critiques and opinions guys. I'll definately work on the hip drive (I kinda figured that was going to be an issue b/c it isn't something I've paid attention to until now). I see nothing wrong my shoes except for the fact that they look like they belong on a clown. A lot better than when I was squatting/deadlifting with tennis shoes that were pushing me up on my toes. As far as the looking up, looking down thing, I've tried both ways (looking up first b/c people told me that's what you were supposed to do) and looking pretty much straight ahead feels the most comfortable to me. Only time I've ever felt pressure on my spine was actually when I used to look up, but that could have also been due to just bad technique in general.

Anyway, thanks for taking some time out of your day to view and critique. Hopefully my next video will get a 5 star review. Heh. Would like more opinions on where I hold the bar, b/c it feels comfortable to me, but if it should be lower down my back I can work on that as well.

Age: 26 Height: 5'10
Weight as of 8/31/08: 160lbs.
Current weight: 180lbs.
Semi-Clean Bulkin!
Current Maxes as of 6/4/08:
Squat: 250lbs.
Deadlift: 255lbs.
Bench: 285lbs.

the bar should be resting on your traps for a high bar and delts on a low bar hold.  Put your hands as close together while having the bar high as it causes your traps to pop out and provide more cushioning for the bar.  As for looking up or down, you should look straight ahead, by looking up you are putting undue stress on your atlantoaxial joint and looking down can make you curve the back.  Keeping the head neutral is important

Actually if you really want to do it right regarding the eyes. put a tennis ball under your chin and hold it there. fix on a spot about 5-6 feet in front of you on the floor.

6'3"  @213

Squat 1x20x275

press:200, Deadlift:475, Bench:300, P.clean:235, Squat:385

"The only failure that is final is to stop trying to improve"

i was too busy looking at the possible hot chick in the lime green shirt in the backgroud......................sorry