Squats question!

ShaeLovelyy · May 2013

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!

YoungDoc2B · May 2013

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 parallel

pennysaurus · May 2013

Another vote for below parallel. Stick your *kitten* out far enough and your knees won't go out past your toes

jajnn · May 2013

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.

RobP1192 · May 2013

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.

grantdumas7 · May 2013

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.

LiftAllThePizzas · May 2013

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!

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.

rick_po · May 2013

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.

Mother_Superior · May 2013

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.

julielittlefish · May 2013

Your knees shouldn't go over your toes with correct form.

I'm an ATG girl myself.

WhaddoWino · May 2013

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.

Mother_Superior · May 2013

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.

MisterDerpington · May 2013

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.

ShaeLovelyy · May 2013

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.

MisterDerpington · May 2013

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.

ohmscheeks · May 2013

Seems like a greater range of motion would result in a better workout...

SoViLicious · May 2013

The more I squat the lower I go.

liftingheavy · May 2013

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.