argument with my dad about squats led to an interesting phone call

[JDid23]

So today my dad and i were at dicks getting some crap and we met a guy who had been lifting for 7 years. I was talking to him about my routine, and he said it looked good. My dad and i had been debating about squatting below parallel, and every single trainer at the YMCA told me not to do it. After this guy told me not to do it, my dad was convinced. As we were debating, i brought up Rippetoes name about 4 times, so he looked him up.

He wasn't convinced that Rippetoe was legit, so he decided to call the place where he works. Rippetoe answered the phone, told my dad that what i was telling him was correct, and to make a long story short, they have dinner plans the next time he comes up to NJ. This post is pretty pointless, but it just shocked the hell out of me when my dad asked if it was Mark on the phone, and when rippetoe said "the douche bag at the health spa" about 5 times (not wanting to refer to it as a gym)

 

[SpyWizard]

hahaha..

perceived value and value to a person's health and well being.. training to get on stage or strength training

all are different..

I'd never allow myself or a client to go below parallel.. science even teaches us that when contraction of a muscle ends, and the weight or effort is continued, the weight is transferred to the skeletal system.. tendons and ligaments are part of that system and puts unsafe stress on them..

 

[LucSulla]

hahaha..

perceived value and value to a person's health and well being.. training to get on stage or strength training

all are different..

I'd never allow myself or a client to go below parallel.. science even teaches us that when contraction of a muscle ends, and the weight or effort is continued, the weight is transferred to the skeletal system.. tendons and ligaments are part of that system and puts unsafe stress on them..

So what of the several in-depth studies that show a proper squat done past parallel puts less shear force on the knees than stopping above? Plus, it's not as if once you pass parallel no muscles are involved. Deep squats have added size, strength, and flexibility to my posterior chain.

 

[bblazer]

hahaha..

perceived value and value to a person's health and well being.. training to get on stage or strength training

all are different..

I'd never allow myself or a client to go below parallel.. science even teaches us that when contraction of a muscle ends, and the weight or effort is continued, the weight is transferred to the skeletal system.. tendons and ligaments are part of that system and puts unsafe stress on them..

Are you being serious?

I don't mean to come off ass, nor am I trying to start some flame war.

A properly done (meaning form is correct) full deep below parallel squat is perfectly safe. When you go deep, the quads stop (well not entirely), and the glutes and hams take over.

Not doing a below parallel squat thinking you are over stressing some part of the body is like saying your bench should only be no more than from the sternum up 3-4" so you don't tear a pec.

B-

 

[joe d]

Are you being serious?

I don't mean to come off ass, nor am I trying to start some flame war.

A properly done (meaning form is correct) full deep below parallel squat is perfectly safe. When you go deep, the quads stop (well not entirely), and the glutes and hams take over.

Not doing a below parallel squat thinking you are over stressing some part of the body is like saying your bench should only be no more than from the sternum up 3-4" so you don't tear a pec.

B-

there is a common situation that a lot of people seem to practice. i see it a lot. they go deep and rest for a second in the hole. that is where spy's theory would be correct. if you relax your muscles at any time in a lift something else is bearing the weight (tendons and joints). but that is in any lift. the heavier the load the more taxing it is.

 

[resonator]

I'd never allow myself or a client to go below parallel.. science even teaches us that when contraction of a muscle ends, and the weight or effort is continued, the weight is transferred to the skeletal system.. tendons and ligaments are part of that system and puts unsafe stress on them..

This is impossible. Your weight doesn't transfer anywhere. The stress is always on your muscles through the entire range of motion. Do you understand how muscles work???

 

[resonator]

In studies of muscle activation comparisons between half and full squats, The rectus femoris muscle of the front of the thigh gets hammered twice as hard in the ATG squat as the parallel squat. The main butt muscle, the gluteus maximus, is involved slightly more in the full squat. The main hamstring muscle, the biceps femoris, is involved almost equally in full or half squats.

 

[SpyWizard]

Are you being serious?

I don't mean to come off ass, nor am I trying to start some flame war.

A properly done (meaning form is correct) full deep below parallel squat is perfectly safe. When you go deep, the quads stop (well not entirely), and the glutes and hams take over.

Not doing a below parallel squat thinking you are over stressing some part of the body is like saying your bench should only be no more than from the sternum up 3-4" so you don't tear a pec.

B-

so?? I should write a letter to the sports med doc that both wrote the book and certified me regarding the information pertaining to muscle contraction and effects of supporting heavy weight with the skeletal and supportive systems rather than the muscles that are being used to move the weight??

See?? the same thing goes for benching.. whenever during a movement the plane of motion should never allow the muscle to release the contraction allowing for blood to flood the muscle, at the point where the muscle releases the contraction, thus releasing stress to the muscle the weight is still being moved and or supported.. if not by the muscle, then by the skeletal system..

but that's just his opinion, you've stated yours... I've trained both ways... currently using the afore mentioned information as a guide and am very happy with the results.. both in strength, growth, and recovery..

I'm sure your highschool, or college coach will be happy that you squat in that manner, perhaps when you are 48 yr old you'll still be able to do military press for reps at 315 lbs.. that's where i'm at right now.. but i don't do a lot of squats.. I prefer hip sled as it protects my back better..

see, a simple exchange of ideas.. wait, i supported my statements, you simply said they were wrong and stated the opposite..

 

[SpyWizard]

This is impossible. Your weight doesn't transfer anywhere. The stress is always on your muscles through the entire range of motion. Do you understand how muscles work???

I think so, ever lockout in a bench press??? that's when the muscle releases and the skeletal system is supporting the weight.

Don't believe me ??

try this.. don't lock out at the top or the bottom of a bench, keeping the muscle contracted.. then come say what you think..

 

[djeclipse]

hahaha..

perceived value and value to a person's health and well being.. training to get on stage or strength training

all are different..

I'd never allow myself or a client to go below parallel.. science even teaches us that when contraction of a muscle ends, and the weight or effort is continued, the weight is transferred to the skeletal system.. tendons and ligaments are part of that system and puts unsafe stress on them..

OMG, you are one of the thousands of personal trainers that go around teaching clients bad form, spreading misinformation about what really is proper form.

I feel sorry for anyone that pays for that kind of service.