When training for oly lifting should I wear a belt during my last heavy working sets of back squats?
Ive decided I dont yet want to for Front Squats since Im new to them and I dont think its a good idea, plus its such a great core workout at this point.
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12-30-2009, 06:06 PM #1
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12-30-2009, 06:16 PM #2
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12-30-2009, 06:24 PM #3
If you're fairly new to Oly-style back squatting, I wouldn't bother with a belt until:
1. You've become quite proficient and have cycled up to a max over a few months training several times in the past,
...or...
2. You have preexisting back conditions that make a belt necessary, on the advice of someone who knows what they're talking about,
...or...
3. Ever.
Short answer: For most people, most of the time, no belt should be necessary.
Also, for Olympic lifting specifically, you should rarely be working up to a max single, since the back squat is an accessory lift, and not a competitive lift, so wearing a belt is kind of moot. And on front squats, the lower back is taken out of the movement quite a bit, and the weight used is much less than back squats, so again, using a belt is moot.
Unless you're gewalt.
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12-30-2009, 06:28 PM #4
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12-30-2009, 06:31 PM #5
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12-30-2009, 06:35 PM #6
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12-30-2009, 06:42 PM #7
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12-30-2009, 08:25 PM #8
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12-30-2009, 10:07 PM #9
- Join Date: Dec 2009
- Location: Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
- Age: 55
- Posts: 253
- Rep Power: 2385
You have it backwards-
IF you decide you want to train with a crutch (belt, wraps, etc) then the front squat is where you would want to use it. It will help your core stay tight when you do them. It is much harder to keep your chest up in the FS, than Bs, so it might be helpful when you have a weak or fatigued lower back.
The BS is a direct carryover for the snatch and overall body power. Using a belt for this is pointless because it is not letting your core become stronger which you NEED to be a good overhead lifter. Staying over the bar during the lifts takes a strong lower back and if you train with a belt you are helping to never grow this muscle that you need badly.
IMO, stay away from ALL supportive gear and GET BIG! There will always be a weak link in the chain. Weather it is a delt, lat, quad, etc just keep lifting and eliminate all weaknesses and you will eventually be one bad mother!
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12-30-2009, 10:25 PM #10
- Join Date: Nov 2008
- Location: San Jose, California, United States
- Age: 33
- Posts: 3,042
- Rep Power: 1918
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12-31-2009, 04:04 AM #11
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12-31-2009, 07:36 PM #12
- Join Date: Dec 2009
- Location: Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
- Age: 55
- Posts: 253
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Obviously, if you can do more with then it then without and its helps to assist your apparent weakness, well then its a - A PHYSICAL crutch.
If you can do the same with and without then it is a MENTAL crutch. Either way it's a crutch!
If there is a physical weakness that needs to grow, by continuing to use a belt it further procrastinates the time process for strengthening this weak link in your chain. Suck it up, toss it in the trash and go get big!
My philosophy is this: Your not going to compete forever - some not at all. If that's the case, then why do we train? We lift to be fit, strong and live longer. If you have an obvious weakness, either mental or physical why not work it out? That's why it's called TRAINING. we train to get STRONGER and eliminate weaknesses.
If someone calls you to help move a couch are you first gonna run and grab your belt ?Last edited by BrozKnows; 12-31-2009 at 07:39 PM.
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01-02-2010, 06:45 PM #13
- Join Date: Nov 2008
- Location: San Jose, California, United States
- Age: 33
- Posts: 3,042
- Rep Power: 1918
I don't look at it as a crutch, but rather as a tool - a tool that can add quite a bit of weight to your lifts. The goal of weightlifting competition is to lift more weight than your competitors, so it seems foolish to not use a completely legal tool to your advantage to do so.
If there is a physical weakness that needs to grow, by continuing to use a belt it further procrastinates the time process for strengthening this weak link in your chain. Suck it up, toss it in the trash and go get big!
My philosophy is this: Your not going to compete forever - some not at all. If that's the case, then why do we train? We lift to be fit, strong and live longer. If you have an obvious weakness, either mental or physical why not work it out? That's why it's called TRAINING. we train to get STRONGER and eliminate weaknesses.
If someone calls you to help move a couch are you first gonna run and grab your belt ?Loggage:
http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=121377021
"If I have to chew through someone's a$$hole to get to their balls, I will go back for seconds if that means a better chance at winning." -Arlecchino
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01-02-2010, 10:38 PM #14
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01-03-2010, 12:03 AM #15
I think belts (and other gear) play a much bigger role and add a lot more to a powerlifting total than a weightlifting total.
Just my opinion, but I can see a belt allowing more weight to be lifted on a deadlift or squat, but I don't think there are many lifters who snatch significantly more with a belt than without.Last edited by J.L.C.; 01-03-2010 at 12:06 AM.
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01-03-2010, 12:48 AM #16
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01-03-2010, 07:00 AM #17
First part I totally agree with.
The second part is where it gets a little murky IMO. I wear a belt in the clean, not because I have to (clean is ~110, FS is 160 and DL is ~220), but because it keeps my core tight and I can worry about other things. When I wear a belt, the first pull and the squat are easier, and in a competition, that leaves me feeling fresher for my next attempt.
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01-03-2010, 07:02 AM #18
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01-03-2010, 07:46 AM #19
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01-05-2010, 04:27 AM #20
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01-05-2010, 05:51 AM #21
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01-05-2010, 07:03 AM #22
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01-05-2010, 07:36 AM #23
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