Squats

[Guest guest]

Burkhardt:

<<A few years back, our best lifter at the Van Nuys WLC, (now Phat Elvis WLC)

used to pull his knees together significantly during the ascent of his heavy

squats. I think his bests were: FSQ = ~ 230kg, BSQ = ~ 270kg. While I don't

teach or condone this technique, this lifter's knees seemed to have no

problem with it at all.>>

Whitney Richtmyer:

<From watching training hall tapes and competition lifts of weightlifters

extensively, I would say that the majority of lifters do this action of the

knees on heavy squats and cleans, although some to a much greater extent than

others.>

Mims wrote:

< Ed Coan, Louie , etc. all say force the knees out. It is virtually

impossible to squat below parallel if you don't! >

*** Whitney and were referring very specifically to full-depth

weightlifting squats which go far below parallel. It is indeed very common

for many weightlifters to allow the knees to move inwards during the recovery

from the low squat position. Ed and Louie are referring to the descent phase

of the squat and generally use a far wider foot stance than most

weightlifters so their comments very clearly are meant to apply to the

powerlifting squat. Confusing the powerlifting squat with the weightlifting

squat is liking confusing the deadlift with the clean pull - they are very

different movements, each with their own methods for optimal efficiency.

It is important to distinguish between knee actions taking place in the

eccentric (descending) and the concentric (rising) phase of the squat. Both

weightlifters and powerlifters ensure that the knees do not move inwards

during the eccentric phase, but many weightlifters and full depth squatters

stabilise and strengthen the movement by involving the thigh adductors during

the concentric phase. This is a perfectly normal way of enhancing one's

recovery from a full depth squat (provided that this is not excessive, as I

have discussed in previous letters).

Dr Mel C Siff

Denver, USA

Supertraining/