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Getbig Bodybuilding Boards => Training Q&A => Topic started by: Per Se on February 19, 2009, 05:22:47 PM

Title: Front Squats?
Post by: Per Se on February 19, 2009, 05:22:47 PM
Leg day tomorrow.

I've never done front squats before...Do you generally do them as an alternative to squats, or could I do them in the same workout...Maybe some lighter sets, relatively speaking?
Title: Re: Front Squats?
Post by: Geo on February 19, 2009, 05:44:37 PM

I've never done front squats before

you'll need to find out what weight you can handle and are comfortable with...

if you're shoulders are weak you'll need to make some adjustments..
Title: Re: Front Squats?
Post by: The Apprentice on February 19, 2009, 07:43:05 PM
i do olympic lifting so i front squat at least twice a week, the usual load is 4 x 2 or 4 x 3
Title: Re: Front Squats?
Post by: Stubborn on February 19, 2009, 09:47:25 PM
Leg day tomorrow.

I've never done front squats before...Do you generally do them as an alternative to squats, or could I do them in the same workout...Maybe some lighter sets, relatively speaking?

Dont front and back squat the same workout. Its not needed. You will need one more exercise for quads though. I use front squats alone and do back squats/DL's on another day.
Title: Re: Front Squats?
Post by: jpm101 on February 20, 2009, 09:11:45 AM
Front squats can be a stand alone great quad/leg exercise. And you can do them in the same workout with regular flatfooted squats if you wish. But front squats are an exercise that may take some getting use too. Might want to just start off with a bar & higher reps at first, getting adjusted to the movement. Most guy's, who may be good regular squater's, rush into this exercise not fully understanding the mechanics of it. And in a large part, fail and give up on the exercise. Approaching front squats with serious intent, it can develop all around upper and lower body strength.

Front squats require more flexibility/stretch in the shoulders, arm, elbow and wrist area. Also balance and control. But it can be a superior quad movement when done the right way. Olympic lifters are a prime example of quad/leg strength and development, the outcome of front squats and squat cleans. Though, on occasion, will do regular back squats. Actually if only one exercise could be preformed, for strength and development, I would choose the clean and jerk-press, but in a higher range of BB'ing reps. Also develops exceptional stamina. Good Luck.
Title: Re: Front Squats?
Post by: local hero on February 20, 2009, 09:20:34 AM
i always used to get out of breath or loose position of the bar before my quads were totaly exhausted... if u can get away with this movement it is a great feeling in the quads


also..., im pretty sure this is how id damaged my ac joint initialy too
Title: Re: Front Squats?
Post by: Get Rowdy on February 22, 2009, 05:56:28 AM
I do them with my heels raised up on a couple plates and with my arms crossed over the bar.  I don't do them both in the same workout, because I prefer them over regular squats.
Title: Re: Front Squats?
Post by: Per Se on February 22, 2009, 12:15:24 PM
Appreciate the imput.

Guys, can you post your poundages for regular squats and front squats?  I wana see the correllation.
I'm interested to see what I should be attempting once I'm used to the exercise.
Title: Re: Front Squats?
Post by: brent2741 on February 22, 2009, 12:44:54 PM
i use fronts as an alt to reg squats
Title: Re: Front Squats?
Post by: Geo on February 22, 2009, 06:10:24 PM
Appreciate the imput.

Guys, can you post your poundages for regular squats and front squats?  I wana see the correllation.
I'm interested to see what I should be attempting once I'm used to the exercise.

post yours...

it's your damned thread !
Title: Re: Front Squats?
Post by: QuakerOats on February 22, 2009, 06:16:26 PM
i'd say anyone using 315 or over for LEGITIMATE barbell front squats below parallel is very impressive.
Title: Re: Front Squats?
Post by: MONSTER_TRICEPS on February 23, 2009, 04:38:43 AM
Appreciate the imput.

Guys, can you post your poundages for regular squats and front squats?  I wana see the correllation.
I'm interested to see what I should be attempting once I'm used to the exercise.

My best frontsquat is approximately 85% of my BS.
Title: Re: Front Squats?
Post by: Per Se on February 23, 2009, 04:54:46 AM
post yours...

it's your damned thread !

Like I said, I've never done front squats.

3 plates a side on regular squats.
Title: Re: Front Squats?
Post by: Per Se on February 23, 2009, 04:56:42 AM
My best frontsquat is approximately 85% of my BS.

Cool, thanks.
Title: Re: Front Squats?
Post by: The Apprentice on February 23, 2009, 03:13:58 PM
some useful rules of thumb:

you should be able to front squat around 80 percent of your back squat
if you can front squat a given weight for a triple, you should be able to clean it
your snatch is around 80 percent of your clean and jerk
Title: Re: Front Squats?
Post by: Stubborn on February 23, 2009, 10:28:28 PM

if you can front squat a given weight for a triple, you should be able to clean it
your snatch is around 80 percent of your clean and jerk


I wish! My clean is no where near my 3rm front squat. The again I dont clean as much as I should.
Title: Re: Front Squats?
Post by: The Apprentice on February 24, 2009, 02:05:27 PM
nor is mine, i still have to work a lot on the technique ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Front Squats?
Post by: dawakaman on February 27, 2009, 03:29:29 AM
I think front squats are a great alternative for the reg. squat, since you cant cheat on a front squat. With back squat some people tend to do more of a good-morning than a real squat.

Last two legs day I've done 420 lbs reg squat for 4 reps, 315 for 20 (DC training).
Front squats I did 315 for 3 HARD reps(failed on #4), and 290 for 8 reps and that was real f****ng hard. Anyways, I'm still improving so I hope to get 440lbs reg squat for a couple reps and a 315 front squat for 6 in the next 2-3 months.

Peace
D
Title: Re: Front Squats?
Post by: LatsMcGee on February 27, 2009, 03:48:31 AM
Anyone here do Paul Bunyon Squats?  One of my favorite squat variations.
Title: Re: Front Squats?
Post by: jpm101 on February 27, 2009, 08:29:22 AM
Congrats to Dawakaman, impressive numbers. 

I will usually  add the GoodMorning exercise, if only doing front squats, in a leg workout. Seems to keep the lower back and ham's up to par. A few guy's , when going back to regular squatting,  might find a problem  with matching lower back strength. Also heavy ab work may be advised.

A Bud told me once that he had seem guy's rep'ing out front squats, off the rack, of 500+ at a Olympic lifting training site. Good Luck.
Title: Re: Front Squats?
Post by: MONSTER_TRICEPS on February 27, 2009, 09:17:53 AM
I think front squats are a great alternative for the reg. squat, since you cant cheat on a front squat. With back squat some people tend to do more of a good-morning than a real squat.

Last two legs day I've done 420 lbs reg squat for 4 reps, 315 for 20 (DC training).
Front squats I did 315 for 3 HARD reps(failed on #4), and 290 for 8 reps and that was real f****ng hard. Anyways, I'm still improving so I hope to get 440lbs reg squat for a couple reps and a 315 front squat for 6 in the next 2-3 months.

Peace
D

Hmm, I did 315 for 5 on the fronts when my backsquat was nowhere near 4x420.
Title: Re: Front Squats?
Post by: Stockist on March 02, 2009, 09:11:11 PM
A great exercise and considerably reduces the stress on the lower back. It can be a killer on wrists though if you're not particularly flexible so you can try using straps (this also helps avoid the bar rolling off your shoulders when going heavier).
Title: Re: Front Squats?
Post by: Stubborn on March 02, 2009, 09:51:02 PM
A great exercise and considerably reduces the stress on the lower back. It can be a killer on wrists though if you're not particularly flexible so you can try using straps (this also helps avoid the bar rolling off your shoulders when going heavier).

I have tried the strap thing but if you go real heavy it doesnt help that much. A little bit though.
Title: Re: Front Squats?
Post by: The Apprentice on March 03, 2009, 07:08:34 AM
man up and do it the olympic lifting style, i used to front squat with the arms crossed, when i switched to oly it took a couple months to stretch wrists and shoulders but i never looked back
Title: Re: Front Squats?
Post by: QuakerOats on March 03, 2009, 07:25:05 AM
man up and do it the olympic lifting style, i used to front squat with the arms crossed, when i switched to oly it took a couple months to stretch wrists and shoulders but i never looked back
what does "manning up" have to do with anything? ::)
Title: Re: Front Squats?
Post by: jpm101 on March 03, 2009, 09:30:49 AM
Good points by The Apprentice. It takes time to get accustomed to the stretch required for the fingers, wrist, triceps and shoulders. Worth the time invested, though  maybe not a couple of months for most. Same thing might apply to the cleans themselves.. Good Luck.

Side Bar: The only way manning up would apply to QO's is when he is bent over, grabbing his ankles and yelling "man up" for the next man to plug his butt.
Title: Re: Front Squats?
Post by: QuakerOats on March 03, 2009, 12:49:41 PM
Good points by The Apprentice. It takes time to get accustomed to the stretch required for the fingers, wrist, triceps and shoulders. Worth the time invested, though  maybe not a couple of months for most. Same thing might apply to the cleans themselves.. Good Luck.

Side Bar: The only way manning up would apply to QO's is when he is bent over, grabbing his ankles and yelling "man up" for the next man to plug his butt.
hahahahahaaaa, you can't get me out of your head. ;D
Title: Re: Front Squats?
Post by: MONSTER_TRICEPS on March 03, 2009, 01:45:12 PM
 8)

Title: Re: Front Squats?
Post by: brent2741 on March 03, 2009, 03:13:08 PM
8)



fuck yyyyeeaaahhh 8)
Title: Re: Front Squats?
Post by: jon cole on March 03, 2009, 11:42:34 PM
front squat for quads and abs.
best deadlifter use them a lot.