KD5NFW's Quest for Strength Log

[nighttrain]

depth looks good to me, but hell im fighting my own demons in the skwatt arena!!

[Hunterace]

Originally Posted by KD5NFW

Cycle 8 Week 4 Day 4
40 minutes

Power clean
135 x 5 x 3

Squat
165 x 5
195 x 5 vid wide stance for me
225 x 5 vid narrower stance
195 x 5
165 x 5

45 leg press
3pps x 15 x 3

Laying leg curlz
100 x 10 x 3

Cardio
20 minutes LISS elliptical

I felt like the narrower stance with 225 was much better depth. Still can't sink it into my head to keep my upper back tight but at least I didn't lean too far forward I don't think. Critiques please
Bring on Cycle 9 Broheim!!

Squat 195x5 01182013 - YouTube

Squat 225x5 01182013 - YouTube

Great workout Rich! Depth was good on both, closer stance was deeper, both all white lights! Not sure if you can, but can you put the j-hooks on the other side of the rack? So your NOT facing the mirror. I know plenty of people don't have a problem but mabey your watching yourself in the mirror and it's throwing you off a little. Not say form is crap, and it's not as bad as you believe it is!!! Just have read many times not to watch yourself in the mirror when lifting, not saying you do that or that is reason, just a thought I figured I'd share . Keep up the great work!

[Squatter]

I would agree with JD. I also thought you could probably sit back more. Depth was bang on and overall it's a great squat. No major flaws at all in my eyes.

I of course cannot see how well your knees are <>, but your getting your depth so I don't see that as a major issue.

Nice deload week Rich. You made the most of it.

[KD5NFW]

Originally Posted by nighttrain

depth looks good to me, but hell im fighting my own demons in the skwatt arena!!

Haha thanks NT, I think squatz are evil anyway

Originally Posted by Hunterace

Great workout Rich! Depth was good on both, closer stance was deeper, both all white lights! Not sure if you can, but can you put the j-hooks on the other side of the rack? So your NOT facing the mirror. I know plenty of people don't have a problem but mabey your watching yourself in the mirror and it's throwing you off a little. Not say form is crap, and it's not as bad as you believe it is!!! Just have read many times not to watch yourself in the mirror when lifting, not saying you do that or that is reason, just a thought I figured I'd share . Keep up the great work!

Bro I needs my mirror break!! LOL thanks for the depth approval Jay. As far as facing away from the mirror, I would have to spin the whole rack around. It is constructed with channel iron, not tube, so the hooks will only attach on one side.

I guess I could use spinning the rack around as warmup/cardio

Originally Posted by Squatter

I would agree with JD. I also thought you could probably sit back more. Depth was bang on and overall it's a great squat. No major flaws at all in my eyes.

I of course cannot see how well your knees are <>, but your getting your depth so I don't see that as a major issue.

Nice deload week Rich. You made the most of it.

Thanks Jim I am concentrating on <> knees out from the start of the lift until the end so not sure I could get them any further out! I think I resist sitting back (at least what that means in my mind) because I am afraid of too much forward lean.

[fenrisulfr]

Squats look good man.

[CLEEPER]

From video, they looked great to me.

[BendtheBar]

I think your form looks good. My only advice is to not drive the hips back before you initiate the squat. You do that on some reps. It's ok to let the hips move back naturally. Many of us big hitters try to keep the hips natural.

[KD5NFW]

Originally Posted by fenrisulfr

Squats look good man.

Thanks fen! Welcome to MAB

Originally Posted by CLEEPER

From video, they looked great to me.

Thanks Chad, not to your depth but I'll never make that

Originally Posted by BendtheBar

I think your form looks good. My only advice is to not drive the hips back before you initiate the squat. You do that on some reps. It's ok to let the hips move back naturally. Many of us big hitters try to keep the hips natural.

Yeah that's the way I have been squatting, breaking at the hips first to initiate the move. I am trying to change that but obviously was not successful on every rep. It seems easier for me to get my knees opened up if I sit down vs back

[Paradox]

Good looking squats, man. You're actually fairly upright. I second the notion of not squatting into the mirror as it causes a lot of people to lean forward. I can't really tell your bar position, but if you still want a more upright torso, and the bar position can be higher, than try it higher. I think it's pretty darn decent, though.

[jdmalm123]

The cue I used to use when squatting in the mirror was to look at my hairline and not into the eyes...tended to keep me upright more...I don't use mirrors any more....my mind is more focused on depth (hitting safety bars), chest lift, midback tension, proper foot width and spreading the floor, but keeping the head up is still key.