Transformer Bar

[Straw Man]

This is a pretty f'ng cool bar
Seriously considering buying this thing
https://store.kabukistrength.net/products/transformer-bar

you can see it in action here
that belt squat apparatus is pretty cool too
None of my gyms have cool shit like this

[GymnJuice]

We have these at one of mine:

https://www.myarsenalstrength.com/strength-equipment/reloaded/featured-reloaded/reloaded-belt-squat/
https://www.myarsenalstrength.com/strength-equipment/reloaded/featured-reloaded/reloaded-pendulum-squat/

The pendulum one gives a great pump and workout if you go to full depth.

[joswift]

a fool and his money are soon parted

[Grape Ape]

kabuki stuff is super high quality and super expensive

[Straw Man]

We have these at one of mine:

https://www.myarsenalstrength.com/strength-equipment/reloaded/featured-reloaded/reloaded-belt-squat/
https://www.myarsenalstrength.com/strength-equipment/reloaded/featured-reloaded/reloaded-pendulum-squat/

The pendulum one gives a great pump and workout if you go to full depth.

One of my gyms used to have a pendulum squat
I loved that thing but for some reason they got rid of it

[Gym-Rat]

one of the gyms i go has a pendulum and they've had it for 20+ years
when i first joined in 2000, it was just brought in
for some reason now they are taking off in popularity (monkey see/monkey do IG life i suppose)
still in great shape as not many train properly there (phone gawkers)

[Gym-Rat]

pendulum squat once known as 'swing squat'

Randy Coyle invented the first version of the SwingSquat back in 1979 (US Patent #5,626,548) and since revised the machine in 1997 with a new patent. Unfortunately, many of the larger equipment manufacturing companies infringed on Randy`s patent and started producing knockoff`s of Randy`s original design. Without the funds required to retain a copyright attorney, Randy had to sit back and watch his invention get copied and not get the recognition he justly deserved for his revolutionary leg machine. The other versions (Pendulum) aren’t a touch on the original and Randy, to this day, at 83 years old, still manufactures and produces Swingsquat leg machines.

[Grape Ape]

Belt squat machines always looked like a really good way to hit the legs without taxing the back.

But they generally cost a couple grand, and could easily be mimicked with a dip belt and some blocks, I would think.

[Rambone]

One of my gyms used to have a pendulum squat
I loved that thing but for some reason they got rid of it

Who would get rid of that amazing machine? I bet the manager doesn’t even lift. My gym’s currently got one by Paramount and it’s my favorite leg machine. I can barely do any weight on it though

[Soul Crusher]

This is a pretty f'ng cool bar
Seriously considering buying this thing
https://store.kabukistrength.net/products/transformer-bar

you can see it in action here
that belt squat apparatus is pretty cool too
None of my gyms have cool shit like this

That dude Mike Isreatel has great videos 

[Tapeworm]

My shoulders have always hated squats. Legendary inflexibility.

Definitely something to consider, even though I'd probably make one instead, machined and welded all crappy instead of turbo tactical like theirs.

[Straw Man]

Just noticed this on the Kabuki website

Ships in:  16-17 weeks

[Gym-Rat]

My shoulders have always hated squats. Legendary inflexibility.

Definitely something to consider, even though I'd probably make one instead, machined and welded all crappy instead of turbo tactical like theirs.

the titan basic ssb bar is good for those with bad shoulders and much less costly
goes on sale a lot and always free shipping
i got mine for 219.99 with free shipping

https://www.titan.fitness/strength/barbells/specialty/safety-squat-olympic-bar-v2/430063.html

[Soul Crusher]

Just noticed this on the Kabuki website

Ships in:  16-17 weeks

Ive always got far better results on medium weight hi rep leg press and hack squats superset w lex extensions or curls than barbella squats. 

[Straw Man]

Ive always got far better results on medium weight hi rep leg press and hack squats superset w lex extensions or curls than barbella squats.

Me too
I like to start my quad workouts with leg press and my reps for warmup/acclimation are 12 down to 6 but my first working set is 25-30 reps, and then add more weight and do 15-20 and the heaviest set is 12-15 or more

I do squats after leg presses and because my hips and knees are warmed up and my back is not tired and I can do my first set with 225 and it feels like 135.  I rarely go over 275 and usually do 10-15 reps per set.   I do squats with a high bar, narrow stance and heels raised (or these days with squat shoes with a raised heel)

I usually alternate a leg curl variation with leg presses and squats - most often seated leg curl

[Skeletor]

My shoulders have always hated squats. Legendary inflexibility.

Definitely something to consider, even though I'd probably make one instead, machined and welded all crappy instead of turbo tactical like theirs.

I tried a bar similar to the Rogue Safety Squat bar and it was way easier on the shoulders for back squats. I'd give the Kabuki bar a try if I could find it in a gym but it looks gimmicky.

[Soul Crusher]

Me too
I like to start my quad workouts with leg press and my reps for warmup/acclimation are 12 down to 6 but my first working set is 25-30 reps, and then add more weight and do 15-20 and the heaviest set is 12-15 or more

I do squats after leg presses and because my hips and knees are warmed up and my back is not tired and I can do my first set with 225 and it feels like 135.  I rarely go over 275 and usually do 10-15 reps per set.   I do squats with a high bar, narrow stance and heels raised (or these days with squat shoes with a raised heel)

I usually alternate a leg curl variation with leg presses and squats - most often seated leg curl

I rarely ever do barbell squats any more.  Just feel like not worth it at this point.  The cost to benefit ration is just not there for me at 46 and goals I have or priorities. 

[BB]

for some reason now they are taking off in popularity (monkey see/monkey do IG life i suppose)

John Meadows maybe, he was always touting the thing before he died.

I tried a bar similar to the Rogue Safety Squat bar and it was way easier on the shoulders for back squats. I'd give the Kabuki bar a try if I could find it in a gym but it looks gimmicky.

Invented by a black man -

.

[Straw Man]

I rarely ever do barbell squats any more.  Just feel like not worth it at this point.  The cost to benefit ration is just not there for me at 46 and goals I have or priorities.

I'm 55 and I don't have any issues with them but I do them very strict and I rarely go over 275
I do feel they are a good overall exercise

I don't do regular deadlifts anymore (and I used to love them)
Now it's either trap bar deads (but I do those for quads) or RDL's

[B_B_C]

There was a time when lots of engineers would post on this website and at least one of them would explain the bio/ structural mechanics far better than I am able to
(think levers, force stress,  bending moments, axial stress,   - distinguish between weight (mass) and resistance ....)


I can appreciate wanting to reduce excessive stress on joints but if the same weight mass can be raised / handled easier with this bar where will the resistance need to prompt muscle growth come from?
Another way of looking a this is can the required resistance be obtained with less weight

[Straw Man]

There was a time when lots of engineers would post on this website and at least one of them would explain the bio/ structural mechanics far better than I am able to
(think levers, force stress,  bending moments, axial stress,   - distinguish between weight (mass) and resistance ....)


I can appreciate wanting to reduce excessive stress on joints but if the same weight mass can be raised / handled easier with this bar where will the resistance need to prompt muscle growth come from?
Another way of looking a this is can the required resistance be obtained with less weight

Many people can't maintain the proper posture when squatting with a bar on their back so most of the stress may not even be going to the quads in the first place.   

With this type of bar you can stay more upright and more effectively target the quads more efficiently without tiring out the back, bending forward.

I thought those good morning they were doing in the video looked really good and that would be a back breaker with regular barbell (at least it would for me)

The unique thing about this bar is that you can move the location of the weight around and then hold it in that place. 

[MCWAY]

This is a pretty f'ng cool bar
Seriously considering buying this thing
https://store.kabukistrength.net/products/transformer-bar

you can see it in action here
that belt squat apparatus is pretty cool too
None of my gyms have cool shit like this

The guy in the black shirt does a great Arnold impersonation.

[Soul Crusher]

I'm 55 and I don't have any issues with them but I do them very strict and I rarely go over 275
I do feel they are a good overall exercise

I don't do regular deadlifts anymore (and I used to love them)
Now it's either trap bar deads (but I do those for quads) or RDL's

Trap bar deads are great.

[CalvinH]

Trap bar deads are great.

Only way I do then now.

[Grape Ape]

Only way I do then now.

I cycle - half the year trap, half real.