The squat is arguably the most neglected of all lifts – KB or otherwise.
Why?
Because it’s hard and uncomfortable.
But it wasn’t always that way.
When you were a little guy or girl, you squatted quite often and very, very well. Better than the best powerlifter or Olympic lifter.
In fact, you hung out in a squat for most things related to your life.
Most of your interests were on the ground and you’d simply drop into a squat, hang out, and investigate.
Not so much anymore, huh?
Probably not.
What happened?
You sat still and were a good boy or good girl and paid attention for 15 years. Then you went and got a job and sat at a desk, and started staring at a computer screen.
You lost your reflexive stability.
You lost your “inner strength” – your “original strength.”
When you were a little kid you’d point your feet straight ahead and your body would simply “accordion” itself, folding right on top of your legs.
You didn’t worry about head, neck, chest, or eye position.
You just squatted and did your thing.
So how should we squat today since we’re so bound up and most of us have lost some of our reflexive stability?
Simple.
For Beginners…
Start with the Goblet Squat.
– Hold a KB in both hands by the horns
– Place your feet just outside of shoulder width
– Turn your feet out if necessary – 15 to 30 degrees
– Bend your knees and sit between them until your butt sits on the back of your calves
– Use the KB to counterbalance
Get comfortable with the Goblet Squat. Perform sets of 5 to 10 reps.
As many sets as you like to get comfortable.
Watch out when first starting out – these can make you SORE because it may have been some time since you’ve been in this position.
For Intermediates…
Use the Single KB Front Squat.
This is where you hold the KB in the rack.
It’s an often neglected exercise because sometimes it’s hard to balance.
That’s the point. 🙂
The single KB Squat helps you find your weaknesses, especially side-to-side –
That is, when one side doesn’t feel the same as the other.
You ultimately want to get them to feel the same.
For Advanced (Or Intermediate-Advanced)…
Use the Double KB Front Squat.
This is a beast.
It will challenge every muscle in your body.
It will also challenge your will. :
Here’s the thing:
Regardless of where you are on the KB user continuum, your squat should look the same.
– Feet slightly wider than shoulder width
– Feet pointed anywhere from straight ahead to pointed out 30 degrees
– Initiate the squat with your knees and push them out and then sit between them, ultimately resting your butt on the back of your calves
– Do this while keeping your lower back flat
– Keep your torso upright
Why don’t you initiate the squat with your hips?
When you push your hips back, your torso folds forward, and that makes holding the KBs in the rack darn near impossible because they will want to fall out and drop on your toes.
And if you try to save them, there’s a really good chance you could strain your lower back or a wrist as the bell wants to rotate out of the rack to the side of your body and on to the floor.
Ok, so let’s say you’ve got the Goblet Squat down but need help on getting the Front Squat down.
What do you do?
Simple.
You start at the beginning.
You learn how to get comfortable with a KB or pair of KBs in the rack.
Not only that, you need to learn how to transition this into the Front Squat while avoiding the 4 most common mistakes in the Front Squat.
The really good news is that once you get this technique down, your squatting becomes easy.
This means you’re more likely to do it, which means you’re more likely to achieve your goals faster.
Why?
Because squatting, especially with a pair of KBs, makes your whole body stronger. And that in turn will also help you become leaner.
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