Question on squat

[JamiePattison]

I've seen a few squat videos and read some links on how to do them properly. This is for front squat and back.

What I'm unsure with is how far your supposed to go down? Should you go down where your buttock is touching the ground or close enough or should it be that your buttocks are a certain distance away from the ground?

[bryanlim007]

I've seen a few squat videos and read some links on how to do them properly. This is for front squat and back.

What I'm unsure with is how far your supposed to go down? Should you go down where your buttock is touching the ground or close enough or should it be that your buttocks are a certain distance away from the ground?

Personally I go as far down so my ass touches my calves, but that's my preference. It really depends whether you're training for strength or just mass, many powerlifters go low bar back squat to recruit the posterior chain to a greater extent and only go just past parallel.

[chazzy1864]

These are examples of a parallel squat for front squat, high bar back squat and low bar back squat:

[dmacdonal9]

Most folks aim to break parallel, which has your hip crease below the top of your knee.

[dkathleticperf]

Sounds like you're fairly new to squatting?

Either way, you should aim to go at least slightly below parallel or lower, but if you can't, don't force it. Just go as low as you can without rounding your back. Keep working your squat and work on your hip and ankle mobility and you will have the mobility to start going below parallel without rounding your back in no time.

Most people with poor mobility hear all about "YOU HAVE TO GO DEEP" and force the issue and go down deep and hurt themselves. You gotta have the mobility first.

[jamalfudge]

Parallel is an arbitrary position determined by powerlifting organizations. Go as deep as your flexibility allows.

[EPolis13]

Agree with the above - go as deep as your mobility will safely allow. As you continue to work on these, you can go deeper if mobility improves.

[JamiePattison]

Thanks everyone.

These are examples of a parallel squat for front squat, high bar back squat and low bar back squat:

[img]admin.dailyhiit.com/hiit-blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/driasiagiveaway35.jpg[/img]

I generally do the first two, but i hold the bar with a wide grip (cant tell how wide it is on that image).

One thing i do notice when doing the back squat (2nd image) is that i rest the bar a little in the position the image shows. Should that be ok? I think i slightly rest it on the muscles around that area. If this is not acceptable i may have to lower my weights :-(

Sounds like you're fairly new to squatting?

Either way, you should aim to go at least slightly below parallel or lower, but if you can't, don't force it. Just go as low as you can without rounding your back. Keep working your squat and work on your hip and ankle mobility and you will have the mobility to start going below parallel without rounding your back in no time.

Most people with poor mobility hear all about "YOU HAVE TO GO DEEP" and force the issue and go down deep and hurt themselves. You gotta have the mobility first.

Yes new to this. Ive done some with fair amount of weights but adding more weight on i thought i better check that im doing it correctly.