Squats, Heavy Squats And Squatters (Part 1)
If someone down the gym tells you that their favourite exercise is squats, well they would be either genetically gifted, they may be a masochist or just a bullshiter. While squatting is as a natural position as resting or having a pee, it is in fact as unnatural as my x wife’s tits when having a heavy weight crushing into your neck and straightening up from a curved spine position. Although it is an unnatural movement it doesn’t mean it isn’t a quality exercise, but the normal reaction would be that you get it over and done with asap.
One of the all time great squatters would have been the late Paul Anderson who was unofficially crowned the “Worlds Strongest Man”. He once said that he must have done thousands of squats while training but that he had detested every single one of them and went on to say that he could no way understand anyone he said the contrary. It is a sad fact that squats hurt but that they are an essential part of any body-building routine.
Doing knee bends with a barbell across the back of the neck, aching chest and gasping for breath, may actually be pleasurable for those most suited being the mesomorph and endomorph mixes. If you as a normal guy would like to cut back on a bit of pain then try rolling up towels around the bar and perhaps don’t dip quite so low and keep the bar parallel. This is a much more comfortable approach to the exercise and is a lot more suitable for those of you who are more likely to be doing this exercise…the skinny guys.
Those ‘naturally’ muscular, bulky or above average in strength rarely seek out to train with weights or if they do seldom stick at it long, and why should they..? The poorly endowed have without a doubt the strongest and longest held desire to gain respectable muscle and strength and once gains are made – appreciate them a whole lot more. George Eiferman could do 150 consecutive squat reps – on one leg?
So first exercise on every build up/bulk schedule has to be squats or some form of knee bends. Some coaches are indeed against heavy squats. Claiming such exercise are the cause of hip/knee joint injuries. Many an old timer rues the day they squatted too heavy or too late in life, causing them pain, including Grimek, who squatted heavy even in his 7O’s. later requiring hip replacements.
Over doing leg wrap while squatting heavy may have negative results on development and strengthening joints. The real purpose of using wraps is to protect but if you over do it, it can lead to weakening of the joints and connective tissues. A competing power lifter may indeed go big on wraps, but there is no doubt that you can lift more with them as well as preventing serious injury.
But for development purposes do not use them. Some people with relatively short leg bones (thus stronger leverage) may well be able to squat onto their haunches Asian style. It is a natural way to sit – to squat, but nature did not intend homo sapiens (that’s us guys) to then try to arise with an extra double bodyweight or more, and unless supported, the spinal column and knee joints, especially if you make the mistake of relaxing in the low position, are put under immeasurable stress.
It would be quite true to say that those who can actually get right down on squats or squat snatches and continue to straighten up without causing themselves a nasty injury are certainly not in the majority. This obviously applies to heavy squats and I would like to carry on with this exercise in part 2.
Filed under: Training