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Tall guys and Squats

Big john

By Big john
in General chitchat

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Big john Veteran member

Big john

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just wondering if there any other tall fellas out there seem to struggle with squats?, what i mean by that is getting yr legs parralel to the floor.

Ive had troubles getting parralel on BB squats and so went onto doing squats on the smith machine (i know big no no :)) but its the only way ive been able to get down lower.

if anyone has any suggestions id love to hear em

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Pseudonym Veteran member

Pseudonym

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It's good you've picked up the problem early on. Have a look at this article on the squat, in particular the last section where it talks about inflexibilities.

I recently caught myself bending my back to compensate for inflexible ankles. Naughty! I've been trying to stretch the soleus/achilles tendon, but it's too early to say whether it's helped me yet.

Definitely start stretching - especially the soleus stretch. In the meantime, you might play with using a plate to raise your heels, and taking slightly a wider stance.

hope that helps. :)

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brock_solid Member

brock_solid

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The only problem i have with squats is that i have to buy a new pair of boxers everytime i do them :evil:

I go down then riiipppp. no matter where i have my boxers from high to low they always rip. I can always get parallel to the floor with my squats though. My legs are huge, or so i've been told :pfft:

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CutTaBits Member

CutTaBits

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The only problem i have with squats is that i have to buy a new pair of boxers everytime i do them :evil:

I go down then riiipppp. no matter where i have my boxers from high to low they always rip. I can always get parallel to the floor with my squats though. My legs are huge, or so i've been told :pfft:

Maybe just give up on boxers and go commando.

Thats what i do :D

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  • 2 months later...
badboy Junior member

badboy

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Definately do the 1/2 inch board under the heels trick. Very very helpful - also try to readjust the whole technique so that just like a flat footed squatted you are driving through your heels not ending up on your toes.

The more upright your upper body is the better so try looking straight ahead and slightly up all the way down and up through your squat.

If you are tall like me use a good belt - get used to it it will help you enormously later on with potential back troubles. Push your chest out, get your elbows under the bar and push up etc etc. Squatting with the board under the heels should by rights make it harder to squat and will probably make your weights come down a fair bit but don;t worry coz if you persist your quads will experience greater growth. Also do all those stretches for the scalves and hams and even front quads stretches will all help.

i'm 6'4' and I squat to the floor with a foot position about 6 inches apart - only reason I can do it now is because of stretching and focus on technique.

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lazyone Member

lazyone

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Definately do the 1/2 inch board under the heels trick. Very very helpful - also try to readjust the whole technique so that just like a flat footed squatted you are driving through your heels not ending up on your toes.

The more upright your upper body is the better so try looking straight ahead and slightly up all the way down and up through your squat.

If you are tall like me use a good belt - get used to it it will help you enormously later on with potential back troubles. Push your chest out, get your elbows under the bar and push up etc etc. Squatting with the board under the heels should by rights make it harder to squat and will probably make your weights come down a fair bit but don;t worry coz if you persist your quads will experience greater growth. Also do all those stretches for the scalves and hams and even front quads stretches will all help.

i'm 6'4' and I squat to the floor with a foot position about 6 inches apart - only reason I can do it now is because of stretching and focus on technique.

Great post.

I had trouble with squats, not cos I was tall though... just extrememly uncoordinated :pfft:

I found that putting plates under my heels helped alot with going below parallel. Started off with 2.5kg plates under the heels then as I got better I switched to 1.25kg plates... and now I'm doing it with my feet flat on the floor, still driving up on my heels... ass to the grass as Jono would say.

This link is helpful though:

http://www.exrx.net/WeightExercises/Qua ... Squat.html

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  • 3 weeks later...
Meuckenmad New member

Meuckenmad

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The only problem i have with squats is that i have to buy a new pair of boxers everytime i do them :evil:

I go down then riiipppp. no matter where i have my boxers from high to low they always rip. I can always get parallel to the floor with my squats though. My legs are huge, or so i've been told :pfft:

lol when i read this i couldnt help but think ive a webpage ive seen

WARNING!!!! dont go to the link if you are going to squat in next 24hrs or you are squeamish!!

http://poetry.rotten.com/weightlifter/

Oh im 6'3 and ive found putting your feet a little wider than others helps too

Another site with good info re squats

http://www.elitefitness.com/forum/showp ... tcount=825

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