Comments on: Cliff Notes: Box Squats

By: Great links for the weekend!

Great links for the weekend! — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 21:05:07 +0000

[...] has done a lovely article summarising the important things to remember to ensure that you do good squats and yes, he also advocates using a box for accountability in your early squatting [...]

By: Auxiliary Squat Workouts

Auxiliary Squat Workouts — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 23:21:51 +0000

[...] TonyGentilcore.com » Cliff Notes: Box Squats [...]

By: JC Wise

JC Wise — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 20:16:55 +0000

Here’s a tip from Ripp (from Starting Strength). Use a thumbs over the bar grip to get it lower on your back and get your elbows where they need to be and get the bar off your neck.
Couple of questions:
Do you use the box to make sure you get low enough?
Do you have any small t-shirts? ;-> (I got here from the Fitcast)
thanks
jc

By: RB

RB — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 01:40:58 +0000

Great article - I totally agree with pulling the bar down. I used to box squat but my lower back was rounding at the bottom, so I’ve switched to regular squats. Any tips on increasing squatting depth so I can box squat again?

By: matibu

matibu — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 01:24:51 +0000

Great article Tony, make me want to go to the gym a SQUAT!!!!

By: Victor

Victor — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 21:52:51 +0000

What’s up with all the chicks squatting empty bars/PVC pipe? My girlfriend squats 235, and weighs about half that.

By: george

george — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 21:04:00 +0000

Wait, so you mean to tell me that bending my knees 3 inches doesn’t mean I’m squatting? Shee-it.

By: Eric Lagoy

Eric Lagoy — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 19:33:15 +0000

I don’t have access to a box squat at my school’s gym, but I get by just fine by doing the following: I slap a couple 45lb plates on the bottom of the floor and put 4 dumbbells (all the same weight) on their side on top of the plates. I usually use 2, 45lb plates and 30lb dumbbells to get to around 12 inches, and if I want to raise the box a few inches I’ll add another plate at the bottom. It’s very sturdy but I would only recommend doing it if you have access to flat plates (usually these are kinds used for olympic lifts that come in different colors) and round dumbbells (not hex ones).

By: Biskit

Biskit — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 19:28:49 +0000

Great article coach. I wish people from my gym would read this. I sometimes think that you may be preaching to the choir here. I think most who read your blog are of a like mind, and appreciate your advice, but just sayin. Maybe I could print this out and leave it on the squat rack??

I was doing box squats last night using a 12 inch stool that I bring with me, and barefoot as well! I have had one comment about being barefoot and a few glances, most people just ignore my obvious superior training methods ;) because, I must be, like…crazy or something. I think the skinny girl next to me doing squats on the bosu ball was trying to show me the proper way to train/squat. I wanted to go all Terry Tate on her…but I had to look away.

By: Tom Sullivan

Tom Sullivan — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 18:34:41 +0000

Very good post, Tony. Possibly the best I have seen on putting this move into words to create the proper picture. “Destroy the back of your pants” killed me.