Hip injuries are very common in the sports of weightlifting, powerlifting and CrossFit. However, what most people don’t realize is that the cause of the pain was often there long before the symptoms started. A great exercise that I’ve been using recently during the rehab process of patients dealing with hip injuries is the “airplane”Continue reading The Hip Airplane
There are two things you are almost guaranteed to see in the weight room. You will see athletes hoist colossal weight with amazing technique. You will also see terrible technique that will make you want to pull your hair out. For coaches, it can be quite challenging to find the perfect way to diagnose andContinue reading The Top 3 Squat Problems & How to Fix Them
Prior to the turn of the century, the overhead squat was primarily used by competitive weightlifters. Olympic weightlifting coaches use the overhead squat as a teaching progression for novice athletes. The overhead squat is used to strengthen the bottom position of a barbell snatch. Since the recent boom in CrossFit, the use of the overheadContinue reading Perfecting the Overhead Squat
The single leg pistol squat is a difficult movement for many people to perform. It requires a good amount of ankle/hip mobility, a ton of body coordination and excellence balance. Often athletes work tirelessly on perfecting this movement and still struggle with it. No matter how hard they try, they just can’t seem toContinue reading 6 Steps To Perfecting Your Pistol Squat
During a recent Squat University seminar, I was approached by an athlete who wondered why I had asked everyone to show me his or her squat with their toes straightforward. This was definitely not the first time I’ve been asked this question. There’s a lot of controversy in the fitness world today when it comesContinue reading Toes Forward or Angled Out When You Squat?
Often athletes assume that because they are capable of squatting tremendous weight that they are moving with good technique. However, this is not always the case. Typically the best athletes in the sports of weightlifting, powerlifting and CrossFit move with amazing technique. This is no coincidence. Every day they work tirelessly to perfect the qualityContinue reading The Technique Continuum
I was recently working with a weightlifter that was trying to get over some nagging knee pain. During our session I had her perform a few sets of heavy back squats so I could watch her technique. Before she would approach the bar, I noticed she would take the weightlifting belt hanging around her waistContinue reading How to Use a Weightlifting Belt
In past weeks we have discussed how to perfect the high-bar back squat and the front squat. It is now time to talk about the low-bar back squat. Athletes competing in the sport of powerlifting typically use this variation as it allows them to lift more weight. The Lift Off Taking the barbell out ofContinue reading How to Perfect the Low-Bar Back Squat
Why is front squatting more difficult than back squatting when using the same weight? Is the low-bar back squat better for your knees than the high-bar variation? These are all common questions some of us have. In order to answer these questions we have to look behind the curtain of movement and understand the scienceContinue reading The Real Science of the Squat
While the back squat is often labeled as the “king of all exercises”, the front squat usually follows close behind. Like many of the other barbell lifts, it is often performed incorrectly. In order to efficiently develop muscular strength and safely enhance athletic power, good technique is a must. The Lift Off The first stepContinue reading How To Perfect The Front Squat
