Just Squat!

[Tartulho]

Hail, excellent points! I also think Front squats made with just enought weight to give you a nice exercise while controlling knee movement are a very good exercise.

[thebigragu]

can you highlight the bits you highlighted for those who want an even shorter read?

i'm currently taking a week off as the front of my left knee is very painful when i walk down stairs or try to get up from the floor. it is very sore when performing squats. i do back squats.

which form should i be doing to avoid this and can you post a link to a video?

[Aren_Tyr]

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I personally find front squats are better than back squat

I need to practice my front squats as they are an excellent exercise, and my technique on them is pants.

However, I do believe the back squat is better because:

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a) they hit the quads more than back squats

Precisely; most people's quads tend to be better developed than the rest of their leg, in my experience. Indeed, I would say that a large chunk of my strength comes from the front anterior chain rather than the rear posterior chain, which is limiting me.

Real squat power comes from leaning much further back, avoiding the "half-good morning" scenario you mention, and driving up using the whole foot. I need to work on this. If I can perfect my squat technique in this manner, I believe I could probably be doing 200kg ass-to-grass Olympic style squats within a year or two. As it is, I lean forward too much, and I think my hip-flexors are a bit tight (from lots of cycling, I guess), which is why I find going below parallel uncomfortable/difficult. I need to work on correcting this slight strength imbalance.

There is a video on Google videos showing Ivan Chakarov, a Bulgarian, doing 265kg ATG squats with utterly flawless technique. It is poetry in motion. The guys weighs 91kg, and was using no straps, belts or spotters. His back was almost competely upright, even right down to his ankles. Awesome. Pure power, I bet he could probably manage a 300kg+ squat.

Aren.

[Tartulho]

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can you highlight the bits you highlighted for those who want an even shorter read?

i'm currently taking a week off as the front of my left knee is very painful when i walk down stairs or try to get up from the floor. it is very sore when performing squats. i do back squats.

which form should i be doing to avoid this and can you post a link to a video?

If you're in a rush, read only the first one and the part 4 of article 2 (PROPER TECHNIQUE FOR THE ATHLETE’S SQUAT). Also, warm up really good, don't do partial squats, avoid moving your knee forward when squatting (to reduce torque), go only to parallel, try front squats and see a doctor or a good therapist. I had also knee problems (still have some) and mesotherapy worked wonders for me.

[Tartulho]

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There is a video on Google videos showing Ivan Chakarov, a Bulgarian, doing 265kg ATG squats with utterly flawless technique. It is poetry in motion. The guys weighs 91kg, and was using no straps, belts or spotters. His back was almost competely upright, even right down to his ankles. Awesome. Pure power, I bet he could probably manage a 300kg+ squat.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...=squat&pl=true

It is indeed a good video I've watched it many times to see how he does the complete movement.