I present you with one of the greatest strength building exercises – the squat!
This is personally one of my favorite exercises because it works out my quads, hamstrings, and glutes like none other. I will go into technique later. So the reason why squats are so great are because they allow lifters to lift great loads with the majority of leg and hip muscles while developing back and core strength. The squat is the basic lift for 90% of all athletic sports. However, there is a difference between developing the squat technique and improving on sports technique. What weight training should do, is supplement athletic training. For example – kobe bryant didn’t become great by doing squats, kobe bryant became great playing basketball, alot. We are strictily looking at squats as something that increases total body strength and an excellent exercise to keep you in shape. That is not to say that squats do not improve sports performance. Squats performed explosively will make you a more explosive athlete. I can say from personal experience that squats have helped me be more explosive in my vertical jump. However, the vertical jump is improved solely throught the squat.
Back to the squat: When performing the squat, deep abdominal muscles contract around the spine giving support to the spine and helping the lifter maintain safe posture while on the down and up phases of the lift. This core tightening is essential to the execution of the squat. The lower back and abdominal muscles will be worked in the squat.
I am not going to teach on how to do the squat, unless you need to know proper form.
Bodybuilders and Weightlifters are known to squat unbelievable loads. However, weightlifters are able to lift more while typically having a less menacing looking profile. Weightlifters surprise people on how much they lift relative to their body mass.
