12/03/2020
THAT ONE WEIRD TRICK TO ADD 30KG ON YOUR SQUAT! PERSONAL TRAINERS HATE HIM!
So I thought it would be funny to create a post with the old school clickbait title! But, unlike a lot of those posts, I'm actually going to be giving you the answer to this question.
This is a video all about optimising your squat and therefore improving your maximum squat!
I used this technique with my powerlifting client Johnny in order to add 30kg in just one session! This technique also helped to improve discomfort when he performed back squats, making it much more efficient and reduced his likelihood of injury.
A lot of personal trainers coach the squat in a very strict manner. The feet must be slightly wider than shoulder width and the toes must be turned out x degrees.
Unfortunately this does not work for everyone and you can sometimes find that a person cannot perform a good upright squat without issue.
So why is this?
Well everyone's anatomy is different. Some of us have long femurs (thigh bone), some have great mobility of the ankle, some of us have a lot of internal hip rotation and some of us have very little. Our hip structures also vary enormously from person to person.
This means that we cannot all squat in the same way! Each person is individual and unique.
Choosing your squat stance should be based on a few of these components:
1) Hip structure
2) Hip tightness
3) Adductor flexibility
4) Ankle mobility
5) Leg length
You will see from the 2 photographs - one of Alex and one of Johnny - just how squat width and foot position can vary!
Over time, as your mobility increases or decreases, your squat stance may change but if you want to have a good squat, stop trying to squat a certain way and squat the way that is appropriate for you!
So what did I do? I experimented with a few different stances and toe widths to find the one that was most comfortable for Johnny! There are many ways to do this and I will share these over the next few days if there is enough interest!
Are you interested in Powerlifting/Weightlifting? Why not come down for a trial session at our club!
Drop us a message to find out more!
