Post your lifting videos

[BrotherWolf]

Lol. thanks, i think?

LOL you're welcome ..it was pretty good but I don't sugar coat

Agree with lack of/not being used (hamstrings). I find depth really difficult to hit when I stay tight and I bounce to hard if I get too loose. thanks - will work on.

yeah but I say this all the time .. depth is relative to your lifting style if you were to do high bar or oly style squats then atg or whatever you want to call it is fine and
relevant to the sport , you need to squat low to be able to clean the bar in other words it's very sport/movement specific ..

other than that, athletically speaking the low bar below parallel (hip joint lower than the knee joint) is a better overall exercise because of the more complete muscle involvement
don't stress out with getting ATG just worry about breaking parallel and use the tightness to your advantage .. stay tight and use the rebound to your advantage , that is proper technique in the low bar

And ugh. knees.

yep, low bar - perhaps not as low as it could be. elbows up = towards ceiling?

Looks low enough
yeah up toward the ceiling and if you try different width grips you'll find that the narrower the grip the tighter your bar will feel on your back .. but I think that you have that covered
use a comfortable thumbless grip not too wide and not too narrow but close enough to keep the bar glued to your back

thanks again to both - my squats are always work in progress.

you're welcome and it is the same for everyone , the better you get at it the more you learn about your own physical limitations and learn to make the appropriate changes to
improve your lifts ..

Are you planning to compete ?

[BrotherWolf]

Okay, well... I seriously feel a bit intimidated to post my measly 20kg squat on here BUT I just started about six weeks ago, have never lifted more than 5kg dumbbells before and think I'd probably be an idiot not to share my video on here and ask for advice to start with correct form instead of continuing to go heavier with incorrect movement.
I currently don't have access to a power/ squat rack but that will change very soon. Until then I hang clean & jerk the bar to get it behind my head.
I'd also like to say that I usually don't lift the bar off the mat, but off the floor. So, yeah, that part here is certainly not ideal, I know.
Besides that: all kinds of help/ advice/ critic is welcome (be gentle though :P)

First of all kudos for squatting at home like that , don't be intimidated everyone had to start somewhere
second \m/ \m/ for the metal in the background

you should be proud your squat isn't too bad at all, I mean you just started and you are better than most people i see at the gym every day .. where did you learn ?

You lean forward quite a bit for now that's my only major critique.. you can try to lower the bar a bit.. below your traps and you'd be doing a pretty decent low bar squat
now, are you interested in olympic lifting ? if that's the case then keep the bar high as you have it now but you have to change a few things

here's a good image of the 3 different squats and the bar to angle relationship
[img]http://images3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20080618162125/startingstrength/images/8/8b/Squat_Bar_Placement.jpg[img]


in any case i dont want to confuse you with too much info... a few tips for now, stick your chest out , lower the bar a bit like in this image (right side)


point your toes out more and push your knees out ..also don't look straight like that look down in front of you a few ft/mt away from you , basically keep the neck in the same angle as your back
that is a neutral position should feel very natural .. like in the first illustration of the low bar


what you do well already :
you keep the weight on your heels , you start your squat at the hip, you have good hip drive, your hams are doing the right job for now ..


find a gym with a squat rack ASAP

Hey there Attempted to implement some of your advice on my deadlifts today! I lightened the weight a bit, tried to keep the bar close, fix the touch and go, and I took another video. Thank you so much for your help. If you have any more advice I would love to hear it

ps- attempting to embed.. don't know if I can get it to work though so link is below just in case



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ft_dY...ature=youtu.be

looks a bit better
and I know it's hard to do it with those stupid plates.. plates should be round lol

your butt is still a bit high and you're rounding your lower back a tiny bit .. the very first rep is almost good then you start slacking and your butt gets higher .. by rep #2 your back is parallel to the floor
sit back more and use those legs to get the bar off the floor.. squeeze/shrug those shoulder blades and drive you chest out..

this is the correct back angle more or less, small variations can occur because of the femur lenght


You seem to have long legs so maybe a change in your stance (a bit wider) would help you get into a better position ?
if you take the next video do a frontal view ...
overall you are doing very well.. just look again at your very first rep that's how you should be doing every single rep

[Khargoshh]

First of all kudos for squatting at home like that , don't be intimidated everyone had to start somewhere
second \m/ \m/ for the metal in the background

you should be proud your squat isn't too bad at all, I mean you just started and you are better than most people i see at the gym every day .. where did you learn ?

You lean forward quite a bit for now that's my only major critique.. you can try to lower the bar a bit.. below your traps and you'd be doing a pretty decent low bar squat
now, are you interested in olympic lifting ? if that's the case then keep the bar high as you have it now but you have to change a few things

here's a good image of the 3 different squats and the bar to angle relationship

in any case i dont want to confuse you with too much info... a few tips for now, stick your chest out , lower the bar a bit like in this image (right side)

point your toes out more and push your knees out ..also don't look straight like that look down in front of you a few ft/mt away from you , basically keep the neck in the same angle as your back
that is a neutral position should feel very natural .. like in the first illustration of the low bar


what you do well already :
you keep the weight on your heels , you start your squat at the hip, you have good hip drive, your hams are doing the right job for now ..


find a gym with a squat rack ASAP

Thanks A LOT for the input!
I was never really sure whether I'm doing a high- or low-bar squat or maybe a mix of both (I just rest the bar wherever it isn't painful lol) but the pictures you posted are definitely helpful.
I had zero knowledge of weightlifting and also don't really have anyone to show me, so I simply tried to gather all the information I needed by watching every single video I could find about it and read through lots of threads on here. Still have a lot to learn and I guess I'll definitely use this thread more often in the future! Actually watching myself on video makes me notice so many things I had no idea about (the leaning-forward-thing for instance...)

And, well... I literally live in the middle of nowhere so the next gym would be at least 1hr away. Saving up for a proper power rack + bench though so I can build my personal torture chamber in our garage. Lifting in the living room is not exactly what I intend to do forever :P

[BrotherWolf]

Thanks A LOT for the input!
I was never really sure whether I'm doing a high- or low-bar squat or maybe a mix of both (I just rest the bar wherever it isn't painful lol) but the pictures you posted are definitely helpful.
I had zero knowledge of weightlifting and also don't really have anyone to show me, so I simply tried to gather all the information I needed by watching every single video I could find about it and read through lots of threads on here. Still have a lot to learn and I guess I'll definitely use this thread more often in the future! Actually watching myself on video makes me notice so many things I had no idea about (the leaning-forward-thing for instance...)

yeah nothing like videoing yourself to see the good and the bad...
good job though

And, well... I literally live in the middle of nowhere so the next gym would be at least 1hr away. Saving up for a proper power rack + bench though so I can build my personal torture chamber in our garage. Lifting in the living room is not exactly what I intend to do forever :P

I hope not

[tina722]

other than that, athletically speaking the low bar below parallel (hip joint lower than the knee joint) is a better overall exercise because of the more complete muscle involvement

Are you planning to compete ?

This is what I'm aiming for, no immediate plans to compete, - just want to have good form and I want to be able to keep tight when I need to. Muscles don't always listen though...

I'm more interested in strongman than PL, just need to find something I'm comfortable with/have the day available.

[BrotherWolf]

This is what I'm aiming for, no immediate plans to compete, - just want to have good form and I want to be able to keep tight when I need to. Muscles don't always listen though...

I'm more interested in strongman than PL, just need to find something I'm comfortable with/have the day available.

Ohh .. that's awesome I love strongman competitions, i would get into it if i wasn't short lol


a lot of the events require height ,like the atlas stone anyone below 6'2" is at disadvantage

[Wyomann]

I'm ready for more form help.



I'm coming forward on toes more often lately, not sure what started to cause this. Also, I'm looking for a new cue to keep my upper back tight and up. I was thinking 'elbows down' before, but it's not working so well lately.

Squats look fine to me. IMO you should worry more about the program you are on and the auxillary lifts. If you want to do strong man; you have to train the events in addition to the main PL lifts.

There is a strongman comp at the end of May near Phx, AZ for amateurs.

[kaleida]

proud of my 150lb squats even though I couldn't finish the last set



when I get into the 200's I'll feel truly badass...150 is getting closer

[tina722]

Squats look fine to me. IMO you should worry more about the program you are on and the auxillary lifts. If you want to do strong man; you have to train the events in addition to the main PL lifts.

There is a strongman comp at the end of May near Phx, AZ for amateurs.

Thanks. Is that on the 18th? I do like the events at that comp - and the weights sort of look like I could actually finish and not zero out. I also found one in ft.worth (closer to me) that might be an option.

I'm on a basic upper/lower split, and just focus on compounds and getting stronger. If I do sign up, I have a gym I can go to for practicing the events.

[youtube]QKbzB5wO1W4[/youtub

when I get into the 200's I'll feel truly badass...150 is getting closer

Very nice! And congrats on getting out of red.

[Bodybuilding191]

Once you hit the weight in the floor while deadlifting it isn't called a deadlift anymore >__<

[BrotherWolf]

Once you hit the weight in the floor while deadlifting it isn't called a deadlift anymore >__<

wut?

[Wyomann]

Thanks. Is that on the 18th? I do like the events at that comp - and the weights sort of look like I could actually finish and not zero out. I also found one in ft.worth (closer to me) that might be an option.

I'm on a basic upper/lower split, and just focus on compounds and getting stronger. If I do sign up, I have a gym I can go to for practicing the events.

Ya it's on the 18th at the tilted kilt or something. I won't be able to make that one unfortunately. Texas pfft, have fun sweating to death in the humid heat.

[jlk03090]

Alright, so it's been a couple weeks and I've been focusing on making sure I break at the hips first, and I think I'm doing alright there. Also trying to stay conscientious of my knees - pushing them out, and have widened my stance a bit as well, pointing feet out a little more. Also trying to get to the point where I feel like I'm parallel - and going just a touch deeper, as I've noticed that what I think is parallel while I'm squatting, is usually just a touch above I still definitely need to work on mobility as far as A2G is concerned, though - much deeper than what I'm doing here, and I definitely start to tuck my tail under! (I'm sorry...I hate the word "buttwink," but yes - that is what I mean.)

Soo, here are a couple different videos. wasn't sure if showing myself with lower weight would be helpful.

135x5 from a week ago. (Skip to 15s. in - I listen to music from my phone but used that to video...when I went back to the bar realized that trying to squat with dangling headphones wasn't gonna work, hah)


165 from a week ago:


and 165 from today:


I also video'd my SLDL...I think 3 videos of me is enough for now, hah.

[BrotherWolf]

Alright, so it's been a couple weeks and I've been focusing on making sure I break at the hips first, and I think I'm doing alright there. Also trying to stay conscientious of my knees - pushing them out, and have widened my stance a bit as well, pointing feet out a little more. Also trying to get to the point where I feel like I'm parallel - and going just a touch deeper, as I've noticed that what I think is parallel while I'm squatting, is usually just a touch above I still definitely need to work on mobility as far as A2G is concerned, though - much deeper than what I'm doing here, and I definitely start to tuck my tail under! (I'm sorry...I hate the word "buttwink," but yes - that is what I mean.)

Soo, here are a couple different videos. wasn't sure if showing myself with lower weight would be helpful.

135x5 from a week ago. (Skip to 15s. in - I listen to music from my phone but used that to video...when I went back to the bar realized that trying to squat with dangling headphones wasn't gonna work, hah)


165 from a week ago:


and 165 from today:


I also video'd my SLDL...I think 3 videos of me is enough for now, hah.

Awesome.... great improvement

how did it feel ?? looks so much better

videos are never enough

[jlk03090]

Awesome.... great improvement

how did it feel ?? looks so much better

videos are never enough

Feels much more natural, now! The first time I tried the tips I felt all sorts of discombobulated - but now I think I'm getting it it's sort of funny because I distinctly remember a while ago having more emphasis on pushing the hips back first, but I thought that was wrong, so I stopped that. Glad I posted vids when I did so I could work to get back in proper form! Always a work in progress but that's part of the fun.

[BrotherWolf]

Feels much more natural, now! The first time I tried the tips I felt all sorts of discombobulated - but now I think I'm getting it it's sort of funny because I distinctly remember a while ago having more emphasis on pushing the hips back first, but I thought that was wrong, so I stopped that. Glad I posted vids when I did so I could work to get back in proper form! Always a work in progress but that's part of the fun.

Yeah takes a bit getting used to any changes but you did well , you are using more of your posterior chain now therefore not only you are probably able to lift more weight but also it's a more balanced exercise

you never stop improving form , I have this theory that there are different phases in lifting , first is getting the basic most balanced, safe and efficient way to move the weight
secondly learning your own mechanical strength and weaknesses and that can take a long time

and the stronger and closer to your genetic potential you get, the harder it is to improve so that's another phase which lasts forever really lol

so you never stop learning

[rdferguson]

How did this get off the front page? I bought my first pair of proper lifting shoes yesterday. They didn't feel as dramatically different as people around the place have indicated, although I notice a distinct difference if I shift my weight off my heels. Filmed myself squatting and doing RDLs today. Squats look shallow, which I'm none too impressed with.



Depth looks a bit lacklustre



I lolled IRL upon watching this.

[kaleida]

Nice job! I LOL'd too ... did you even know he was back there?

"You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to rdferguson again."

[BrotherWolf]

How did this get off the front page? I bought my first pair of proper lifting shoes yesterday. They didn't feel as dramatically different as people around the place have indicated, although I notice a distinct difference if I shift my weight off my heels. Filmed myself squatting and doing RDLs today. Squats look shallow, which I'm none too impressed with.



Depth looks a bit lacklustre



I lolled IRL upon watching this.

LOL that was hilarious..
depth is not something you need to worry about , sometimes it happens

[rdferguson]

Nice job! I LOL'd too ... did you even know he was back there?

"You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to rdferguson again."

I had no idea until I watched the video 12 hours after the session.

LOL that was hilarious..
depth is not something you need to worry about , sometimes it happens

Since these are new shoes, I just want to make sure that I'm nipping any major faults in the butt rather than allowing them to continue unchecked and getting used to bad habits. Coach typically describes my depth as "You're leaving arse-prints on the floor," so I was quite surprised to make a video that displayed questionable depth. Will be filming from side-on this week to get more reliable feedback on what my current depth is like.

[Squatticus]

nice to know my deadlift has gone to ****

@1:18