Hands down, THE BEST squat tutorial on the UA-cams! Ben, you are one articulate son of a gun. Got all your points across fluidly, and it looked like this was filmed in one take. Now if I can only get my quads jacked too...
Dude I relate to this so much. I have almost same leverages as you. Long legs, short torso, feeling that my quads will tear when I go into wide stance etc. This video was perfect for me.
This is a good quality video he goes over the different techniques even though he's comfortable with just his technique which is good I think that everyone who thinks they have an issue squatting can learn a lot from this video
I started doing the 3 finger grip because I was getting a lot of elbow pain and it's done wonders. The pain used to keep me awake at nights and now I usually have no pain at all.
Thanks for this proper tech. I tried it today and it improved. Before my skwaat left my lower back on fire. But I went wider with my stance and it went well. Thanks mate
Awesome tips. Definitely going to try these out for my squat session today. Thank you so much for the information. Most excited about trying the step out.
This is the best tutorial exercise video i have watched by far. As a tall currently inflexible lifter I've always been concerned with my form on squats and this video has rid me of all those worries in 18.49 mins. Thanks for a gainz changing video!!
Holy shit thank you very much! I just found out I have both a close stance and a wide stance. I don’t know how the hell that happened. I would love to send you a video! I’m extremely comfortable in both. I’m 51 years old and I’m not exactly breaking lifting records. But, I can tell you that I’m very comfortable.in both. Narrow and wide stances are not problem for me.
Awesome video to stumble into. Main takeaway that everyone should learn, everyone is different. There isn't a set in stone way to do any lift, ever. All bodies are different. Safety yes, but true technique is variable. Great video.
I really like this guy's philosophies on technique. Combine this tutorial with one on the "butt wink" and mid-foot weight centering (like Alan Thrall's) and I think that covers most things squat IMHO. Ben kind of covers the wink here indirectly by mentioning proper depth and flexibility but all lifters should school themselves on this folly since (apparently) it's one of the biggest oversights in squatting. There's also that bit in Starrett's book about foot angles being 12 degrees or less but I don't know if that applies in all cases. Really helped me get more power from the bottom but, like Ben says, everyone's anatomy is different and one man's cure could be another's poison.
Yeah this is something Starrett has been championing forever, but not everyone's anatomy is the same. I have asymmetrical hip alignment, my right hip is literally 2-3 degrees externally rotated compared to my left. Once I figured this out and stopped trying to shove myself into a mold, respected my anatomy two things happened. My left knee pain and my right hip pain went away. Also, I would twist involuntarily when the weight felt heavy, even total strangers use to point this out to me. My whole body would twist from my knees to my hips. After allowing my right foot to turn out a few degrees more it completely solved that problem.
Is there any benefits of squating below parallell with the pin squats? And does it carry over to the «regular» squat? Trying to increase my squats and looking for good supp. work to achieve that:) Thanks :)
Silas Cruz Pins are used to focus on building strength in the muscles for the specific range of motion the pins allow for. This is true for the squat, DL, BP, etc. So if the part you're struggling with (the sticking point) for a regular squat is the bottom, set the pins there and that would train you to be more explosive to come out of the bottom with more power. Using pin squats as an accessory movement for 3-4 months should be enough to notice good improvement.
Shouldn't you be pushing hips and knees at the same time though? I've always thought that what matters is that the bar stays over mid foot. The amount of lean is determined by the position of the bar on your back. The lower it is the more forward lean there is.
Yes all correct. I've learned to simultaneously push your ass back and spread your knees out. Hip and ass at the same time. It's weird the first time you do it, bit effortless once you get the hang of it.
B0dre breaking your hips and knees at the same time is a good practice, but you can still put an emphasis on either pushing your hips back or knees forward and that will have a big impact on where you sit in the hole along with bar position and stance width. I think Ben was more saying to do whatever is gonna compliment your squat style. I.e. if you're squatting low bar with a wider stance than obviously you need to lean forward and cue yourself to push your hips back on the decent. You could TRY and push your knees forward and stay upright but that's obviously not going to be optimal for that stance and bar position, so cue yourself to push either forward or backwards depending on your stance and bar position
the part about how to put on your shirt so it fits around your delts and doesnt cover your biceps...was super important...and thats all that matters thrpughout the entire lift...a flat lower back and npt showing when you bend over but dont...cause youll drop your headphones...
For my clients I make videos on exactly how to perform each exercise most effectively and safely. HOWEVER, I did not wasting my time or theirs making one for you to the deadlift or the squat. YOU WILL NOT FIND A BETTER VIDEO THAN THIS ONE. If you haven't seen the sister video on how to deadlift definitely check it out.
I always thought it was bad that I have to have a wide stance and feet out to squat. That’s where I’m comfortable. I can’t squat narrow stance at all. I thought narrow stance requires more hip mobility
If squatting wider is comfortable, your pelvis is in a stable position and it doesn't compromise the quality of the squat, go for it. You can actually assess where you squat is strongest. Dr Quinn Henoch from Juggernaut Training Systems has a great video on this.
Like, if he has long legs, isnt that just more potential for size which leads to huge strength? Even if the leverage isnt as efficient as someone with shorter legs. Little confused as to what the main goal is, a 1RM?
A high 1rm is the goal, yes. A larger boned person does have potential for more overall muscle, but the torque on the bone is of course more with longer bones. Shorter people have a higher percentage of muscle mass as their overall mass, as well as less torque from the weight, so shorter lifters in any individual weight class do have an advantage. There is a vertex (or inflection point, depending on what you're graphing) where a continued increase/decrease in bone size helps/hurts Lifting records are highest in super heavyweight class, but then at those size frames the physiology/ease of building muscle and neuromuscular efficiency are factors as well, which tend to be better in smaller frames [the largest lifter doesn't always win]. If you look at a graph of vertical leaps, you'll see the best results around a certain height: the "sweet spot" for muscle cross section, torque, neuromuscular efficiency. As he noted, he has longer legs (shorter torso), which benefits the deadlift, as the main pivot is the hip, making the torso a shorter lever. In the squat the main pivot is the knee, making proportionally short femurs desirable.
jlushefski a longer lever increases distance but decreases force needed, look at B. Shaw But anyways science all you want, Im not looking for a 1rm Im looking to maximize work capabilities and longevity
But you also have to consider the muscle's attachment point to the bone and the torque applied by the barbell. It's hard to point to any individual lifter, because everyone's proportions differ somewhat. Shaw is strong, but there are others that perform equal or better who are different shapes. Many strongman events may favor height as well (or large hands or long arms). Work would probably be maximized doing around/under 50% 1rm. Peak power would be maximized around 75% 1rm. That doesn't mean that training at those percentages definitely improves those things best, but maybe it does.
I think Jeff Cavalier would disagree with this guys tecnique.Jeff says your chest and hips should should act as one connected unit going down and up.No shifting of hips back or moving chest forward.
Fair point but Jeff isn't a heavy lifter and his outlook is targeted more at the overall gym goer to make them a more efficient well-rounded trainer. Ben is a powerlifter, the little tweaks make a huge difference under aggressively heavy loads. Basically most sensible advice has its place.
jon gimbo, if the weight shifts forward over your toes then it puts a ton of stress on your knees. You’re probably leaning too far forward throughout the lift.
I am recovering from an ab injury, so my core stability is not the best, that could have something to do with it. The pain has been in the outer part of my knees.
I think the best takeaway from this video is that there is no right answer or wrong way to squat, everyone has different body types and feels differently under a bar. Cues are important, and trying things out to get to your best squat is best. Now of course this information assumes the basic fundamentals of keeping back tight, breathing and bracing, not folding knees in, straight bar path, etc. What a great video, thanks for not saying, "this is the best way to squat and if you don't do it this way then you are just shat" Great video!! Thanks.
Mark Bryant I would say the opposite and posit that there are numerous ways to squat "wrong". I'd say that the best squat is the one that is performed over midfoot (straight bar path), has the most muscle mass involved and goes through the longest EFFECTIVE range of motion. (Hint: not ass to grass).
Yes, it amazes me that people can be so "protective" over their squat style. Even with much olympic lifting training, I prefer the low bar, wider stance back squat. I get much more overall muscle tension, especially in the back muscles, and more focus on the hip muscles.
Haha. “Going for a fckin stroll or something.” Classic.
that part cracked me up
11:22
Im so dead. Tried not to laugh out loud
😂😂😂
13:15 that tip was GOLD 🙌 I squat 3 days a week, I’ve been Olympic lifting for 6 years and I still learned a lot from watching this video
really appreciate these how to videos with guests, thanks guys
Hands down, THE BEST squat tutorial on the UA-cams! Ben, you are one articulate son of a gun. Got all your points across fluidly, and it looked like this was filmed in one take. Now if I can only get my quads jacked too...
Juggernaut Training Systems has really great instructional videos as well!
Duffin @ supertraining is probably a bit better
Alan Thrall has the best no-nonsense squat tutorial.
Thank you soooooo much! squats and deadlifts waaaaay better with your videos!!!
Dude I relate to this so much. I have almost same leverages as you. Long legs, short torso, feeling that my quads will tear when I go into wide stance etc. This video was perfect for me.
Squats are such a complex lift. This vid really breaks it down
Excellent guidance & elaboration of movement's technical compounds - thanks a lot!
This is a good quality video he goes over the different techniques even though he's comfortable with just his technique which is good I think that everyone who thinks they have an issue squatting can learn a lot from this video
BEST SQUAT TECHNIQUE VIDEO AROUND BAR NONE!!!!
BAR FRIGGIN NONE!!
I started doing the 3 finger grip because I was getting a lot of elbow pain and it's done wonders. The pain used to keep me awake at nights and now I usually have no pain at all.
Make Squatting Great Again!
11:18 "They take 10 million steps to get in position, they walk like they f@$ing going for a stroll with weight on their back" ...🤣🤣🤣
This dude is speaking my language! Thanks for minimizing the technical PT explanations. Much easier to follow than Jordan. Great instruction here.
If there is going to be a new Wolverine, Ben should play him!
DerKollelge , I was thinking the same the other day, Not sure Wolverine can squat and pull 800, though.
Jay A. In the comics he can easily
Jay A. Adamantium bones would make gaining strength easy as fuck.
Ha ha ha ha ha 🤔 word
DerKollelge he’s to short
God this bloke is knowledgeable! Best tutorial on UA-cam.
amaZing , clear , concise, and logical....awesome Ben...
Finally a guy that talks about bar placement on the back! Thank you for the awesome video!
those quads are monstrous
Game changer! Talon grip and elbows under the bar. Thanks Doc!
Ben is the best. Always killing it with his tutorials
Thanks for this proper tech. I tried it today and it improved. Before my skwaat left my lower back on fire. But I went wider with my stance and it went well. Thanks mate
'i got all that load on my fingers.. and thats not a good look ' xD
Lmaoo
great video 💪🏻
Great video. I would like to see Ben's OHP cues and tips. Unf**k the OHP.
ben is so cool, i wish we could hangout in my basement and play gamecube while listening to dave matthews band
Yeah i get what you're saying but why should i listen to you? 8:38 ... my apologizes master please proceed with the lesson
Awesome tips. Definitely going to try these out for my squat session today. Thank you so much for the information. Most excited about trying the step out.
Best vid ive seen so far on deads.
Ben.p is my new go to guy
thank you. very clear instructions.. will try this next time.
That was one detailed squat tutorial. I've been doing mostly correct, I think.
Can't wait to try this grip and placement. Thanks guys!
Right on been great instruction thank you
Oh man oh man this video is a gold mine
this guy is phenomenal
Thank you so much
Very informative tutorial. Good job
IdA LV So happy you found value. Let us know if you are able to put it to good use!
Watched it this morning and just tried, this is GOLD 🙌🏻✨
great tutorial, I picked up a bunch of good things in this!
Wow great info . Very comprehensive for a guy like me with a short attention span lol
so many good points!!! thank you so much for this video!!
This is the best tutorial exercise video i have watched by far. As a tall currently inflexible lifter I've always been concerned with my form on squats and this video has rid me of all those worries in 18.49 mins. Thanks for a gainz changing video!!
"They're going for a fucking stroll with the weight on their back" LMAO
Awesome video. Thanks guys
Loved this series. Thanks.
Holy shit thank you very much! I just found out I have both a close stance and a wide stance. I don’t know how the hell that happened. I would love to send you a video! I’m extremely comfortable in both. I’m 51 years old and I’m not exactly breaking lifting records. But, I can tell you that I’m very comfortable.in both. Narrow and wide stances are not problem for me.
As someone with a similar build as Ben it was nice hearing his take on form and technique as no to many have this problem lol
Great. Really helpful and really good explained.
great vid thanks
So good thank you Ben and mindpump!!!!
Tx ben! Greetings from Canada! 🇨🇦
Curious on what your idea is about causes of shakiness at the top of deadlift and squat (primarily at the knees but also hips)
Great video thanks
Yes going for a stroll!!! Lol true!
Great Video, watched many good squat videos but none got so deep into unracking! Great Job!
Thank you for the tutorial 👍
Awesome videos. 👍
I love squating but I should really work on my upperback and back in general, shoulders.. To hold the bar correctly
hahaha "Going for a fucking stroll" 11:20
Anyone know what kind of shoes he's wearing?
I really do go for a stroll when I squat, I don't know why. I will do his thing from now on.
Intelligent .... Appreciate the hard work you have been through Ben ... Love.... God Bless you
Awesome video to stumble into. Main takeaway that everyone should learn, everyone is different. There isn't a set in stone way to do any lift, ever. All bodies are different. Safety yes, but true technique is variable. Great video.
Is it high bar or low bar squat?
I really like this guy's philosophies on technique. Combine this tutorial with one on the "butt wink" and mid-foot weight centering (like Alan Thrall's) and I think that covers most things squat IMHO. Ben kind of covers the wink here indirectly by mentioning proper depth and flexibility but all lifters should school themselves on this folly since (apparently) it's one of the biggest oversights in squatting. There's also that bit in Starrett's book about foot angles being 12 degrees or less but I don't know if that applies in all cases. Really helped me get more power from the bottom but, like Ben says, everyone's anatomy is different and one man's cure could be another's poison.
Yeah this is something Starrett has been championing forever, but not everyone's anatomy is the same. I have asymmetrical hip alignment, my right hip is literally 2-3 degrees externally rotated compared to my left. Once I figured this out and stopped trying to shove myself into a mold, respected my anatomy two things happened. My left knee pain and my right hip pain went away. Also, I would twist involuntarily when the weight felt heavy, even total strangers use to point this out to me. My whole body would twist from my knees to my hips. After allowing my right foot to turn out a few degrees more it completely solved that problem.
goin for a fuckin stroll... greatest thing I've ever heard lol
Is there any benefits of squating below parallell with the pin squats?
And does it carry over to the «regular» squat?
Trying to increase my squats and looking for good supp. work to achieve that:)
Thanks :)
Silas Cruz Pins are used to focus on building strength in the muscles for the specific range of motion the pins allow for. This is true for the squat, DL, BP, etc. So if the part you're struggling with (the sticking point) for a regular squat is the bottom, set the pins there and that would train you to be more explosive to come out of the bottom with more power. Using pin squats as an accessory movement for 3-4 months should be enough to notice good improvement.
@@HolidayFortnight thanks for the answer :D
What a great video
Shouldn't you be pushing hips and knees at the same time though? I've always thought that what matters is that the bar stays over mid foot. The amount of lean is determined by the position of the bar on your back. The lower it is the more forward lean there is.
Yes all correct. I've learned to simultaneously push your ass back and spread your knees out. Hip and ass at the same time. It's weird the first time you do it, bit effortless once you get the hang of it.
B0dre breaking your hips and knees at the same time is a good practice, but you can still put an emphasis on either pushing your hips back or knees forward and that will have a big impact on where you sit in the hole along with bar position and stance width. I think Ben was more saying to do whatever is gonna compliment your squat style. I.e. if you're squatting low bar with a wider stance than obviously you need to lean forward and cue yourself to push your hips back on the decent. You could TRY and push your knees forward and stay upright but that's obviously not going to be optimal for that stance and bar position, so cue yourself to push either forward or backwards depending on your stance and bar position
It’s about your own body
Great job Big Ben!!! #HPG
anyone know his height? it's literally impossible to find it on google
Going for a fucking stroll.... bwhahahhaa Cracked me up!
Thanks.
the part about how to put on your shirt so it fits around your delts and doesnt cover your biceps...was super important...and thats all that matters thrpughout the entire lift...a flat lower back and npt showing when you bend over but dont...cause youll drop your headphones...
Great video man!
For my clients I make videos on exactly how to perform each exercise most effectively and safely. HOWEVER, I did not wasting my time or theirs making one for you to the deadlift or the squat. YOU WILL NOT FIND A BETTER VIDEO THAN THIS ONE. If you haven't seen the sister video on how to deadlift definitely check it out.
how does he make it look so easy
So your low bar squatting?
Holy shit so much info !!!!!!!!!!
I always thought it was bad that I have to have a wide stance and feet out to squat. That’s where I’m comfortable. I can’t squat narrow stance at all. I thought narrow stance requires more hip mobility
Depends on your hip anatomy, and ankle and hip mobility.
If squatting wider is comfortable, your pelvis is in a stable position and it doesn't compromise the quality of the squat, go for it. You can actually assess where you squat is strongest. Dr Quinn Henoch from Juggernaut Training Systems has a great video on this.
This guy squats my squats, thinks my squats, he is my squat mate
Brogosh LOL.
So I have to squat in the middle of the bar, got it😂😂😂😂
has anyone seen Adam squat? he does the upper body stuff on camera but I haven't seen him do lower body
Chase The Mainer follow his IG .
no thanks just wondering
For those looking to low bar correctly, he did not show the bar position right. It sits on your rear delt and is super easy to keep in place
Like, if he has long legs, isnt that just more potential for size which leads to huge strength? Even if the leverage isnt as efficient as someone with shorter legs. Little confused as to what the main goal is, a 1RM?
But still learned a lot thanks for the goo'wan
A high 1rm is the goal, yes. A larger boned person does have potential for more overall muscle, but the torque on the bone is of course more with longer bones. Shorter people have a higher percentage of muscle mass as their overall mass, as well as less torque from the weight, so shorter lifters in any individual weight class do have an advantage. There is a vertex (or inflection point, depending on what you're graphing) where a continued increase/decrease in bone size helps/hurts
Lifting records are highest in super heavyweight class, but then at those size frames the physiology/ease of building muscle and neuromuscular efficiency are factors as well, which tend to be better in smaller frames [the largest lifter doesn't always win]. If you look at a graph of vertical leaps, you'll see the best results around a certain height: the "sweet spot" for muscle cross section, torque, neuromuscular efficiency.
As he noted, he has longer legs (shorter torso), which benefits the deadlift, as the main pivot is the hip, making the torso a shorter lever. In the squat the main pivot is the knee, making proportionally short femurs desirable.
jlushefski a longer lever increases distance but decreases force needed, look at B. Shaw
But anyways science all you want, Im not looking for a 1rm Im looking to maximize work capabilities and longevity
But you also have to consider the muscle's attachment point to the bone and the torque applied by the barbell.
It's hard to point to any individual lifter, because everyone's proportions differ somewhat. Shaw is strong, but there are others that perform equal or better who are different shapes. Many strongman events may favor height as well (or large hands or long arms).
Work would probably be maximized doing around/under 50% 1rm. Peak power would be maximized around 75% 1rm. That doesn't mean that training at those percentages definitely improves those things best, but maybe it does.
This man is from Rippetoe family, same voice!
I think Jeff Cavalier would disagree with this guys tecnique.Jeff says your chest and hips should should act as one connected unit going down and up.No shifting of hips back or moving chest forward.
Fair point but Jeff isn't a heavy lifter and his outlook is targeted more at the overall gym goer to make them a more efficient well-rounded trainer. Ben is a powerlifter, the little tweaks make a huge difference under aggressively heavy loads. Basically most sensible advice has its place.
Scott - well said Scott. Totally agree with you. Jeff’s advice is very good but it’s targeted at average lifters.
I can’t go lower than parallel on a low bar
I hit a 170kg squat in my first year with lane Norton tier leverages and back angle, its more about form and how strong your glutes are
D G your quads also have something to do with it
Man this guy must pull
Those are some nice plate trees
Why do front squats hurt my knees?
jon gimbo, if the weight shifts forward over your toes then it puts a ton of stress on your knees. You’re probably leaning too far forward throughout the lift.
I am recovering from an ab injury, so my core stability is not the best, that could have something to do with it. The pain has been in the outer part of my knees.
0:55 my deadly life
He can be the next wolverine
Great video, only thing I disagree with is you should probably maximize range of motion, not minimize it if it's comfortable. But I know nothing lol
"But I know nothing"
as a powerlifter reducing rom is good fpr him
Well its a video not specifying it's for a powerlifter squat. Do more work, max rom, save your joints
Zion Lion the most someone can know is that they truly cannot "know" anything. Socrates said himself as far as we know this is a realistic dream
Math I smoked pot with socrates..
The thumbnail tricked me...
5:45-que the Brazzers logo
Narrower just makes ur arms tighter not ur back, Brendan tietz has a good video on it
I think the best takeaway from this video is that there is no right answer or wrong way to squat, everyone has different body types and feels differently under a bar. Cues are important, and trying things out to get to your best squat is best. Now of course this information assumes the basic fundamentals of keeping back tight, breathing and bracing, not folding knees in, straight bar path, etc. What a great video, thanks for not saying, "this is the best way to squat and if you don't do it this way then you are just shat" Great video!! Thanks.
Mark Bryant I would say the opposite and posit that there are numerous ways to squat "wrong". I'd say that the best squat is the one that is performed over midfoot (straight bar path), has the most muscle mass involved and goes through the longest EFFECTIVE range of motion. (Hint: not ass to grass).
Yes, it amazes me that people can be so "protective" over their squat style. Even with much olympic lifting training, I prefer the low bar, wider stance back squat. I get much more overall muscle tension, especially in the back muscles, and more focus on the hip muscles.
Just looks so easy until you have a go yourself! Lol
16:25