Squats question!
ShaeLovelyy
Posts: 55
Okay so i have a question about squat form. Lately ive been seeing people say "*kitten* to grass" a lot meaning you have to get your *kitten* all the way to the floor. The way i learned to do squats though was to never let your knees go over your toes. Your knees absolutely go over your toes though when you squat all the way down to the floor! Seems thats putting more stress on your knees too. Who can give me the real answer on how squats are supposed to be done!
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Lol. This is all controversial.
There are 3 schools. Go to slightly above parallel.
Go to parallel
Go below parallel.
The MFP mob is mostly a below parallel group. I suppose different forums have their own mob.
A google search will give you lots of opinions on the topic. All of it is right. There is no wrong. It's just doing it the way you feel works based on your goals.
+1 for going below parallel0 -
Another vote for below parallel. Stick your *kitten* out far enough and your knees won't go out past your toes0
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I find its hard on my knees if I don't go as low as possible. Most people I see squatting have too narrow of a stance and terrible depth.0
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My knees go over my toes. Not by a lot, but they just go over. I get that crackling in my knees now, i hope it's not a result of knees going over toes. Dagger for me.0
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Go at lest parallel. Some people don't have the flexibility and tend to lean too far fwd when going to ATG. These people would be better off going to parallel or only slightly below.0
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For me it depends on how much weight I'm squatting. With no extra weight, my center of gravity is at my hips, which go way back and I have to compensate by standing on my toes and put my knees way forward, and that actually hurts my knees. With about 150+ lbs on a bar, my center of gravity changes enough that I can squat with good form.Okay so i have a question about squat form. Lately ive been seeing people say "*kitten* to grass" a lot meaning you have to get your *kitten* all the way to the floor. The way i learned to do squats though was to never let your knees go over your toes. Your knees absolutely go over your toes though when you squat all the way down to the floor! Seems thats putting more stress on your knees too. Who can give me the real answer on how squats are supposed to be done!0 -
I have a bad knee from a skiing accident. If I'm doing a heavy squat, it's much harder on my knees to try to stop the squat part way down. If I go all the way down, I can get a "bounce" at the bottom that helps me change direction and start my drive back up.
For light squats, I don't think it matters either way, but I always go all the way down just because I don't like to practice bad habits.0 -
Depending on whether or not you want to make the financial investment, I'd recommend getting a copy of Starting Strength. Rippetoe goes into an almost ridiculous amount of detail regarding squat form. I'm pretty sure it's the biggest chapter of the book. It's definitely worth a read.0
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Your knees shouldn't go over your toes with correct form.
I'm an ATG girl myself.0 -
Depending on whether or not you want to make the financial investment, I'd recommend getting a copy of Starting Strength. Rippetoe goes into an almost ridiculous amount of detail regarding squat form. I'm pretty sure it's the biggest chapter of the book. It's definitely worth a read.
Yes! I second this recommendation. You can learn the physics of the movement and get a better understanding of the maximum strength benefits when you squat low.0 -
Now that I think about it...if you go to Amazon (http://ow.ly/lakGJ I shortened the address.) you can get a sample of the ebook for free. It may have all or at least part of the chapter on squats included. I don't remember how far the sample goes.0
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Lol. This is all controversial.
There are 3 schools. Go to slightly above parallel.
Go to parallel
Go below parallel.
The MFP mob is mostly a below parallel group. I suppose different forums have their own mob.
A google search will give you lots of opinions on the topic. All of it is right. There is no wrong. It's just doing it the way you feel works based on your goals.
I've NEVER heard anyone who's serious about strength training advocating going above parallel. Unless they're maybe doing high box squats and following a Westside BB program.0 -
Thanks for the responses everyone! I mean specifically when i did Insanity, Shaun T was very strict in consistently saying to make sure your knees dont go over your toes. Maybe that was the difference though? Insanity is more to lose weight and get fit rather than focusing on lifting/squatting heavy.0
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Thanks for the responses everyone! I mean specifically when i did Insanity, Shaun T was very strict in consistently saying to make sure your knees dont go over your toes. Maybe that was the difference though? Insanity is more to lose weight and get fit rather than focusing on lifting/squatting heavy.
I tried Insanity. While it may be a good cardio program, the squat technique I saw them advocating was....less than great.0 -
Seems like a greater range of motion would result in a better workout...0
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The more I squat the lower I go.0
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I go slightly below parallel with heavy weights, and about parallel with endurance squats (5-6 minute routines). If you keep your weight in your heels it will help prevent your knees going over your toes.0
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The more I squat the lower I go.
I try to go lower each time. Doing ATG doesn't just work my legs more, on my opinion, but it has been helping me with my balance and flexibility.0 -
Are you doing weighted squats?0
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The more I squat the lower I go.
I try to go lower each time. Doing ATG doesn't just work my legs more, on my opinion, but it has been helping me with my balance and flexibility.
Me too, I find that it all works together: lower squats = better flexibility = lower squats0 -
Thanks for the responses everyone! I mean specifically when i did Insanity, Shaun T was very strict in consistently saying to make sure your knees dont go over your toes. Maybe that was the difference though? Insanity is more to lose weight and get fit rather than focusing on lifting/squatting heavy.
The toes/knees thing seems like a weird rule. What if you have little feet? Long thighs? There's a lot of variation in people's anatomy.
I think it's more important that you concentrate on keeping your knees out over your feet, in the same angle as your feet, throughout the squat movement. I have a tendency to rotate my knees to point straight forward, which twists my knee joint. If I keep my knees out, then I'm using a lot of my inner thigh to help push up, and my knees never ache afterwards.0 -
My kid's weight class, they go to parallel. Weighted, I go as low as I can before I feel the weight start shifting off my heels, then I come up. I started above parallel, am now at parallel and hope will get ATG eventually. I also do bodyweight squats ATG with balance assistance. At least to me, ATG feels like it does more/works deeper.0
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Are you doing weighted squats?
Yess i do weighted squats. I usually start with 25 pound weights on each side and then add more as i finish more sets.0 -
Are you doing weighted squats?
Yess i do weighted squats. I usually start with 25 pound weights on each side and then add more as i finish more sets.
Barbell? Are you doing low or high bar?0 -
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Are you doing weighted squats?
Yess i do weighted squats. I usually start with 25 pound weights on each side and then add more as i finish more sets.
Barbell? Are you doing low or high bar?
Being semi new at this whole lifitng thanggg im not sure what high or low bar means! haha its basically a thing that holds the bar up for you..then you put the weights on..walk under it..and then lift it off the holders and just squat from there..and yes its a barbell!0 -
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Are you doing weighted squats?
Yess i do weighted squats. I usually start with 25 pound weights on each side and then add more as i finish more sets.
Barbell? Are you doing low or high bar?
Being semi new at this whole lifitng thanggg im not sure what high or low bar means! haha its basically a thing that holds the bar up for you..then you put the weights on..walk under it..and then lift it off the holders and just squat from there..and yes its a barbell!
It is fine to go slightly over your knees as long as your form is good - it depends on your physiology. Make sure your knees align with your feet angle and a wider stance is often 'better' to minimize any overhang.
See the pic below:
The more upright you are, the more the knees will tend to go over the toes - which is fine. A2G is normally done with high bar. Low bar is not as easy to do A2G (nor is it necessary).
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Just adding these for some resources:
http://startingstrength.wikia.com/wiki/Squat_Videos
http://startingstrength.wikia.com/wiki/FAQ:The_Lifts0
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