Squat: How to improve
These are more general points on how to improve on your squat. If you want a very specific example of a program please refer to my review of the smolov squat routine. If you have any questions or additional information please post them in the comments.
Consistency
Improving the barbell squat is hard and takes years. If you are one of the people who start in their teenage years to take the squat serious you have a head start. This is usually where you progress the quickest. Even if you start early at some
In addition, you should also stick to your program and be consistent with that. Stick with a program for at least three months and see the results rather than switching it every week because you get bored or feel in pain.
Weak points
Once you get the consistency bit right and picked a program to achieve your goals it is time to focus on your weak points. Once you have squatted for some time banging and clanging on the three main lifts, the squat, bench press and deadlift will not be enough anymore. Usually, the limiting factor becomes a weak spot in the execution of the movement. Two widespread hinderances are mobility, here especially ankle mobility, and the lower back. Two very good ways to keep your back squat progressing for years is to pay attention to your ankle and hip mobility with regular stretching and building additional lower back strength. I personally use morning yoga for the former and good mornings and back extensions for the latter.
Coaching
There are two big challenges with doing everything yourself when it comes to the squat. First is that you can not see yourself and therefore hardly can give yourself real time feedback on the lift. Second is that you can only gather the experiences which apply to you. This is where a coach comes in. A coach has the experience of looking at multiple different people and having a bigger resource pool of athletes with whom he or she tried different things to make people stronger. Having a good coach is not a sign of weakness. It is smart.
Documenting
Especially in their teenage
- Number of sets
- Number of repetitions
- Weight used
- Overall tonnage
- How hard it felt to do the exercise
- Weight
- Biceps size
- Forearm size
- Thigh size
- Calf size
- Waist size
- One repetition maximum
- Two repetition maximum
- three repetition maximum
- Five repetition maximum
- Ten repetition maximum
This helps you to always know whether you are trending towards becoming a stringer individual who improves their squat or not.
Commitment
You can not expect the results of Hercules when you train like a mouse. If you train with the intensity of a soon to be forgotten choir boy do not be upset when your squat does not improve. Always push yourself into an area in which you feel slightly uncomfortable to get better.
Focus
If you want your squat to improve than focus on your squat. I made the most gains on my squat from 140kg to 170kg when I was on the
Conclusion
To improve on the squat is about having a goal and focusing on it. Apart from consistency, I think the most overlooked part is to address your weaknesses and work on them. The rest will follow with years of training.
Further reading
- Are you sure about wearing the right shoes for squatting
- Bench press or squat first
- Bench press in a squat rack
- Better breathing makes your squat stronger
- Breathing Squat
- Can kettlebells swings replace squats
- Can you squat and deadlift on the same day
- Challenge, Sore
toda , Strong tomorrow - Confidential: Get rid of the machines and hire the squat
- Detailed Smolov squat routine review
- Eager to know about wearing the right suit for squatting
- How to perform a back squat for
crossfit for beginners - How years of quality cossack squats easily help your fitness
- Overcome these sins of the squat
- Squat: How many reps
- Squat: When to inhale and exhale
- Squat without pads
- Squat Calculator [Free Downloads]
- The Truth squat or lunges?
- Ultimate 30 day squat challenge that
tighten and tone