Has anyone tried this before? I was at the gym yesterday and was working on squats and dead lifts and this totally BUILT guy comes up to me during my rest between sets and says my form looks great and asks if I've ever tried doing squats and deadlifts barefoot. I said that I had not and he suggested I try it because it will give me a lot more glute, hamstring, and calf activation because being barefoot allows your feet to move naturally and engages more of the deeper muscle tissue in the entire back of your body. He said he always does his squats and deadlifts barefoot because of that. I figured I'd try it because I'm always open to suggestions and he looked like he knew what he was talking about. I figured if it sucked, I'd just put my shoes back on and continue on my merry way. So I tried it, and he was right. I felt the glute and hamstring engagement immediately and I definitely feel it today. It also made me more aware of slight strength imbalance I have between my left and right legs. Just curious if anyone else has ever done this and what you think about it.
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02-25-2013, 07:48 AM #1
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Going barefoot for squats and deadlifts
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02-25-2013, 08:13 AM #2
I go barefoot for deadlifts and love it. Shoes get 'in the way' of pushing through the ground. I have tried going barefoot for squats and did like it, but ankle flexibility make it difficult for me to go deep enough. I currently use squat shoes to help with this.
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02-25-2013, 08:22 AM #3
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02-25-2013, 08:28 AM #4
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Love squatting barefoot. Grip the floor with my monkey toes and reach depth so much easier.
"Eat some oatmeal, do some squats, how hard is that seriously."--Prof Ham
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02-25-2013, 08:45 AM #5
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02-25-2013, 08:58 AM #6
Barefoot or in Birks. Nearly all gyms wont allow barefoot or open toe shoes, so negative heel crunchy granola clogs it is (lol, the total opposite of squat shoes).
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02-25-2013, 09:26 AM #7
I definitely prefer to do squats and deadlifts barefoot. I feel so much more stable with my feet right against the floor.
Squats and Maple syrup son. Squats and Maple syrup.
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02-25-2013, 09:42 AM #8
I can't do them barefoot due to effed up arches that collapse medially I bought a pair of Newbalance Minimums and they give me support while kind of allowing for a barefoot feel. When I lifted with them I felt a total difference
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02-25-2013, 09:52 AM #9
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02-25-2013, 12:21 PM #10
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02-25-2013, 12:23 PM #11
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02-25-2013, 01:15 PM #12
I deadlift (and used to squat) in vibram 5 fingers. I now use oly shoes for squats but nothing beats doing in barefoot. I can't DL in running shoes, even racing flats. It's awful.
5 fingers are great espesh if your gym is funny about people working out in socks/barefoot.
x2 for monkey toes. Can pick things up with my toes. Srs.
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02-25-2013, 07:37 PM #13
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