Improve Your Squat with this Simple Fix

[@DrGammaMindset]

Great vid

[@johnharris1352]

I've just started barbell exercises and got your book. I'm 66 years old and so reassured that your focus, information and practical advice is centred on people like me. I'm not bothered about ads or arms. I just want to spend the last decade or two living a health mobile and functional life. Thank you for all your work and effort. A real legacy to your fellow man.

[@GreySteel]

Thank you, sir. Go forth and get strong and healthy!

[@Luckey900]

The Real Doctor ! Thanks Jim Canada

[@kf6pfk]

Long-time supporter here. This is one of your best for fixing what ails me. When I go heavy, my reptilian brain just DOESN'T want to go low. Keep up the most excellent work.

[@GreySteel]

Much appreciated

[@neilmartinuzzi9495]

Bar high hips low, got it. Always happy to see a new post. My sister bought me a hard copy of The Barbell Prescription, rereading it between sets thanks again for the tips

[@chrisbuesnell3428]

Thanks. Yes been there. I more or less fixed it with tempo paused sqats at a relatively heavy weight. The tempo seemed to give me spacial awareness. The pause confidence I could drive up. Still a work in progress. I'm 63 at 220lbs. I'm trying for a 440lb squat which isn't easy. Thanks for content.

[@GreySteel]

440 is impressive.

[@chrisbuesnell3428]

@@GreySteel I don't think I'll get there. I did a Max 3 weeks ago. 187.5 kg. Really hard. I will see.

[@jimgam730]

Sully, many years ago, when I was a much younger man, I was told by a lifting partner I had, to keep looking up. When you look up, you keep your head up thus, you keep your back straight and you don't lean forward. I'm surprised you didn't mention to try this. Thanks for all the great videos. Looking forward to the next one. Also, looking forward to getting your book.

[@GreySteel]

We do NOT coach lifters to look up. We coach a neutral cervical spine. And I have actually found that lifters are quite capable of leaning forward no matter where they look. Thanks for watching.

[@Overfl00d]

When I squat, what helps me is to focus where the center of weight is, and keep it on my mid food, rather than it shifting to my toes or heels.

[@jtfaulkner1]

Just found this gem! Thanks so much!

[@jimb2427]

The comedy is priceless. Great info and laughs

[@waltersobchak6546]

Thank you. That is exactly my wifes problem. Loooking forward to apply the fix. Hope you injury is all healed up now. All the best!

[@GreySteel]

Thanks, Walter! Yeah, it's feeling better!

[@HAL-dm1eh]

The box squat even helped my hips fire better in the high bar squat.

[@joethomas909]

Sir.. You are awesome.. 🎉🎉

[@loscoiattolomaledetto500]

3:29 Nice use of Avogadro's Number, Sully!

[@JoelP1961]

Thanks for the tip! Depth is always an issue with me!

[@macectoman]

This works better for me than "the master cue" from Starting Strength.

[@BigSkyTraining]

Excellent video and advice. This was a Classic episode: Entertaining and informative. Thanks!

[@GregQchi]

Another great vid, Sully! Also very funny :)

[@denisbeaulieu5600]

nice, thanks

[@RIP5582]

Good stuff.

[@TIHealthandFitness]

The reptile brain is pretty strong in many humans...lol. but excellent video once again. Thank you.

[@doctt6639]

Great Video. Damn lizard brain now I know who’s to blame!!!

[@notsoserious0944]

You used Avogadro's number! LOL. Who, who has taken chemistry can ever forget 6.023x10^23?

[@GreySteel]

Not me. It'll be with me till I croak, along with the ideal gas law and the anion gap. :)

[@davidbuche]

I brought your book and own some Hammer Strength equipment including a V-Squat and the HD power rack. I recently retired and I am thinking the V-Squat is superior to the barbell squat as it forces good technique. Am I right?

[@shantanusapru]

A brilliantly hilarious and a hilariously brilliant video!!! Dr Sully's the John Cleese/Stephen Fry of the lifting community! :-D

[@GreySteel]

Whoa. High praise indeed!

[@neffew9351]

Man I’m here to see the old lady squat like a boss 👵🏻👵🏻

[@jeffworst9939]

One of the queues I use is how I feel the weight is distributed across my feet. For example, if I'm leaning too far forward, I can feel my heels lift slightly and the weight moves to the balls of my feet. I adjust by putting my butt down more, which moves the weight to the center of my feet. By "listening to my feet", I think I'm teaching myself how to lift with better form. Is this a good approach if you don't have a coach to watch you lift?

[@GreySteel]

Listening to and thinking about your feet is a very good approach--a corollary of the Master Cue.

[@jacaptures3809]

That Kanye reference was uncalled for

[@GreySteel]

Sorry. Not sorry. Kanye is a douche.

[@au4all]

I've never met Kanye. What did he do that reminded you of a feminine wash? @@GreySteel

[@feliciacoffey6832]

​@@GreySteel Sadly, Kanye is also mentally ill, and maybe some of his "doucheness" springs from this.

[@petroc62]

Since this video is 2 years old, I'm not sure if you'll see this, but can using a lighter load in favor of maintaining better form be beneficial, especially for someone with spinal damage from L3 to S1?

[@JonathanKanerealestate]

.I cannot physically go to full depth At my best with an empty bar up to135 lbs I can only get to just above parallel . I have added 5 lbs each lift and am up to 175 lbs,but with that weight my depth is about half a squat. It is anatomical ;if I go lower I would fall over backwards or face plant. You said the perfect is the enemy of the good. Should I continue going up in weight on partial squats which I can ;or go back to almost parallel with the lower weights.? I truly cannot physically get to parallel or below with a body weight squat and when I do I am really leaning forward. Age 79, weight 175. ( it must be a proportion thing) Thanks for your videos , newsletters, I look forward to your emails and video.

[@jerseyjim9092]

Ankle mobility issue?

[@williamdennis1537]

Yeah, yeah, Sully. Tell it to James T Kirk. He would gently call your attention, I’m afraid, to the Kobyashi Mary solution.

[@minty0615]

Thank you for the video which describes more accurately than anything I've seen what's going on with my good-morning/knee slide squats with a back angle that collapses at the bottom, that so far I have been unable to cure. The few times I have been able to keep the bar over midfoot (usually just with an empty bar), I notice on my own videos what seems to be the overcompensation you mention, where it looks like a high-bar back angle with the hips pushing forward, which again pushes the knees out. You say this latter problem will be the subject of a future video. Has that video been made, or is there info elsewhere on how to cure this overcompensation? (I think also you mention the wall of power or something, unless I misheard that.) Thank you.

[@GreySteel]

Hi, Minty! We haven't produced that video yet. However, the article on which that video will be based (our content has a "life cycle" and our videos usually start out as newsletter essays) is here: mailchi.mp/4164d965b241/greysteel-strength-and-conditioning-newsletter-5-11-4865313?e=[UNIQID] You can find some of our other articles on the squat (and lotsa other stuff) at our Library: www.greysteel.org/library Hope some of this stuff is helpful to you! Keep lifting. Thanks for watching.

[@minty0615]

Just read that article. Awesome. Also hilarious. Will try the cue tomorrow, which will be a very light/form day. (Lately rather than desperately and radically deloading to start all over, all hopeful with new cues, which I've done before, now one squat day is light and for form alteration only, and by light I mean bar only or close until I see some improvement. The other day I do my work sets with bad form, for now without going up in weight, since there's no way I can make any significant form change while doing work sets, and that way I don't lose all the work it took to get there.)

[@sidrow11]

@@GreySteel Thanks for those links. Looking to see where I can sign up for your newsletter

[@sidrow11]

Ok, saw the subscribe tab, thanks

[@gregorymccoy6797]

Came for the advice, stayed for the Kanye West discussion. My biggest squat queue is not to "dive bomb" it; I go down slow so it gives me time to think. I used to dive to the bottom in an effort to "get it over with" but now am a more active participant than I used to be.

[@GreySteel]

Controlled descent is KEY, I agree. But even with a controlled descent some folks just won't stop leaning, or poking their knees, or whatever. With the squat, it's always something.

[@Fake--Natty]

For having the bar high and hips low I do ATG Highbar Squats. Blasphemy, I know. I still so Lowbar squats on a regular basis anyways tho 😉

[@bbsal4031]

Quit yelling at me! I will try it to do better with this...

[@rdmckeever7645]

Thanks for the fantastic content. As you mentioned, box squats are a good tool. If you want to take it to the next level, try squats barefoot on a hard, unpadded floor (concrete). Your dinosaur brain will thank you...