Squat and Front Squat problem

[spatts]

I have squatted in lifting shoes, and understand the dynamic. He wears those because it is easier to stay stable in a safer position with them on. If he didn't wear them, it would be difficult to go so low without the knees extending way beyond his feet....so they are worn TO PREVENT THIS. If extending the knees way over the toes, to reach depth and increase stability, is the proper way for an OLer to execute this move, then why wear the shoes?

 

[coolcolj]

They're solid for one. I never used to wear them - just got some recently. My knees still go over my toes. This is more a function of limb length and balance - everyone is different.

In fact elevating the heel puts more stress on the quads and knees, because your more urpight. Without heels elevated you have to take a wider stance and lean more forward which mean you'll need more flexibility in the shoulders

here I am squatting Oly style in normal shoes

Knees well forward, but I have to use a wider stance to stay upright.

Plus you can definitely move the point of stress around the muscle groups by how you rise from the squat. For me trying to actively keep your body upright and kick your way up will definitely use plenty of quad.
If I get up by just thinking of pushing the bar back up the stress is more evenly spread.

The glutes and hamstrings do kick in when you break parallel regardless anyway. But if you squat hips back style - which I used to, they don't even have to break parallel for them to be heavily activated.

 

[spatts]

I think we're leaving out the element of recruitment. I make a deliberate attempt to raise and lower with my hamstrings. That probably makes a difference.

I don't think NOT feeling it in your quads = doing it wrong, and I also find it unlikely that WannaBe is doing OL squats (she didn't specify).

 

[WannaBPowerful]

WOW, iv never created a thread this big lol. I started this, and realize now i didnt include enough info about me. I have very strong hams and glutes. Im a bodybuilder, so i dont really care about strength what so ever, or squattin heavy to b macho. I wanna do whatever it takes to catch my quads up to the rest of my legs. They KILLED me in my last shows. From what im reading, elevating my heels puts more stress on the quads? Someone told me to try to keep the pressure on my heals instead of my toes. If what your saying is true, and traditional squats are more hip, ham, n glutes, im thinkin about eliminating them altogeather. I might just stick with front squats, leg presses, and hacks for compound movements. Do all weight lifting shoes elevate the heels? If so, i think they would be a good investmet for me. Where can i acquire a pair?

Also, what types of movements tend to carve seperation in the quads?

 

[spatts]

Im a bodybuilder, so i dont really care about strength what so ever, or squattin heavy to b macho.

I don't even know where to start with that. It's about the most self defeating training philosophy I've read.

I'll keep my giant quads and my macho squat numbers, thanks.

 

[WannaBPowerful]

I don't even know where to start with that. It's about the most self defeating training philosophy I've read.

I'll keep my giant quads and my macho squat numbers, thanks.

You know what i meant. Im not gonna squat light, to avoid a hard leg day. I train hard all the time, every time. Im just saying, im not a powerlifter, and im not gonna compromise my form or where the stress is being directed, just to lift heavy weight. I couldnt give a damn less about hip strength, as long as i know the muscles im tryin to hit will grow. Of course, i know you need some kinda hip strength when training compound movements though.

 

[coolcolj]

see my thread

http://www.elitefitness.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=189800

Off course there are other brands - probably cheaper too. I have even seen a french site that custom makes shoes if you send in a tracing of your feet