How To Get "BIG" Legs with the Smith Machine

[@mountaindog1]

For more smith machine videos: kzbin.info/aero/PLNAUreWTt_SiCiMzQShORHWfIbza4IDEA

[@skeletorrobo]

Hi thanks for the great videos. They explain simply, and come from a lot of experience. So what would your view be on 10,000 steps a day for body builders? Detrimental to muscle growth and recovery? And would you train legs and walk 10,000 steps (either before or after) without concern on the same day? Thanks and good health.

[@johnfedrick3441]

Thanks for blessing us with some extra moves to add to the gain arsenal you da man John💪🏿💯

[@tezzytez_1]

Hey John what about front squats on the smith machine? I’ve watched videos of jay cutler from years ago doing front squats on the smith machine

[@cyclist5000]

What is the correct direction to face on a slanted smith machine?

[@michaelhenry8890]

Guilty!!!!

[@magneticsyndrome]

RIP Jon .. You recently just passed away, but everyday you're still a living memory. You've created so much amazing content for bodybuilding, it's honestly like you've never even left.

[@Bunny11344]

Wtfffff!!!! What happened?!!!!😧

[@zethstclair7485]

@ Meow mix A lot of body builders are dieing because of clots Iam really starting to think it’s because they got vaccinated I don’t have proof I know he had previous health Issues but everyone else that has died from vaccines had underlying problems just like John wish someone could ask his family

[@believeinjesus8300]

Facts 💪🏾

[@thewishmastur]

What happened?

[@michalispatsalou928]

Friend I have learnt more from you in a year than 5 years from other channels, stay healthy

[@orionsimerl6539]

Everyone with a PF membership appreciates the Smith machine tutorials.

[@roobsrooby6589]

Thanks mate even though you've sadly passed away you are still giving out great information. The legs forward in a Smith Machine is a revelation for me. I've owned one for years and always had problems with my knees. I always thought you had to stand directly under the bar and that placing your feet forward was a mistake. Now thanks to you I know differently. Tried it immediately after viewing and wow what a difference! Thank John. May you rest in peace.

[@wisemanj2934]

I know this man is dead. But his videos are pure gold. Thanks man for the legacy you created. I learned a lot here and I plan to add these to my legs workout because I had injuries when I was a teenager that killed that ROM after surgeries and smith machine is truly the one that gives me the most insane pumps, it seems to counteract my injuries limitations.

[@sebastiantheis9069]

Even vom Barbell-Heaven, he still is teaching us. Rest in Power, John.

[@timpan0]

4:41 Amazing facial expressions there by Mr. Beard😁👍

[@gustavomontalvao6927]

Lol.

[@susanmodeste9069]

I was wondering if that was for a purpose or just a personal comfort preference?

[@timpan0]

@@susanmodeste9069 Same here. Very funny however!

[@irishjoe2941]

O oof

[@TiredFatherOf2]

Glad I wasn't the only one to notice it 😂. That's my face through my entire leg day workout every time.

[@ryantryt2468]

About time the Smith machine got some love. “Alright Hi Everybody” instantly put me in a better mood. Thanks John.

[@joenance8641]

Alright hi everybody I love the way he progressively gets higher with it I love it

[@colkuskey8657]

At last someone who sees some good in Smith Machine use. I’ve always incorporated Smith Machine use into my workouts but don’t really tell anyone, such is the scorn from the meatheads. I start my chest workout with incline smith, greases up the joints before moving to flat dumbbells. Has saved my old beat up shoulders. Hack squat like you showed and sssshhh. Don’t tell anyone, Smith Machine leg presses at my home gym. Thanks for your free unpretentious coaching John. Good health. Cheers, Col🇦🇺🇺🇸

[@johnnikoloudis6576]

3:44 Damn Legend

[@EjkoBejkoTaralejko]

I wish, some day, to be able to use "a lot of my women use this" in a sentence, just like John!

[@jesuguru2394]

Nah, find one good committed one - worth more than a hundred "part-timers".

[@nikitaw1982]

Fake it till u make it bro.

[@ogpreach832]

I was looking for this comment hehehe.....one day the chance to use it shall arrive at your doorstep, and you better be ready to answer the call to greatness!!

[@williamlewis3982]

Smith machine has helped me maintain my strength and size while dealing with nagging back and psoas injuries. Thinking about maki a permanent switch.

[@Clownfish1958]

John once again you are a saviour lve stayed away from regular bar squats unfortunately at 63 my right knee has become wonky and my lower back has seen better days however your Smith machine leg workouts video is a saviour and has helped me to get back into squat excercises with safe workouts in mind. Thankyou once again you and your team are awesome, Thankyou John 🇨🇦

[@wolfnuske8884]

The Smith Machine helped me get back to squatting after hip replacement. After endless weeks of physio 100 pounds felt like a victory. Do I love it therefore? Yes!

[@JDM_san]

Just recently found John. What a gem. No bs just straight iron therapy 💪

[@joelbenson5322]

Tried doing smith machine squats with feet in front of the bar as a replacement for hack squat today after my regular barbell squats. To me they felt really good, could get good depth, no pressure on the lower back, really good TUT and tension on the quads and they absolutely destroyed me - could barely walk after 3 x 12 reps. Personally they seemed to feel a bit easier on the knees to the normal hack squat machine as well

[@emery1057]

The smith machine is literally one of my favorite machines. I have a bad back with scoliosis and have bad form on certain workouts.

[@Gaz86JPN]

I really dig smith machine squats and the variation you used for split squat. I find I can push through my weaker leg much easier also.

[@Clownfish1958]

Again Mr. Meadows your utter concern for the safety of your students me/all of us is impeccable. Yiu are an awesome informative Teacher thankyou from all of us. J 🇨🇦

[@IMJJTheJetPlane]

The lunges with a twist are amazing. I have super tight hip flexors that I do some PT for and this exercise has helped immensely.

[@susanmodeste9069]

Great info as always. I love the Smith machine because I can work hard with no spotter necessary. Great tips, thank you

[@paidlife2016]

This is for everyone doing legs at planet fitness. You know who you are!

[@martinleon3145]

🤣🤣🤣

[@soundfonts8215]

me:)

[@Nate4]

Right here. I don't skip legs

[@treyagpalza3264]

You got me.

[@toughluckhardbody7993]

It’s me 😂 🙋🏾‍♂️.... 🤣😂😂

[@rasmawik]

It's Saturday and I'm training legs, at home... because in South Africa, where I live the gyms have been closed since the start of the pandemic. All I want is for the gyms to open. I always watch your videos while training. Thank you mountaindog1, top quality content.

[@Sirxchrish]

I'll never understand why people hate on the smith machine. As long as you make due with the equipment and space you're given, you can make gains anywhere with anything if you do the exercises right.

[@ladev91]

There will always be people fixed in thier ways. Anything that's not MY WAY is wrong!

[@billwill3732]

I agree make do with what you have but you can get way stronger using free weights. I think that's why Smith gets hate

[@bigslick9110]

@@billwill3732 Is there any research that says free weights make you stronger? If yes please refer cause I have not found any...

[@billwill3732]

@@bigslick9110 using a smith machine for bench press or squat forces an unnatural range of motion because a smith machine moves straight up and down in the track. That means at least in my experience I can lift more weight using free weight bar without killing my joints, that what I mean by what I said

[@billwill3732]

@@bigslick9110 with squats I feel like especially you cant get as strong using smith machine, you could never load the bar with as much weight as possible in a smith machine and use a full rom without compromising your lower back. At least I cant

[@onoes9646]

I've been using the Smith for hip thrusts since fracturing my wrist a month ago--looking forward to trying these out on my next leg day.

[@PlainZ3r0]

Still find myself coming back to this video and channel. Such a wealth of information. Miss you John.

[@jettfuelfitness]

“I have a lot of my women do these” yeah ok bro no need to flex I thought your wife watched these lmao

[@brainumb6078]

I came here for that comment lol 😂

[@pamspray1413]

@3:46 John is loud & proud to help out his clients that are woman, he definitely knows his shit & he's the BEST! Don't be jealous Jeff that's not a healthy mindset;)

[@blablablabla4899]

@@pamspray1413 just a joke relax lol

[@gshockmusic7037]

Hahahahahahaha

[@robertdieder4178]

save some women for the rest of us lol

[@rightuppercut1426]

Coincidentally tried Smith machine squats for the first time last Monday to finish leg training. Thanks for the advice on foot position. Will implement for sure together with some of your other exercises. 👌🏼💪🏼

[@Aspengc879]

Hey John- another sleeper movement to try is Smith Good Mornings. You can really focus on sticking your hips back and don't need to load it as much.

[@johnocha8620]

I've been using the smith for five years working around back sprains, one of the best home gyms out there...I benefit from watching smith machine videos, I always learn technique, especially from yours!

[@rawtooth4704]

I use the smith machine for legs, it's easy on my back.

[@donaldstiles397]

At 54 years old,me and the smith machine,are good friends,I've always liked a smith.

[@arielhernandez3517]

Very educative and straight to the point while showing a clear demonstration. Nice!!! I learned new tips.

[@joshbpowell3861]

Best video I have ever seen regarding smith machines. Thank you John!!

[@tonylevine2716]

Even though he's gone, his videos will live on forever! RIP 🙏🏾

[@joecanadian1315]

Good exercises and even better facial expressions from Brett lol!

[@joshgarvin2013]

I always done the split squat with the smith, shreds them like nothing else

[@anc5047]

smith machine is amazing, thanks for the video John. I couldn't do any decent leg exercises with dumbbells or barbell after damaging my spine but I have managed to build my legs just with smith machine, have to be careful about the weight you lift but the movement you get on smith machine is much safer for the back.

[@mynamegoeshere78]

Great vid 🏋️‍♂️ I'm one who owns & uses a smith machine & somewhat like it. Can also use it for calf raises with a good solid raised platform to stand on. Toes forward, pointed out & pointed in 21's. Keeps you nice & stable. Don't forget the good old spin bike for upper legs. Turn the intensity/difficulty dial up so it's hard to peddle lol.

[@NaturalHypertrophy]

The Smith Machine is an interesting piece of equipment. In reality, its use should be reserved for *advanced lifters* who have good experience with free weights and will be able to use it on specific exercises to employ its stability to better isolate certain muscles. In practice however, it's being used by noobs who think of it as compound movements training wheels when they're in fact not training the most important components of it (stability & proprioception) and can actually get injured from the rigidity of the bar

[@kobey4834]

I only use if for calves cus we dont have any calve machines in my gym

[@JR-gl1nx]

Training wheels are largely about giving confidence to do something. If someone new to gym has been using leg machines and wants to start squatting but doesn't have a coach/bros it's probably pretty daunting looking at the activity around the squat rack, can give the courage to actually try knowing you're not going to end up hurt or embarrassed.

[@georgeseriani2482]

I have been training and learning for 40 years and if I had a chance to train with John I would learn a lot more.

[@KYgopMajor]

I figured out tip one based on whether my knees hurt or not in one position or another. My workout partner criticized my form with my feet way out in front. Can't wait to show him this video. Great info.

[@davidsepulveda8794]

Another great video. It’s leg day for me so I’m definitely going to try these today.

[@lee4171]

As always, thank you John. Smith machine is the best gym companion you have when used properly.

[@christopherhartline1863]

I like the Smith Machine. Helps me focus on pushing straight up, not just moving the weight

[@gioplease6848]

I appreciate this video! That all I have at planet fitness sadly. I was wondering why my knees were hurting! I was trying to do squats like a regular squat 🤦🏽‍♂️

[@frankbawiec5423]

Theres nothing sad about it buddy you have access to a smith machine great for building muscle and increasing strength!!!

[@mjolnir9855]

@@frankbawiec5423 amen. Use what you got. Still 1 billion x better than everyone else on the couch.

[@hondo3004]

Smith Bulgarian split squats and Smith one-legged squats, along with barbell reverse lunges completey healed most of my knee problems.

[@Mikaeel84]

I have a Smith machine in my home gym on a wood floor so I took cut up padded carpet and put the carpet side down too keep from damaging the floor. I put my feet fwd so I could squat deeper(on the same angle as the bar path). By the time I worked my way up to 250 I went down with the bar and the whole machine started sliding back! Needless to say I stopped doing that exercise

[@sanjaysami4315]

Probably the nicest, most knowledgeable guy in the business!

[@roadstar499]

I love my home gym old smith machine i bought used 6 years ago... its not a gym quality one,but i keep it oiled up and its very smooth ..Mine is made by pro form and has high and low cable pully also... there are endless amount of solid building exercises that can be done with a smith machine... One great one not shown here is i made a heavy duty pad i lay on the ground and do leg presses...I have worked out in many gyms over last few decades and leg presses on my smith machine are top notch for results and they are extremely safe...

[@shednotes3016]

Exxxxxxcellent. SO many do not understand the feet position with the Smith nach. Thank you for the calid information.

[@philly525]

Rip John. Thankyou for everything that you have done for the industry.

[@kulkutha6148]

Thank you so much for this video! I'm on my way the gym now to do this work out! Have a fantastic day John! You are the best.

[@deon5329]

Great form tip on Smith machine squat. Its very different from bb squat. I had stayed away from it because it didn't feel right. Some high rep smith machine squats was nice after a heavy set of bb squats.

[@lowriderskin]

I love the Smith machine because if you want you can go heavy without a spotter. I use it for the neckpress , military press and stifflegged deadlift. Maybe I will start using it for squats too but I doubt it.

[@cruz4287]

Thanks again for Smith Machine work! I'm in a limited apartment gym and the Smith is the only way I can really get a load on.

[@rodrace]

The best coach! RIP John!

[@andythousand345]

Awesome information as always John. Greatly appreciate it. Keep them coming John.

[@AussieAngeS]

I started off with the smith machine doing squats and rear lunges, it’s very affective.

[@shelbysmith5996]

Smith machines are absolutely amazing!! Thanks Mountaindog! What a great man!

[@sts7044]

I do the the smithmachine chest workout all the time. I Will be doing two of these ones to. Good stuff again John

[@A.P.Garland]

Hi John, Does it matter which way you stand in the Smith Machine (i.e. facing towards it or facing away from it) due to the sloping bar path?

[@TheBaitShopGuy]

2:55 I think Meadows is right on about that Smith machine lunge. Looks like a simple safe angle I'm gonna try next gym time.

[@artiedaonemanparty945]

Really appreciate this video as I only have a smith machine available in my apartment building with no other machines. Thanks John (and a thanks from my knees too as I think I need to get a bit more forward than what I've been doing)!

[@davidperezgonzalez1839]

You can mimic the Hack squat machine movement with the Smith machine, is actually a good substitution since not every gym here in Spain have that equipment.

[@breadeater7192]

This is so cool. I never really thought about the Smith machine at all. It's really nice to see these and be like "damn that makes sense". Good video all the way through.

[@MailmanMuscle]

My gym was 5 minutes away from home. They’re allowed to reopen, but don’t plan to any time soon. So now I’m a powerlifter training at Planet Fitness. 😄 Getting used to a smith machine wasn’t as bad as I thought. I miss a barbell, but this will do for now.

[@soofitnsexy]

lmao....where do u live,,,it sucks ass here in nyc as well

[@MailmanMuscle]

chris rocco Baltimore. There are other gyms open, but none as close with the hours I need. My old gym was 24/7. 😞

[@ze_german2921]

I have a Home gym with a Ball Bearing Smith Machine and I made some great gains with it. I compromised my back 15 years ago and it was scary because I wasn't sure if it was permanent or not. My dad had to use a walker at the age of 50 due to the Vietnam War so this is my preferred way working my legs. I will implement this method

[@StarLight-tu6ub]

I just finished using this machine & now this came up in my recommendations. His s perfect fitness advisor‼️💋💗

[@Marvin-Thomas05]

Im really enjoying John's content its really educational and thats based on his passion!

[@سليمالمصرى-ي8ت]

Thank you so much for that video im going to use smith machine today in my legs day

[@SimonOShahan]

Great tips; can't wait to try this out tomorrow.

[@tydupont8084]

The smith machine used to be considered “off limits”…. Thanks for all you did John, RIP!

[@adomasjasiukenas1425]

Nice video! About smith machine and the squat stance: I think you can bring your legs back to get more hip hinge and more glutes and do it as you do it, bring them in front of you to stay as vertical as possible!

[@Turbo-D]

i always use this machine you can better focus on the weights instead of the stabilisation, much better choice for me and better results also than free squads and less risk of injuries, better choice for bpodybuilding hypertrophy

[@kevintaylor7636]

Use this machine to finish off quad days sometimes. Love the Smith!!!

[@tiiiefff2011]

For me the best channel on KZbin.

[@kiddfamilyfarmllc9962]

I was with you somewhere in Columbus at a gym that had a Smith Machine. It had two vertical bars that it floated on, super smooth

[@Clownfish1958]

Wow thankyou so much for putting this together l had asked for squats legs with a smith machine you are so informative thankyou 👍😷

[@robertthompson5501]

Thanks. Avoided Smith Machinevas I did not know how to use.

[@dmx1721]

ive done all of these except the last one he's right about the split leg ones it's a killer but in a good way

[@jrjr1722]

Again much respect Mr. John Meadows I’ve learned so much from your channel thank you!!

[@edwardfortae2350]

I keep my bar lower on the smith for squats. I may try these again and see if my waist grows on these. Man I love squatting but hate what it does to my obliques. My boxing career from when I was younger built my core crazy strong. It grows if the wind blows on me.

[@Trenacetate43]

You forget front squat john. Front swuat on smith machine is amazing because you can use bodybuilder stance and be balanced, with proper positioning it is safe and hits your quads just as hard. Jay cutler has a really good video where hes doing heavy amith machine front squat with excellent form!

[@jakezaragoza6091]

Love the smith machine leg workout!👍🏽💪🏽feet out in front😉thanks John!

[@JetADR]

Awesome video! There are not enough videos on How to use the smith machine

[@crazykorean2268]

I use Incline Smith instead of Incline Barbell. Most Incline Bench is mostly not 5'6" friendly. Can't unrack it unless someone helps me to unrack

[@robertedson2374]

Since the runners are angled, how do you know which way to face when you do the exercises???

[@markolive6070]

Really loving this KZbin Channel at the moment. Keep it up.

[@lachycummings3765]

I feel like with the split squat, you can put your foot more underneath you, it makes you lean forward a little, but it smashes your vmo!

[@amfitness5598]

John, if you have a vertical smith machine and not an angled one, would you use the same foot position for squats?

[@z3roxc00l9]

Someone out here asking the important questions.

[@iambodybuildingyt221]

@@z3roxc00l9 I know

[@iambodybuildingyt221]

Mine is angled

[@abelink7102]

Yes

[@derekbrackenbury7159]

Great video JM, so good seeing you back kicking arse after your heart attack 👍

[@riversavage5608]

Always good training advice!

[@the_task_master3470]

I love the Smith Machine but I’m very picky with them...has to be the str8 up and down one...I bought a Cybex for my home gym bc they Imo are the best! I bench....squat..& deadlift on mine bc I workout alone.

[@charlier4714]

A great choice on the Cybex Smith 👍 Love 'em!

[@the_task_master3470]

Charlie R thx brother!....yea I have tried a ton but they just feel “right” imo.

[@pistonsgeek409]

When using an angled Smith machine for a squat is there a correct direction you should be facing? Should the angle go against you as you go up, or away from you? If anyone has input on this it’s appreciated!

[@Fizyxx]

As it comes up it should get closer to you

[@bryanrudd455]

Im at planet fitness with no barbells. The smith machine is my new friend. :) Great Video!!

[@victorcreed8856]

I do smith hack squats after bb squats. I'm able to sink suuuuper deep and get that stretch in the quads. Pure fire.

[@jlhflex]

I like the smith machine. Donkey calf raises are great on this machine. Smith machine narrow stance hack squat will burn the crap out those quads. Many people look at me crazy with the exercise I do.. Most only know 2 exercises on the smith machine. Squat and bench

[@kevinscott548]

Excellent video. RIP Mountain Dog