The Squat, or How I Learned How to Stop Leg-Pressing and Use My Ass

[stef]

The back squat is literally the only exercise in the entire repertoire of weighted human movement that allows the direct training of the complex movement pattern known as hip drive.Hit the resources page (http://startingstrength.com/index.php/site/resources/) or jump directly to the pdf (http://startingstrength.com/articles/squat_rippetoe.pdf).

[GianMilano]

This is a great story. The part about Phil nonchalantly puking had me laughing, and reminded me of a guy I know.

I was surpirsed to hear that you were a soccer player, Rip, and that you didn't start lifting seriously until college. I think that's good to hear for guys who think that they can't lift big weights because they don't have the right background, or they don't have the right build, etc.

One thing I have to know: When did you turn on cheap beer, Rip, and why?

[lukeBW]

One thing I have to know: When did you turn on cheap beer, Rip, and why?

In college man .. cheap beer is better than no beer

that was a great article/story, I think he could be teaching anything and make it interesting..

[homerj742]

Definitely an excellent article.

[tnumrych]

I love PBR and Guinness with equal adoration. PBR for its 1896 First Place Blue Ribbon and wallet-friendly price, and Guinness for History, deliciousness and for ease of drinking. The older I get the darker my beers become however. Could it be that beer type is correlated with maturity?

Great article. I was torn in a low-bar vs. high-bar internal squabble because of my Oly background but converted because of SS and articles like this just reinforce the flawless reasoning Rip uses to advocate LB over HB.

[Casey Dupre]

Excellent article. Thanks for sharing your experience with us, Rip.

[IWillLiveFreeOrDie]

Very informative! I have probably read the Squat section in Starting Strength a dozen times, but explaining the the lever arm with the illustrations really shed new light on the subject for me.

The biggest thing I took away from this article is why the stretch reflex of the hamstrings is so important in producing power.

Thanks Rip!

[williamN]

Just to clarify, is the recommendation for the low bar back squat for olympic lifters just for novices and intermediates?

[Mark Rippetoe]

Perhaps you could clarify.

[williamN]

Perhaps you could clarify.

Since most stuff on the site is related to novices i was just wondering if that was a caveat underlying the article,or is the recommendation that everyone from begginner to intermediate to advanced OLY lifters replace the high bar with the low bar squat...

[Mark Rippetoe]

Yes, that is my recommendation.

[williamN]

Yes, that is my recommendation.
Cheers!
Excellent article Mark,keep them coming.