SQUATS! A.T.G vs Parallel

[tmac4919]

ATG or parallel, who cares? Squat as far as your flexibility will allow without running into injury. How deep one can squat depends on many factors where nobody but yourself can determine.

[OutOfStep]

The only thing that matters is what your legs look like. Who gives a **** about squat depth if you're sporting tree trunks. When I look at pics of Tom Platz the last thing I'm thinking about is whether he went ATG or not.

[GnomusMaximus]

When I look at pics of Tom Platz the last thing I'm thinking about is whether he went ATG or not.

He did.

[GnomusMaximus]

First, I'll tell you where I'm coming from. I've competed in Olympic weightlifting for the last 14 years. We pretty much have to squat as deep as possible.

My opinion is that high-mid bar placement will make squatting deeper easier. Squatting deep will also activate the glutes and hamstrings much more than stopping at parallel. I know a lot of older guys who get more knee pain when stopping at parallel than squatting a full ROM (range of motion).

So, to look like a centaur (half man half horse), I suggest squatting as deep as you possibly can given your flexibility and mobility. Start light, and I mean like bar-only light, and progressively add weight.

Ya, what he said. I thought I squatted OK until I started focusing on weightlifting (Olympic Lifting). I've had to back off the weight, but I swear I must be leaving skid marks on the floor now.

[OutOfStep]

He did.

I always forget that on the internet, thighs parallel to the floor = atg.

[Jtbny]

I always forget that on the internet, thighs parallel to the floor = atg.

In before someone critiques his squat form...

[drudixon]

In before someone critiques his squat form...

His use of the puss pad makes him a total homo....

[Brackneyc]

His use of the puss pad makes him a total homo....

This is true. Platz has no credibility now with the more "badass" amongst us.

[Old-Time-Lifter]

Make sure you understand what a butt wink is.

Film yourself squatting ATG with just the bar.

You need to stop short of butt winking, and work a mobility/flexibility plan if you want to go lower.

And this ^^^ is why many folks shouldn't be trying to do the mythical atg squats. Timberwolf is one of the few whom I've seen here actually doing a true atg squat. And fyi, his back is now pretty much f*&ked.

People are always worried about knees, screw that think about the forces you're putting into play when you insist on going so low you butt-wink.

[OutOfStep]

In before someone critiques his squat form...

No doubt it will be some Polio build Pubmed hero.

And this ^^^ is why many folks shouldn't be trying to do the mythical atg squats. Timberwolf is one of the few whom I've seen here actually doing a true atg squat. And fyi, his back is now pretty much f*&ked.

People are always worried about knees, screw that think about the forces you're putting into play when you insist on going so low you butt-wink.

It's all about being internet tuff OTL. Forget about longevity.

[Bando]

If that's a Centaur what is a Minotaur?

[Old-Time-Lifter]

If that's a Centaur what is a Minotaur?

Minotaur is half man/half bull.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minotaur

[Old-Time-Lifter]

It's all about being internet tuff OTL. Forget about longevity.

Ahhh..... that makes perfect sense....

[GnomusMaximus]

It's also about lifting more weight out of the bottom position, or being able to pull stuff like stones off the ground but, well.....

[EjnarKolinkar]

If that's a Centaur what is a Minotaur?

Minotaur is slang for when a pubmed ninja is too scrawny and looks like a bobblehead? Thank goodness those days are behind me :O

[SAHS]

ATG or parallel, who cares? Squat as far as your flexibility will allow without running into injury. How deep one can squat depends on many factors where nobody but yourself can determine.

Agree here. I've had a total knee reconstruction in my past and ATG is not really in a range of motion I can do. I get to parallel on all but my absolute heaviest of squats but I've always struggled with ROM on leg exercises since my reconstruction. I'd love to do it that way but at the end of the day I still have to be able to keep this joint together for a few more decades (they've always tell me that I'll eventually need a full knee replacement).

And the funny thing is I will still put a ton of weight up there for squats, presses, hack squats, front squats, and v-squats. But if you get me on a leg extension machine, the real tell of the tape of the damage is shown as I'll grunt and cry myself through reps with some pretty depressingly low weight.