I can't do a freaking squat

I really wish I could post a video but it's pretty this: I can't squat and go really low without my knees going over my toes and I can't make my knees NOT go over my toes unless I don't squat low enough. It's really frustrating and any advice on how to fix this or get better would be so appreciated.
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Replies

  • NeonStrikeVi
    NeonStrikeVi Posts: 61 Member
    What's helping me at the moment is practicing without any weights, and holding the squat at the bottom for a set amount of time.
  • kami3006
    kami3006 Posts: 4,979 Member
    Knees naturally track over and often past toes; it's natural and perfectly okay. The whole "not letting knees go past toes" bit has been debunked many times over.
  • ndj1979
    ndj1979 Posts: 29,136 Member
    kami3006 wrote: »
    Knees naturally track over and often past toes; it's natural and perfectly okay. The whole "not letting knees go past toes" bit has been debunked many times over.

    this …

    If you can sit down in a chair, you can squat.
  • christch
    christch Posts: 238 Member
    Have you tried to just body weight squat onto a box or bench where you just let your bottom touch and then you push back up with your legs. Then once you can do that with good form and confidence hold a dumbbell across chest and do that.
  • karwowski1992
    karwowski1992 Posts: 41 Member
    christch wrote: »
    Have you tried to just body weight squat onto a box or bench where you just let your bottom touch and then you push back up with your legs. Then once you can do that with good form and confidence hold a dumbbell across chest and do that.

    Well even without the bar or any weight my knees still go over my toes. When I had a trainer he would help me a lot because if I did it the 'right way' then I would fall on my butt lol He said it was due to having a really weak core. But idk.
  • ndj1979
    ndj1979 Posts: 29,136 Member
    christch wrote: »
    Have you tried to just body weight squat onto a box or bench where you just let your bottom touch and then you push back up with your legs. Then once you can do that with good form and confidence hold a dumbbell across chest and do that.

    Well even without the bar or any weight my knees still go over my toes. When I had a trainer he would help me a lot because if I did it the 'right way' then I would fall on my butt lol He said it was due to having a really weak core. But idk.

    It's ok if your knees track over toes.

    If your trainer is saying different get a new one.
  • TayFit07
    TayFit07 Posts: 410 Member
    Keep a straight back, and the top of your head pointing skyward, so straight neck and facing forward. Feet should be hip width apart and pointed forward parallel to each other. Hope that helps, also I generally put my hands into a fist formation in front of me to keep centre
  • arditarose
    arditarose Posts: 15,573 Member
  • ndj1979
    ndj1979 Posts: 29,136 Member
    TayFit07 wrote: »
    Keep a straight back, and the top of your head pointing skyward, so straight neck and facing forward. Feet should be hip width apart and pointed forward parallel to each other. Hope that helps, also I generally put my hands into a fist formation in front of me to keep centre

    Sorry but that is horrible advice.

    Your head should be forward or slightly down and feet should be turned out about 45 degrees or slightly less...
  • ragenhay1
    ragenhay1 Posts: 158 Member
    I found the key for me is focusing more on keeping my toes loose and all the weight in my heels. Just keep trying. It gets easier as your body gets used to it.
  • TayFit07
    TayFit07 Posts: 410 Member
    ndj1979 wrote: »
    TayFit07 wrote: »
    Keep a straight back, and the top of your head pointing skyward, so straight neck and facing forward. Feet should be hip width apart and pointed forward parallel to each other. Hope that helps, also I generally put my hands into a fist formation in front of me to keep centre

    Sorry but that is horrible advice.

    Your head should be forward or slightly down and feet should be turned out about 45 degrees or slightly less...

    I learnt from my coach, who also coaches in the olympics...
  • arditarose
    arditarose Posts: 15,573 Member
    TayFit07 wrote: »
    ndj1979 wrote: »
    TayFit07 wrote: »
    Keep a straight back, and the top of your head pointing skyward, so straight neck and facing forward. Feet should be hip width apart and pointed forward parallel to each other. Hope that helps, also I generally put my hands into a fist formation in front of me to keep centre

    Sorry but that is horrible advice.

    Your head should be forward or slightly down and feet should be turned out about 45 degrees or slightly less...

    I learnt from my coach, who also coaches in the olympics...

    What/who does he coach for the olympics?
  • TayFit07
    TayFit07 Posts: 410 Member
    arditarose wrote: »
    TayFit07 wrote: »
    ndj1979 wrote: »
    TayFit07 wrote: »
    Keep a straight back, and the top of your head pointing skyward, so straight neck and facing forward. Feet should be hip width apart and pointed forward parallel to each other. Hope that helps, also I generally put my hands into a fist formation in front of me to keep centre

    Sorry but that is horrible advice.

    Your head should be forward or slightly down and feet should be turned out about 45 degrees or slightly less...

    I learnt from my coach, who also coaches in the olympics...

    What/who does he coach for the olympics?

    It's a woman and she coaches Skeleton mainly
  • arditarose
    arditarose Posts: 15,573 Member
    TayFit07 wrote: »
    arditarose wrote: »
    TayFit07 wrote: »
    ndj1979 wrote: »
    TayFit07 wrote: »
    Keep a straight back, and the top of your head pointing skyward, so straight neck and facing forward. Feet should be hip width apart and pointed forward parallel to each other. Hope that helps, also I generally put my hands into a fist formation in front of me to keep centre

    Sorry but that is horrible advice.

    Your head should be forward or slightly down and feet should be turned out about 45 degrees or slightly less...

    I learnt from my coach, who also coaches in the olympics...

    What/who does he coach for the olympics?

    It's a woman and she coaches Skeleton mainly

    Ah, so not olympic lifting.
  • ndj1979
    ndj1979 Posts: 29,136 Member
    TayFit07 wrote: »
    ndj1979 wrote: »
    TayFit07 wrote: »
    Keep a straight back, and the top of your head pointing skyward, so straight neck and facing forward. Feet should be hip width apart and pointed forward parallel to each other. Hope that helps, also I generally put my hands into a fist formation in front of me to keep centre

    Sorry but that is horrible advice.

    Your head should be forward or slightly down and feet should be turned out about 45 degrees or slightly less...

    I learnt from my coach, who also coaches in the olympics...

    Sorry but it is not good advice....
  • TayFit07
    TayFit07 Posts: 410 Member
    arditarose wrote: »
    TayFit07 wrote: »
    arditarose wrote: »
    TayFit07 wrote: »
    ndj1979 wrote: »
    TayFit07 wrote: »
    Keep a straight back, and the top of your head pointing skyward, so straight neck and facing forward. Feet should be hip width apart and pointed forward parallel to each other. Hope that helps, also I generally put my hands into a fist formation in front of me to keep centre

    Sorry but that is horrible advice.

    Your head should be forward or slightly down and feet should be turned out about 45 degrees or slightly less...

    I learnt from my coach, who also coaches in the olympics...

    What/who does he coach for the olympics?

    It's a woman and she coaches Skeleton mainly

    Ah, so not olympic lifting.

    No, but obviously she's coaching in the olympics for a reason... Plus, I have a girl coaching me who was in the crossfit games. Anyways, I don't care, I feel like you guys are over exaggerating, so that's how I was taught to do a deep squat, and that's all
  • kami3006
    kami3006 Posts: 4,979 Member
    TayFit07 wrote: »
    arditarose wrote: »
    TayFit07 wrote: »
    arditarose wrote: »
    TayFit07 wrote: »
    ndj1979 wrote: »
    TayFit07 wrote: »
    Keep a straight back, and the top of your head pointing skyward, so straight neck and facing forward. Feet should be hip width apart and pointed forward parallel to each other. Hope that helps, also I generally put my hands into a fist formation in front of me to keep centre

    Sorry but that is horrible advice.

    Your head should be forward or slightly down and feet should be turned out about 45 degrees or slightly less...

    I learnt from my coach, who also coaches in the olympics...

    What/who does he coach for the olympics?

    It's a woman and she coaches Skeleton mainly

    Ah, so not olympic lifting.

    No, but obviously she's coaching in the olympics for a reason... Plus, I have a girl coaching me who was in the crossfit games. Anyways, I don't care, I feel like you guys are over exaggerating, so that's how I was taught to do a deep squat, and that's all

    With a barbell?
  • TayFit07
    TayFit07 Posts: 410 Member
    kami3006 wrote: »
    TayFit07 wrote: »
    arditarose wrote: »
    TayFit07 wrote: »
    arditarose wrote: »
    TayFit07 wrote: »
    ndj1979 wrote: »
    TayFit07 wrote: »
    Keep a straight back, and the top of your head pointing skyward, so straight neck and facing forward. Feet should be hip width apart and pointed forward parallel to each other. Hope that helps, also I generally put my hands into a fist formation in front of me to keep centre

    Sorry but that is horrible advice.

    Your head should be forward or slightly down and feet should be turned out about 45 degrees or slightly less...

    I learnt from my coach, who also coaches in the olympics...

    What/who does he coach for the olympics?

    It's a woman and she coaches Skeleton mainly

    Ah, so not olympic lifting.

    No, but obviously she's coaching in the olympics for a reason... Plus, I have a girl coaching me who was in the crossfit games. Anyways, I don't care, I feel like you guys are over exaggerating, so that's how I was taught to do a deep squat, and that's all

    With a barbell?

    No, without
  • arditarose
    arditarose Posts: 15,573 Member
    TayFit07 wrote: »
    arditarose wrote: »
    TayFit07 wrote: »
    arditarose wrote: »
    TayFit07 wrote: »
    ndj1979 wrote: »
    TayFit07 wrote: »
    Keep a straight back, and the top of your head pointing skyward, so straight neck and facing forward. Feet should be hip width apart and pointed forward parallel to each other. Hope that helps, also I generally put my hands into a fist formation in front of me to keep centre

    Sorry but that is horrible advice.

    Your head should be forward or slightly down and feet should be turned out about 45 degrees or slightly less...

    I learnt from my coach, who also coaches in the olympics...

    What/who does he coach for the olympics?

    It's a woman and she coaches Skeleton mainly

    Ah, so not olympic lifting.

    No, but obviously she's coaching in the olympics for a reason... Plus, I have a girl coaching me who was in the crossfit games. Anyways, I don't care, I feel like you guys are over exaggerating, so that's how I was taught to do a deep squat, and that's all

    But what she coaches in the olympics has nothing to do with squatting. And then there's cross fit. It's okay, that's how you squat. It's just generally not great advice.
  • kami3006
    kami3006 Posts: 4,979 Member
    Ah, totally different then.
  • ndj1979
    ndj1979 Posts: 29,136 Member
    arditarose wrote: »
    TayFit07 wrote: »
    arditarose wrote: »
    TayFit07 wrote: »
    arditarose wrote: »
    TayFit07 wrote: »
    ndj1979 wrote: »
    TayFit07 wrote: »
    Keep a straight back, and the top of your head pointing skyward, so straight neck and facing forward. Feet should be hip width apart and pointed forward parallel to each other. Hope that helps, also I generally put my hands into a fist formation in front of me to keep centre

    Sorry but that is horrible advice.

    Your head should be forward or slightly down and feet should be turned out about 45 degrees or slightly less...

    I learnt from my coach, who also coaches in the olympics...

    What/who does he coach for the olympics?

    It's a woman and she coaches Skeleton mainly

    Ah, so not olympic lifting.

    No, but obviously she's coaching in the olympics for a reason... Plus, I have a girl coaching me who was in the crossfit games. Anyways, I don't care, I feel like you guys are over exaggerating, so that's how I was taught to do a deep squat, and that's all

    But what she coaches in the olympics has nothing to do with squatting. And then there's cross fit. It's okay, that's how you squat. It's just generally not great advice.

    A lot of cross fitters have horrible form...
  • arditarose
    arditarose Posts: 15,573 Member
    ndj1979 wrote: »
    arditarose wrote: »
    TayFit07 wrote: »
    arditarose wrote: »
    TayFit07 wrote: »
    arditarose wrote: »
    TayFit07 wrote: »
    ndj1979 wrote: »
    TayFit07 wrote: »
    Keep a straight back, and the top of your head pointing skyward, so straight neck and facing forward. Feet should be hip width apart and pointed forward parallel to each other. Hope that helps, also I generally put my hands into a fist formation in front of me to keep centre

    Sorry but that is horrible advice.

    Your head should be forward or slightly down and feet should be turned out about 45 degrees or slightly less...

    I learnt from my coach, who also coaches in the olympics...

    What/who does he coach for the olympics?

    It's a woman and she coaches Skeleton mainly

    Ah, so not olympic lifting.

    No, but obviously she's coaching in the olympics for a reason... Plus, I have a girl coaching me who was in the crossfit games. Anyways, I don't care, I feel like you guys are over exaggerating, so that's how I was taught to do a deep squat, and that's all

    But what she coaches in the olympics has nothing to do with squatting. And then there's cross fit. It's okay, that's how you squat. It's just generally not great advice.

    A lot of cross fitters have horrible form...

    I didn't say it lol

  • ndj1979
    ndj1979 Posts: 29,136 Member
    arditarose wrote: »
    ndj1979 wrote: »
    arditarose wrote: »
    TayFit07 wrote: »
    arditarose wrote: »
    TayFit07 wrote: »
    arditarose wrote: »
    TayFit07 wrote: »
    ndj1979 wrote: »
    TayFit07 wrote: »
    Keep a straight back, and the top of your head pointing skyward, so straight neck and facing forward. Feet should be hip width apart and pointed forward parallel to each other. Hope that helps, also I generally put my hands into a fist formation in front of me to keep centre

    Sorry but that is horrible advice.

    Your head should be forward or slightly down and feet should be turned out about 45 degrees or slightly less...

    I learnt from my coach, who also coaches in the olympics...

    What/who does he coach for the olympics?

    It's a woman and she coaches Skeleton mainly

    Ah, so not olympic lifting.

    No, but obviously she's coaching in the olympics for a reason... Plus, I have a girl coaching me who was in the crossfit games. Anyways, I don't care, I feel like you guys are over exaggerating, so that's how I was taught to do a deep squat, and that's all

    But what she coaches in the olympics has nothing to do with squatting. And then there's cross fit. It's okay, that's how you squat. It's just generally not great advice.

    A lot of cross fitters have horrible form...

    I didn't say it lol

    Just watch the cross fit games...
  • arditarose
    arditarose Posts: 15,573 Member
    ndj1979 wrote: »
    arditarose wrote: »
    ndj1979 wrote: »
    arditarose wrote: »
    TayFit07 wrote: »
    arditarose wrote: »
    TayFit07 wrote: »
    arditarose wrote: »
    TayFit07 wrote: »
    ndj1979 wrote: »
    TayFit07 wrote: »
    Keep a straight back, and the top of your head pointing skyward, so straight neck and facing forward. Feet should be hip width apart and pointed forward parallel to each other. Hope that helps, also I generally put my hands into a fist formation in front of me to keep centre

    Sorry but that is horrible advice.

    Your head should be forward or slightly down and feet should be turned out about 45 degrees or slightly less...

    I learnt from my coach, who also coaches in the olympics...

    What/who does he coach for the olympics?

    It's a woman and she coaches Skeleton mainly

    Ah, so not olympic lifting.

    No, but obviously she's coaching in the olympics for a reason... Plus, I have a girl coaching me who was in the crossfit games. Anyways, I don't care, I feel like you guys are over exaggerating, so that's how I was taught to do a deep squat, and that's all

    But what she coaches in the olympics has nothing to do with squatting. And then there's cross fit. It's okay, that's how you squat. It's just generally not great advice.

    A lot of cross fitters have horrible form...

    I didn't say it lol

    Just watch the cross fit games...

    I can't
  • SideSteel
    SideSteel Posts: 11,068 Member
    edited November 2015
    The best thing you can do is to stop trying to prevent your knees from going past your toes. Note that in the front squat, knees go past the toes all the time. Just from a joint stress standpoint it doesn't make sense that "knees past the toes" is bad in a back squat and totally fine in a front squat and yet it happens frequently in a front squat due to the requirement of maintaining an upright torso.

    Additionally, if you WERE attempting to prevent the knees from going past the toes it would be easier to accomplish in a low bar back squat position because the low bar placement allows you to push your hips further back. But having said that I still wouldn't worry about it.
  • 3dogsrunning
    3dogsrunning Posts: 27,167 Member
    ndj1979 wrote: »
    arditarose wrote: »
    TayFit07 wrote: »
    arditarose wrote: »
    TayFit07 wrote: »
    arditarose wrote: »
    TayFit07 wrote: »
    ndj1979 wrote: »
    TayFit07 wrote: »
    Keep a straight back, and the top of your head pointing skyward, so straight neck and facing forward. Feet should be hip width apart and pointed forward parallel to each other. Hope that helps, also I generally put my hands into a fist formation in front of me to keep centre

    Sorry but that is horrible advice.

    Your head should be forward or slightly down and feet should be turned out about 45 degrees or slightly less...

    I learnt from my coach, who also coaches in the olympics...

    What/who does he coach for the olympics?

    It's a woman and she coaches Skeleton mainly

    Ah, so not olympic lifting.

    No, but obviously she's coaching in the olympics for a reason... Plus, I have a girl coaching me who was in the crossfit games. Anyways, I don't care, I feel like you guys are over exaggerating, so that's how I was taught to do a deep squat, and that's all

    But what she coaches in the olympics has nothing to do with squatting. And then there's cross fit. It's okay, that's how you squat. It's just generally not great advice.

    A lot of cross fitters have horrible form...

    A lot of people in general have horrible form.

  • SideSteel
    SideSteel Posts: 11,068 Member
    ndj1979 wrote: »
    arditarose wrote: »
    TayFit07 wrote: »
    arditarose wrote: »
    TayFit07 wrote: »
    arditarose wrote: »
    TayFit07 wrote: »
    ndj1979 wrote: »
    TayFit07 wrote: »
    Keep a straight back, and the top of your head pointing skyward, so straight neck and facing forward. Feet should be hip width apart and pointed forward parallel to each other. Hope that helps, also I generally put my hands into a fist formation in front of me to keep centre

    Sorry but that is horrible advice.

    Your head should be forward or slightly down and feet should be turned out about 45 degrees or slightly less...

    I learnt from my coach, who also coaches in the olympics...

    What/who does he coach for the olympics?

    It's a woman and she coaches Skeleton mainly

    Ah, so not olympic lifting.

    No, but obviously she's coaching in the olympics for a reason... Plus, I have a girl coaching me who was in the crossfit games. Anyways, I don't care, I feel like you guys are over exaggerating, so that's how I was taught to do a deep squat, and that's all

    But what she coaches in the olympics has nothing to do with squatting. And then there's cross fit. It's okay, that's how you squat. It's just generally not great advice.

    A lot of cross fitters have horrible form...

    A lot of people in general have horrible form.

    Honestly I've only actually seen a few crossfitters but the ones that I have seen have decent form compared to people who haven't been trained at all. That's certainly not going to apply to everyone but it's my observation so far.
  • SideSteel
    SideSteel Posts: 11,068 Member
    edited November 2015
    Not to be "that guy" but here's a clip of a recent squat and you'll see the knees going past the toes. I do think it's important to attempt to prevent excessive knee buckling/caving/valgus (knees should ideally not buckle inwards).




    If you think about squat mechanics and what has to happen at each joint while you watch this, you'll note:

    If I were to keep my knees from going past my toes, by default my hips would have to be further back. Since the bar ideally needs to be over the midfoot, then this means I'd also have to lean forward more at the waist. For ME, this causes low back pain and an incredibly crappy squat.
  • ndj1979
    ndj1979 Posts: 29,136 Member
    SideSteel wrote: »
    ndj1979 wrote: »
    arditarose wrote: »
    TayFit07 wrote: »
    arditarose wrote: »
    TayFit07 wrote: »
    arditarose wrote: »
    TayFit07 wrote: »
    ndj1979 wrote: »
    TayFit07 wrote: »
    Keep a straight back, and the top of your head pointing skyward, so straight neck and facing forward. Feet should be hip width apart and pointed forward parallel to each other. Hope that helps, also I generally put my hands into a fist formation in front of me to keep centre

    Sorry but that is horrible advice.

    Your head should be forward or slightly down and feet should be turned out about 45 degrees or slightly less...

    I learnt from my coach, who also coaches in the olympics...

    What/who does he coach for the olympics?

    It's a woman and she coaches Skeleton mainly

    Ah, so not olympic lifting.

    No, but obviously she's coaching in the olympics for a reason... Plus, I have a girl coaching me who was in the crossfit games. Anyways, I don't care, I feel like you guys are over exaggerating, so that's how I was taught to do a deep squat, and that's all

    But what she coaches in the olympics has nothing to do with squatting. And then there's cross fit. It's okay, that's how you squat. It's just generally not great advice.

    A lot of cross fitters have horrible form...

    A lot of people in general have horrible form.

    Honestly I've only actually seen a few crossfitters but the ones that I have seen have decent form compared to people who haven't been trained at all. That's certainly not going to apply to everyone but it's my observation so far.

    I based that opinion by watching cross fit games...I guess I should have said some and not a lot