Advantages of Box Squats?

[NJL52]

Just wondering, what is the purpose of a box squat? I always learned that deep sqauts were by far the best for building strength, muscle, power etc. What's the point of sitting down in the middle of the exercise?

 

[cmarcell]

the same reason people do board presses. you might not be able to do a full squat on a particular weight, but box squats can help you climb that hump if you will. also, box squats are a tool for teaching good form.

 

[02gixxersix]

Focuses on hammies and hip flexors as well as glutes to raise ones regular competition squat. They would also have their place in bodybuilding for the same reason. More weight = more muscle. They also reduce the risk of injury associated with poor form. It is much easier to box squat correctly.

 

[Protobuilder]

Good for learning glute/hip drive, which is good for competition squatting obviously but also for deadlift, or so I've heard.

 

[NJL52]

Makes sense, but another question:

Sitting down, like I have seen in every video posted on these boards, relaxes your back and legs. Relaxing your muscles in a workout like that is just another form of bad technique. I don't quite understand why you would want to sit down and relax during the middle of any workout.

Why not just do 90 degree squats, would they not give the same results?

 

[cmarcell]

because those will wreck havoc on your knees

 

[carlsuen]

that's right.. and u're only supposed to relax your ass and legs.. NOT your back! NEVER relax your back while performing ANY lift!

 

[Tweakle]

Relaxing your muscles in a workout like that is just another form of bad technique. I don't quite understand why you would want to sit down and relax during the middle of any workout.

Because lifting weights is hard work and some of us need to take a break every now and then. Me, I like to thumb through the pages of this month's Cosmo while I sit back on my box, relaxing with a loaded bar on my shoulders.

Sometimes I don't make the lift, but I'm always the guy 'in the know' when it comes to this season's hot new foundation.

 

[carlsuen]

Because lifting weights is hard work and some of us need to take a break every now and then. Me, I like to thumb through the pages of this month's Cosmo while I sit back on my box, relaxing with a loaded bar on my shoulders.

Sometimes I don't make the lift, but I'm always the guy 'in the know' when it comes to this season's hot new foundation.

 

[UA_Iron]

the possibility of back injury does exist with the relaxation of the back muscles during box squats. Just like any lift, you take a risk.

 

[Illuminati]

the possibility of back injury does exist with the relaxation of the back muscles during box squats. Just like any lift, you take a risk.

that is why you are not supposed to relax your back muscles...

 

[oso0690]

They also take all the stress off of the patellar tendons (knees)

 

[Czar87]

How does this hip drive looks like ? You are supposed to press with feet or not ?

 

[BiggT]

How does this hip drive looks like ? You are supposed to press with feet or not ?

Illuminati would be better suited to address the form on these than me, but basically you're taught to "spread the floor" with your feet. I'll bump for people to post vids of box squatting technique.

 

[Tweakle]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_XvoDfcHOM not mine, but good

 

[Illuminati]

How does this hip drive looks like ? You are supposed to press with feet or not ?

not really sure what your question is asking. box squat the exact same way you would regular squat. see the video that tweekle posted.