You Don’t Know Squat! – How deep should you go?

Well this is one of those discussions (well one way discussion anyway)`with in the world of weight training technique which you will either agree or disagree with - sorry, but if you disagree with us you’re just plain wrong! :-)

You see many people ask us all the time “how deep should I go when I squat?”

There is only one acceptable answer in our opinion. You only go down to a position where you can maintain good technique and posture.

Some trainers or coaches will claim that it’s not a full squat unless you get your thighs parallel with the floor. Well which part of the thigh – front or back?

Also what happens if you can’t get there?

Why can’t you get there?...Are you just not trying hard enough?

Unfortunately there is no one answer but there could be any number of places in the body where muscles are either two weak or too tight to allow you to get in the ‘perfect’ position.

You could argue that if you work hard and keep on doing it you will get there. Well I’m here to tell you will not always get there no matter how hard you work at getting strong or flexible.

Undoubtedly there are people who could get to a deep squat position if they got strong enough but there is one thing that many people over look.

The simple truth is that we are not all made up in the same way. The insertion points of Alex’s muscles will be slightly different to Andrew’s and just about everyone else. This means that there is the potential to not ever be able to get into a deep squat if you articular surface restrictions won’t let you.

Articular surfaces, purely means the joint surfaces. So if you have some defect or growth spur, say in your hip joint, that restricts the body from going into deep hip flexion then no level of stretching or weight training will help you.

So there is a reason that someone cannot get deep that has nothing to do with exercise execution or strength and everything to do with the way the body is made up.

Here’s one of Alex’s you tube videos:

Perfecting Squat Technique



Let us know what you think by commenting below.

Until next time, train hard, train smart, make every drop of sweat count!

Andrew & Alex