Increase Your Raw Squat With Box Squats ft. Matt Wenning

Matt Wenning goes over the specifics and mechanics to achieve a box squat that will laterally improve your full squat.
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[@efitwithnick]

“Variety is the spice of also making sure your joints are healthy.”

[@TheStrengthClassroom]

I don't know why but this made me laugh really hard

[@MrTehz]

"most people are gonna sit down and then rock back" 10 seconds later a clip shows him doing the exact thing :D

[@Pibodabo]

He probably meant "you should not rock back too much" since he also rocks back a little in his training videos but his form is always impressive

[@supertraining06]

Correct you don't rock your upper body back to where your hips are. But when the weight is challenging there will be a little rock. My opinion is a little different then Matt's as well. I feel box squats are a different movement then a regular squat. However, I feel Matt understands that due to the fact that he hits a Raw Squat every 2-3 weeks.

[@Pibodabo]

When Mark Bell says "you are correct" you know you have learned some shit lol

[@WesternRenaissance1]

I believe what he means is that you don't want to rock back to the point that you lose pressure in the hips and legs. He has talked about this before and you see a lot of guys sit on the box and totally relax then try to catapult themselves forward and up. Good observation though :)

[@bradr539]

3:00 dead nuts how he said to do it..

[@dawnbailey3887]

Turning 40 this fall and just did my first powerlifting meet...I'm hooked! I love your channel and the advice you give :)

[@gsmith8820]

Dawn Bailey you natty baby

[@sayitoutloudchp]

U still compete?

[@RealnameKevin]

box squatting today definitely wasn't doing it right thanks for the content

[@filosofodemierda]

Best explanation of a Box Squat I have seen. Thanks for the video. I'm starting today doing them.

[@dessertstorm7476]

I changed from very low bar with a lot of forward lean and close stance to squatting more like this guy Matt Wenning. Wide stance, feet/knees pointing out, fairly upright. Took 30kg off my max, but it feels better.

[@austinadkins9113]

I feel like that's what I need to do and I'm still a beginner (255 lb squat)

[@hughjanuss5963]

Phlegm Atic I used to do a super high bar, super close stance, and mega forward lean because my lower back was stronger than my legs. Now I low bar with a wide stance. My back is taxed much less and my legs are getting visibly larger as well as stronger.

[@dessertstorm7476]

Which way could you lift more weight? One thing I notice about wider stance with toes out is balance is that it's way easier to balance, and I go straight up and down. it's not an ugly 2 part lift and I don't get out of my groove. So far still early days though, nowhere near my max

[@hughjanuss5963]

Phlegm Atic I can lift WAY more weight in the low bar. Like you said, no more two-part lift. I put on 50lbs to my max squat and still progressing after switching to low-bar.

[@erikbentley9005]

hugh i squat a lot like you too.

[@zinskeep]

I hope you guys have more material with matt. Cool dude and lots of valuable knowledge.

[@weighttrainingguide]

Brilliant advice! And great form. Most people who do box squats don't know what they're doing.

[@CentreMass]

Just like how I squat on the toilet

[@patman4917]

hell ya bro! and its speed work mixed in with a drop set after that monster of a turd leaves the body and blast off the seat setting PR's bby!

[@angelgfromcorkerii8797]

@@patman4917 WOW

[@janfischer861]

great vid, tried them for the first time today cause of hip impingement and I fell in love

[@nibblingzombie9453]

This was very helpful. thanks

[@mikeschmidt4800]

Thanks Mark. Love your stuff.

[@therealnattyking]

Matt is an absolute mastermind.

[@KeysiNinja]

Thanks for the free advise!! Always appreciate it.

[@mufafaa9254]

Box squatting helps a ton with getting your form better on maxing weight regular squatting

[@mikeschmidt4800]

These are great for the multiple knee surgery guys like me who just don't want weak legs as they age.

[@robertkershner9758]

Love this guys form and knowledge, awesome content!!

[@themantaz1]

Great video and great info. Thanks.

[@AntiGravityResearch2022]

Personally I only do box squats, I use the ssb, camber, front squat/zercher harness, bands, straight bar… but always box squats. Every other time I have tried to use free squats I have troubles with my back… but the box squats keep everything consistent for me so that I can finally push for a 405 squat. Just hit 355 on the camber for an all time PR very easily so this is “the way” for my build

[@jakaisherriff8060]

Do more videos with Matt , excellent content here

[@MarioKoutroulakis]

Some solid advice!

[@MyTopFan]

I skip legs

[@ericg3354]

J Morgan yeah i usally do chest instead 😂😂

[@mastikipathsalamasti2494]

dont skeep legs

[@ThreadGang]

J Morgan l spaghetti legs ass

[@cocolukia21]

I only train calves

[@4olufade]

LOL !!! I'm crying. Too funny

[@Anabolicnerd]

Matt doing wr squats and not getting beat up says a lot about his technique

[@TheBullshit2011]

I enjoy box squats. Especially when you workout bye yourself

[@LJLeeTV]

Amazing dude. Love his advice

[@tenmanotora]

I feel this SQ very comfortable for me, my backache decreased and my ATG SQ recs are increasing very nicely now! Thank you for this video. And I'm using Slingshot No.2, it works very well too. Thank you 2 ^_^

[@TheYondaime008]

Not the first time I come early

[@Bud-xy5ee]

Bro really good explanation of your perspective. Thanks for the video

[@littlemoo52]

todays lifters are full of technical pointers and advice. would be awesome if you had some old school powerlifters on to see what their thoughts are on box squats, chains, and all the other "modern" training styles. when i say old school i am thinking the raw classic guys from the 60's-80's. i dont think they were programming the same way back then but still put up some huge numbers. guys like Kaz, Reinhoudt and the like. that would be awesome to hear their thoughts.

[@SvupperZ]

Personally, I prefer to do a box squat (if I'd have to include them) exactly like a regular squat, not sitting back on to it into a position that would be impossible to maintain without the box. Rather, I do them almost exactly like a pause squat/pin squat - with the same movement pattern as a regular squat, just stopping on a box at full depth. Same stance as well.

[@matcoddy6097]

depends What I'm doing them for, If I'm doing them for raw squat carryover, I do them the same way, and to the same depth, If I'm doing them for Deadlift carryover, I use my deadlift stance, with the amount of lean and sit back I would have at the beginning of deadlift, with a small pause, if I'm doing them for geared squat carryover, I sit back like I would in gear. I never do the catapult way the westside guys do , Just because I've never been good at doing them that way lol

[@1bigimpact]

thank you will use

[@matheusfrota95]

awesomw video ! thanks !

[@charliem123321]

Good vibes. Nice vid :)

[@johnpymn9869]

Great stuff Matt

[@osiandavies833]

The name Vogelpohl induces fear

[@ConnClic52]

Hey Mark and gang, great video! I was wondering if you or Matt Wenning had a position on using the SSB or a straight bar for box squats. I don't have access to a SSB unless I buy one, which they seem a little pricey lol. Thanks for all the great training tips!

[@vytenis4690]

Can I do those still properly and be able to get the form right with not safety bar because I don't have in my gym? Thanks that's really informative. Appreciate 🙏

[@BrotherhoodExperience]

Thanks for sharing.

[@mrsteeze3116]

I wonder if this would apply to full depth squats. Being a competitive olympic lifter over the past year, I am always looking for ways to improve my squat. I don't think I have heard many coaches talk about a box squat as part of my training. I am trying to improve my squat from 375lbs to 485lbs and beyond@80kg over 6months or so. Would a box squat be effective? Maybe improve sticking point? Interesting.

[@coIey]

Ray Williams doesn't squat like you, you squat like ray Williams

[@danlightowler7207]

frostedy0 Only in Soviet Russia!

[@davidmb3376]

Wenning was one of the best powerlifters alive well before anyone heard of Ray Williams

[@papaknuthson]

you should bring the lilliebridges back!

[@KAZhasBandaids]

I squat differently cause my right leg is shorter than my left.

[@pilotjones9866]

KAZhasBandaids that’s cute

[@jarenproc6866]

Same my left leg is shorter than my right

[@occupiedaustralia9952]

I hate doing squat days because of the pain I get in my knees for days afterwards something has to change real soon.

[@bufftilldawg]

Those elbow sleeves are 🔥

[@tgatt5759]

this seems like it would cross over into sumos also.

[@ddougherty28]

I need those knee sleeves!! 👀👀👀

[@KJ-iq7fm]

Hey, are those *new* STrong knee & elbow sleeves? 👀 How do they differ from the classic colorways & when available? I didn't see them on your website, thanks! 🙏

[@genesis3790]

So where do I place my feet

[@glen432003]

Ain’t got a box , would a small flat bench work ?

[@benwilms3942]

how does trying to keep your knees apart prevent a back forward movement?

[@patrickvanmeter2922]

Should the box be at parallel or just under?

[@TurnTheStoveOnBlaze]

Patrick van meter Both. Variation is key 🔑

[@patrickvanmeter2922]

@@TurnTheStoveOnBlaze Thank you.

[@ChristAliveForevermore]

Box Squat is the king of all exercises, hands down.

[@llGouKiNll]

What is the benefits for the box squat vs the pin squat for raw lifters??

[@mattliftsandjumps]

If you squat in lifting shoes for a free squat, should you wear lifting shoes while doing these? Or squat in a flat shoe when doing these?

[@rb25detMitch07]

When are the new reebok training shoes coming out?

[@tornquad5024]

Doesn’t west side teach to sit back and rock Into it and up . Just curious

[@Gasolineh]

I don't even have access to anything like this.

[@swampfox8787]

Has someone identified the footwear that Matt Wenning is sporting? Thank you.

[@RomanJiuJitsu]

lit

[@thatslutgirl8848]

Does this form apply to competitive body building box squats as well? Low box squats? Specifically with the knees sort of going out.

[@wyattyake2355]

When can I get the camo sleeves????

[@wilsonc.6234]

What is that sponge thing he’s sitting on? How did he get it? I really love box squats and I really need that thing

[@xyoungdipsetx]

Stan doesn’t squat like him he squats with low bar and down

[@motleyb11]

EliteFTS or Rogue box which do you recommend and where did you get your pad for the rogue box featured in this video?

[@DKriticos]

What's the difference between box squats and pause squats? Which is better?

[@HDHITman]

DKriticos From what I have read box squats are better because it breaks up the eccentric and the concentric which negates the stretch reflex. Whereas in a pause squat unless you are doing at least a 5s pause you still have some stored potential energy in the stretch reflex.

[@DKriticos]

Oh ok. I've only seen pause squats recently done by some lifters and wondered if it does anything. I know box squats gives you a lot of power from the bottom to drive up and has helped my deadlift heaps

[@coIey]

New line of sleeves ?

[@loristrachan8633]

Dude .. are they floss bands on your knees?

[@erikbentley9005]

Jesus these comments are cancer. Apparently everyone here has world records here.

[@JMBBproject]

lmao. yeah as always. anonymity at its best!

[@cisrael468]

At the very least most of them know what a world record raw squat to depth looks like, and box squats don't resemble that at all

[@erikbentley9005]

what's your point he's using the box as a training tool it's obviously not tested or anything

[@cisrael468]

Erik Bentley are you serious? He's saying that comp squats and box squats should look the same. This isn't the case with any of the big raw squatters in tested/non tested feds, or with/without wraps.

[@giridwiputra2903]

i used to do box squat, but curl in monolift is way more challanging

[@nazahmed8164]

question - what is the benefit of box squats? the main thing I heard from this video is that it separates the concencentric from the eccentric portion of the squats. so couldn't a pause squat acheive the same benefit?

[@matcoddy6097]

It takes off the load in a different manner.

[@jamiebones3419]

I thought the bar should be kept over midfoot for most efficiency? I take it its different for box squats?

[@mountdoomee]

JamieBones it is the weight that goes over mid-foot , anywhere else and he would fall over. since he is using the safety squat bar the weight is more forward from the bar and that is the part that will likely be over mid-foot

[@jamiebones3419]

Ah... never noticed that about the SSB. Never used one. Cheers.

[@R34L157]

Just the bar midfoot thing..

[@cisrael468]

Unless someone comes out of Westside having already squatted to a box for however many years like Matt and has insanely strong hips relative to their quads, this just isn't the way to squat raw. Look at smelly who squatted 1080 in a suit and probably a lot to a box as well but his raw squat is absolute shit. Look at any world record RAW squat done in the IPF or the USPA (the most strict feds) and there's always forward knee travel.

[@jreel]

David Doyle Exactly what he mentioned in this video too. This is about the average lifter, about 5-10 years from now.

[@jamesbondisamonkey]

Who gives a shit about longevity...it's about records...nobody gives a fuck about the guy who lifts his whole life and hits his own pr at 50 doing it the safe way and never touches any kind of record...what kind of ridiculous backwards thinking is that? You're either going for the top or you're literally going through the motions for no logical reason...the ones who are remembered, the ones who make the history books are the ones like Eddie Hall, or the other powerlifters who set world records

[@ij7364]

John Browning Fucking hell mate, some people are just tryna build muscle and look good not become the worlds strongest man

[@jamesbondisamonkey]

That's fine...but I can't take gym Nazis like this guy Wenning who think their method is the only way...and that lifting till theyre 60 is the only path...this guy is a straight up douchebag and people need to know

[@jonathanluis4966]

Depth, should you break 90 doing box squats?

[@mark33030]

parallel or 1-2 inch below I think, above can be used as a variation

[@Iconalize]

What about bar position in the box squat? Comp. low or use high bar?

[@GSteinbrink]

Iconalize I believe High Bar

[@efromme]

I'm here for the comments 🍿

[@off8061]

Okay, help me out. I had a lower back injury squatting 16 years ago, and now every so often I will tweak it squatting or deadlifting. I am fairly careful but it happens. Any assistance work for lower back strengthening and rehab?

[@MrFak9r]

Get a weightlifting belt to support your lower back. Stay away from crossshit.

[@mexicanbatman158]

off8061 Hyperextensions, reverse hyperextensions (only if your gym has the reverse hyper machine) hang from a pull up bar, and direct core workout (don't neglect the obliques)

[@off8061]

Mexican Batman Yeah I try to incorporate hypers, but the re else would be better if I had access. Thanks

[@firmans12]

Is dat really the fact ?? That people who squat with their knee travel forward aka high bar dont have the longevity as people whos the knee dont go forward ???

[@timmy32989]

He talks about longevity, and says he squats like ed coan. However a lot of the guys who squat with their hips (although strong as fuck) now have hip replacements. I'd like to know how many knee replacements have been performed on the guys who lift more knees forward.

[@frankhitomitu4577]

Tim Trumble , the knees are the at the top of the list of most injury-prone areas in athletics. Hips are multi times stronger and more durable, maintaining joint health and flexibility of course is important too. But...there is a reason you throw a child over your knee, but a man, you throw over your hips. Haha

[@jjsiegal1]

WAT DA? This looks very dangerous. Can someone explain what the purpose of a 'BOX SQUAT IS?'

[@TheSeandog1234]

Knees forward is the best way to squat if you plan on hitting an actual depth. I could argue that hitting depth with this style of squat will wreck your hips and back.

[@HDHITman]

TheSeandog1234 Then it sounds to me like you need to make your hips and back stronger. Then do and google search on most common overuse injuries in powerlifting I bet you find knees, elbows, shoulders, low back, cervical spine and to fix all is to get them stronger, get their mobility back, and learn form on exercises that will help you avoid it.

[@TheSeandog1234]

Not necessarily though. If the goal is to squat below parallel, keeping the shins close to vertical will require the lower back to round. Instead allowing the knees to come forward (to different degrees depending on individual leverages) will make hitting depth much easier with a neutral spine. This type of squat attempts to take emphasis off the quads which are the primary movers. It's less optimal than loading the quads first and foremost.

[@HDHITman]

TheSeandog1234 If quad strength was paramount for a huge raw squat then by definition the people with the largest quads have the largest squat so that would mean bodybuilders can out squat powerlifters because of quad size.

[@TheSeandog1234]

No you wouldn't be able to deduce that because you're forgetting the technical aspect of the lift. Many of the top powerlifters do in fact have the biggest quads. Dan Green, Chad Smith, Andrei Malanichev.

[@HDHITman]

TheSeandog1234 No one said the quads were not involved in the lift but for longevity and health your best bet as Wenning points is to kick much of the stress toward the bigger muscles of the glutes and hamstrings. You can clearly see Wenning has some big quads as well. What he is trying to get across is the the more you rely on the quads to perform the lift the more quad dominant you become and the higher the risk of a quad tear same with pecs.

[@chicosodio]

HI (I beg your pardon for my inadequate and misleading use of the english language)

[@RyanJacksonElectrical]

Alvaro de Balbín Bueno Your English looks great.

[@qtpie2630]

No.

[@LurkinPT]

Mark you did the opposite of the advice, edit this video and apologize now!

[@F1DD3]

he should speficy that his "tips" are just for the lowbar squat, cus the highbar doesnt work this way. "every squat starts at the hips" is a dumb statement. just watch olympic weightlifters, KNEES break first, for a extremely upright and leg dominant highbar squat. on a wide stance lowbar merely below paralel powerlifting squat, hips first and knees stay nearly on starting point, seen from the side. And all before said aside: There is NO definite Guide to THE perfect Squat. You have to find out, what fits you, your bild, and even your mental capabilities, cus if you am not mentally able to "sit back" with 300kg, it will never work that way. Vice versa with breaking at the Knees.

[@Noneofyourbusiness-rq9jq]

Knees forward is clearly the best way to squat as all the records that these fools had have been broken by people that squat knees forward

[@jamesbondisamonkey]

I do not get the appeal of what he is referring to...Nobody remembers the guys who lift their whole life and don't set records...if you can do more and put more pressure on your body and set a higher squat, that's what is going to be remembered...and then you move on...what the fuck is the point of this old man lifting shit when you're not gonna get the max from your body, who cares about longevity...and this guy reminds me of the kind of douchebags in the gym that think their way is the only way...you can see it in his face when he speaks...its a very unintelligent way of approaching life...I see this in personal trainers all the time...they do this shit for their living so they teach a "safer" way of lifting, and in doing so they do not maximize athletic potential in the lifts...and hundreds and thousands of people buy into this kind of "my way is right" bullshit....it's sad honestly. There are so many different ways to lift and train, what he is saying is his opinion, and should not be taken for anything more than that.

[@douglasmarkwith]

Anyone who doesn't do box squats is missing out. They're incredible.

[@godizself1]

I squat three times a week # 190 lb and when I'm in those phases where I feel like the squat is trying to beat me I will do box squats on one of those three day workouts and it is a game changer even with increasing weight increments

[@uk2215]

@@godizself1 I do box squats 3 times a week so I can do Romanian DLs in the same session

[@mikealessi7006]

I just started at57 pray for me 😮

[@ljruss42]

@@mikealessi7006 🙏

[@D.3100]

More out of less weight too if you can box more than free squat your doing it wrong

[@TheEmperiorD]

Great video, i agree with Matt as a recreational lifter i rather box squat for health and longevity reasons and in my opinion it does carry over, also i find them harder than free squats.

[@3kingspowerlifting119]

Just in time for me to go into a box squat cycle. Thank you always for the free information from yourself and these athletes Mark

[@chasetaylor777]

Deff learned how to do this correctly. Also a tip that worked for me is when you go down to box squat count the seconds that it takes to get your ass on the box. Then take the box away count again. You can almost feel a imaginary box

[@TheMaurader33]

These work to strengthen your posterior chain for the squat, develop explosive power from your glutes

[@felixlb4762]

Thanks for this content. I’ve looking for a Box Squat Tutorial in German but there is only Bullshit then I see this dude‘s an there is all I need to know. Thanks.

[@keelanenns4548]

I've been trying and trying to figure out how to increase my explosively on the squat since I'm very hip dominant with weaker quads. less than 2minutes into this video I already have a game plane to fix this imbalance. There's a reason Matt's last name starts with a W

[@meaganhiller3029]

I’m new to squatting and working on form, and man....trying to keep my shins straight was harder than I thought!

[@olimercer835]

How have you been progressing?

[@PassportG]

" I tend to listen to ppl that's been in the game for 20 years or more" hooorah 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@marcelo1810]

Mark Rippetoe enters Convo... To be honest this looks like an amazing form. But I have a question, what is really a proper form? Mark Rippetoe in his book Starting Strength says you need to first position heels shoulder width, with the toes flaring out 30 degrees. In this video I see a very wide stance about 1.5 shoulder width. Also in Rippetoe s book, he mentions the back should be slightly angled forward on the contrary to what your saying i.e. tall chest straight back. I'm a novice lifter, lifting with oly shoes, not flat. 1RM 225 lbs. Talking about the 10,000 squats, what should I incorporate? What squat style? Please advise. Thanks in advance

[@firstname565]

Came here for the comments... and they did not disappoint lol

[@leatherface9377]

Should you use these at a heavier weight to increase regular squat? Or did I miss something?

[@jmac6973]

idk guys. i squat with a shoulder width stance. my hip sockets will not allow me to hit depth any wider. so i squat more knees over toes... so should i try box squats in my normal squat stance and style?