Squat Technique

[FooFighter49er]

I'm about ready to start Operator after reading the 3rd edition. Maybe I missed or glossed over in the book, but is there anything that talks about technique with any of the lifts? I'm particularly looking to see if I need to do deep back squat or just hit 90 degrees (got pretty bad knees). Thanks in advance.

[Blackmetalbunny]

Nope you didn't miss out part of the book - it just doesn't go into detail for lift techniques.

[Barkadion]

Try watching Rip. He is good

http://startingstrength.com/video/lifts ... ifts/squat

[TBPenguin]

I'm about ready to start Operator after reading the 3rd edition. Maybe I missed or glossed over in the book, but is there anything that talks about technique with any of the lifts? I'm particularly looking to see if I need to do deep back squat or just hit 90 degrees (got pretty bad knees). Thanks in advance.

You don't have to do squats. But if you want to do squats and your knees are bad, the 90 degrees is supposed to be the hardest position for them.

[WallBilly]

Even if you don't plan to do "Starting Strength" as a program, the book is worth buying. Rip goes into gory detail on technique for the big lifts. Then go watch his videos, like Bark said.

Rip contends, and my experience agrees with him, that squats are actually good for your knees (and hips and back) when done properly. Most people let their ego get in the way, and try to squat too much when they start, and/or try to increase the weights too fast. It really is amusing to go into a university gym and see all the bros doing shitty 1/4 squats with 275.

Rip says "if there is too much weight on the bar to get completely parallel, there's too much weight on the bar." He wants the top of your thighs to be at or slightly below parallel, and your knees no farther forward than your toes. Always start with the empty bar for warm-ups and stretching things out.

[Barkadion]

Even if you don't plan to do "Starting Strength" as a program, the book is worth buying. Rip goes into gory detail on technique for the big lifts. Then go watch his videos, like Bark said.

Rip contends, and my experience agrees with him, that squats are actually good for your knees (and hips and back) when done properly. Most people let their ego get in the way, and try to squat too much when they start, and/or try to increase the weights too fast. It really is amusing to go into a university gym and see all the bros doing shitty 1/4 squats with 275.

Rip says "if there is too much weight on the bar to get completely parallel, there's too much weight on the bar." He wants the top of your thighs to be at or slightly below parallel, and your knees no farther forward than your toes. Always start with the empty bar for warm-ups and stretching things out.

I second that. Proper technique is much more important then the load, imho.

I even think that running Base Building with SE cluster of big 3 lifts and empty bar is a good way for a novice to get lifts down minding good form.

[Your_Lunch]

I second that. Proper technique is much more important then the load, imho.

I even think that running Base Building with SE cluster of big 3 lifts and empty bar is a good way for a novice to get lifts down minding good form.

Being a novice lifter and coming off a recent knee injury, that's exactly what I did during Base Building over the last few months. It definitely helped maintain the much better form, and even with no load on the bar, concentrating on maintaining good form through so many reps left me knackered!

[Barkadion]

I second that. Proper technique is much more important then the load, imho.

I even think that running Base Building with SE cluster of big 3 lifts and empty bar is a good way for a novice to get lifts down minding good form.

Being a novice lifter and coming off a recent knee injury, that's exactly what I did during Base Building over the last few months. It definitely helped maintain the much better form, and even with no load on the bar, concentrating on maintaining good form through so many reps left me knackered!

Awesome!

[Tyr0331]

Great read if you're just starting out

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/09825227 ... ref=plSrch

[Green2Blue]

Another vote for Rip.