Squat

[EnigmaPower]

Just wanted to get an idea how you guys lower yourself to parallel or ATG in a squat. I would hope that anyone squatting with any decent weight is descending under control but do you guys use muscle to descend (not just as brakes) or are you going with gravity?

[SP1966]

Maybe I don't understand the question but I do not pull the weight down, gravity does that for me though I do use muscle to control the decent. Again, I don't really get your question so my answer may not be what your looking for.

[EnigmaPower]

Maybe I don't understand the question but I do not pull the weight down, gravity does that for me though I do use mucle to control the decent. Again, I don't really get your question so my answer may not be what your looking for.

Your answer is what I'm looking for. I guess to put it another way would be how do you descend in a squat.

[baker]

I was taught to stay as tight as possible on the decent and explode out of the bottom.

[EnigmaPower]

I was taught to stay as tight as possible on the decent and explode out of the bottom.

Yes...but how do you descend? Do you use muscle to pull you down or do you let gravity pull you while controlling your descent with muscle.

[flexxed]

first make sure form is right, use a large exercise ball, the bouncy kind and sit on or use a chair your form should be as if you're sitting down, use your hips on the way dow and quads on way up, also you should use "blocking" which consists of holding a lot of air in your chest and sticking it out, contracting your abs and flexing your lower back

[Todd_A]

I control the negative (down movement) using my muscles, then hold for a second at the bottom to avoid benefitting from any possible momentum from the bounce, then power up as fast as I can.

I don't think I use the opposing muscles fighting agains the working muscles while lowering the weight, if that is what you are asking. I have noticed myself doing that before with curls though.

[EnigmaPower]

first make sure form is right, use a large exercise ball, the bouncy kind and sit on or use a chair your form should be as if you're sitting down, use your hips on the way dow and quads on way up, also you should use "blocking" which consists of holding a lot of air in your chest and sticking it out, contracting your abs and flexing your lower back

Thanks for the advice but I know how to squat. I am just curious as to how others descend into the hole or into an ATG squat. You say use your hips on the way down. Does that mean you are using your hip flexors to pull yourself down?

[baker]

Yes...but how do you descend? Do you use muscle to pull you down or do you let gravity pull you while controlling your descent with muscle.

I flex my quads, glutes, abs, etc and control the descent. I believe that if you don't do this you end up flexing your glutes in the bottom and end up rolling your lower back. If you watch some people squat you can actually see their cheeks flex in the bottom that's not the proper form, or at least that's the way I was trained.

[EnigmaPower]

I control the negative (down movement) using my muscles, then hold for a second at the bottom to avoid benefitting from any possible momentum from the bounce, then power up as fast as I can.

I don't think I use the opposing muscles fighting agains the working muscles while lowering the weight, if that is what you are asking. I have noticed myself doing that before with curls though.

No that isn't what I am asking. By controlling the negative you are using muscles. I am trying to find out how people descend. IOW, are you using muscles to power you descent or do you drop under gravity power as SP1966 does?

[EnigmaPower]

I flex my quads, glutes, abs, etc and control the descent. I believe that if you don't do this you end up flexing your glutes in the bottom and end up rolling your lower back. If you watch some people squat you can actually see their cheeks flex in the bottom that's not the proper form, or at least that's the way I was trained.

i understand you control the descent. That isn't what I asked. Maybe someone can reword the question for me since sp1966 is really the only one who answered what I asked. How do you power the descent Baker? Are muscles supplying the power to pull you down or is gravity?

[EnigmaPower]

I really should have reworded this question.

[baker]

Ahh......

Yes. I resist the weight, so in essence it sort of like a negative.

I hope that answer it.

[EnigmaPower]

Ahh......

Yes. I resist the weight, so in essence it sort of like a negative.

I hope that answer it.

You missed the mark again

I already understand you resist by you saying you control the descent. What supplies the power that enables the descent, your muscles pulling you down or gravity?

[baker]

You missed the mark again

I already understand you resist by you saying you control the descent. What supplies the power that enables the descent, your muscles pulling you down or gravity?

Gravity for the win!!!

Sorry, I've had a long day at work. My brain is fried.

[EnigmaPower]

Gravity for the win!!!

Sorry, I've had a long day at work. My brain is fried.

You answered

That's ok, it's almost Friday

[dbx]

I really should have reworded this question.

Well, pondering doing it, regretting doing it, and actually doing it are all different things.

[ntrllftr]

When going to parallel I will put on the breaks.
When I go ATG I will switch on the ABS system.

.

[heatwave13]

I actually make a conscious effort to "lower" myself to the bottom position; almost as if it's a separate movement. I do not let gravity take over! When I lower myself down, I am making an effort to contract my abs and brace my feet, hips, and lower back using a big breath inhale.

[EnigmaPower]

I actually make a conscious effort to "lower" myself to the bottom position; almost as if it's a separate movement. I do not let gravity take over! When I lower myself down, I am making an effort to contract my abs and brace my lower back using a big breath inhale.

Ok. The muscles used for bracing aren't lowering you. What muscle or muscles are?

[woodlake]

Yes...but how do you descend? Do you use muscle to pull you down or do you let gravity pull you while controlling your descent with muscle.

Please explain what you mean by "use muscle to pull you down". I understand the second part about controlling descent via muscle controll against the pull of gravity.

[bodyhard]

OK I never get all scientific when it comes to training as I just do what I need to do without giving it so much thought, but.


Don't ya think if you use muscles to "pull" the weight "down" you will actually descend "faster" since you are going with gravity??????

Wouldn't it make sense to restrict the descend to control the form?

Again I am just talking out of my ass cause I just do it, but am I right here?

[heatwave13]

Ok. The muscles used for bracing aren't lowering you. What muscle or muscles are?

Ok, then, whatever the muscles are that I use when I bend my knees? I don't know. I just do it.....

[heatwave13]

Paralysis from over-analysis

[EnigmaPower]

Please explain what you mean by "use muscle to pull you down". I understand the second part about controlling descent via muscle controll against the pull of gravity.

Can't really explain it. All I can say is if you are not dropping under gravity's power you must be using a muscle or muscles in order to do so. Guess the closest I can come to illustrating it would be in a curl. When you lower the weight you can let gravity pull down or you can flex your tricep pushing the weight down.

[EnigmaPower]

Ok, then, whatever the muscles are that I use when I bend my knees? I don't know. I just do it.....

Quads and hamstrings.

[EnigmaPower]

Don't ya think if you use muscles to "pull" the weight "down" you will actually descend "faster" since you are going with gravity??????

No not necessarily. Remember that the descent is being controlled.

[Bando]

hold for a second at the bottom to avoid benefiting from any possible momentum from the bounce

I wish I had read this sentence before I ever began squatting

[heatwave13]

I guess the closest thing I can see it as would be like I am doing a negative with the quads and lower back.

[EnigmaPower]

I wish I had read this sentence before I began squatting

Some people need to read that before benching...