140kg / 308 pound Squat ATG, @ 52y

[thebigtortuga]

coach broz,

right now I'm on a specifc program that calls for 1 heavy lifting day a week and one plyometric day a week. On my days off, should I still squat? Like, 50-70% 1rm, or should I let my legs be fresh for sprinting and the sorts?

[Utgorn]

I squat in a very similar style to your lifters... One question though, my calves really hurt after sessions because of the bounce out of the hole; and I was just wondering if you have any tips for that because it can make walking and other things painful

[kwstas67]

@Utgorn of course broz knows ALOT BETTER but i had this too and it went away by just descending slower-prepare for some more pain though :)-ok shouldn;t be like mike mentzers movement the quicker is the better always unless it leads to injury or pain

[olyaddict]

I thought 52y was a typo of 52kg............ totally BADASS sir! 

[Zlaterrr]

How "easy" do you make the back off sets in squatting? If you are doing sets of 3's, do you choose a weight that you could probably make a set of 5 or you go as heavy as possible but with good form?

[johnliamten]

I should show this to my dad

[TreeSmoke1999]

Great work, your closing in on double bodyweight!

[jodogg101]

@BROZKNOWS I've seen a bunch of videos from your gym, and the ATG squats that I see are all similar in that the lower half of the decent is almost like a bounce. First thing that came to my mind when I saw that was "my god, those poor knees". lol. How are they not blowing out?

[BROZKNOWS]

@jodogg101 because it doesn't put strain on the knees. Now the calves are another story...

[thegregwheeler]

@jodogg101 It's called the stretch reflex, and once your femur is parallel to the floor or below the knees aren't doing much of anything. Granted it was a pretty quick decent, it's probably better to keep a little more tension in the quads to control the bard speed.

[RandomStevie]

Awesome. I only squat 150kg at 14, I hope to be able to squat down at 52yo let alone with 140kg on my back!

[mycenean]

The new gym is buzzing Broz. 

[daluke61]

Kudos to Tim! I just turned 50 and only started lifting weights about 1 1/2 years ago; general fitness stuff. I've always been at least a little bit interested in Oly style weightlifting and two months ago, finally gave it a go and am getting my feet wet at Cal Strength. I've been bitten by the bug... for sure!!

Keep at it, Tim ... that's inspiring!

[capscave]

Average Broz gym athletes are true athletes. Doesn't matter if your in your teens or into your 50's. My hope is to maintain this level of athleticism, strength, flexibility and explosive power into my 50's. If not, I would have to go find another solution such as Scott Herman Fitness....don't want to make that mistake.

[TheSuperber]

When can we expect the website, coach?

[BROZKNOWS]

@TheSuperber believe me, not soon enough. It's been too long.

[fackshaitcrazy]

@BROZKNOWS are we talking days, weeks or months until the Garden of Eden aka your new website will be up and running?

[krzxalien]

Nice lift!

[Dcgusto9]

I always tell my parents and older adults that age is just a number when they disagree I show them vids like this.nice squat tom and keep the inspiration alive bros!

[Zlaterrr]

Is there a reason he has done 6 singles on 140? Since I guess you usually do to max then go for 2-3 reps for sets?

[BROZKNOWS]

@Zlaterrr The program you refer to is a basic guideline I use. I utilize many different programming structures that vary depending on needs.

[eowdaoc]

this is just awesome

[qwertyfelix]

For how long has he been lifting?

[BROZKNOWS]

@qwertyfelix with weights for about 4 years.

[MultiWingnut]

Hi,

I'm assuming that the max weight I can lift will go down as I get older. Does this lowering in weight come in the form of catastrophic failure and injury, or does it come in the form of gradually being able to lift less and less weight?

I'm not sure how to approach this problem.If it is the former, I'll have to listen to my body more and be very careful of injury. If it's the latter, I'll just continue lifting just like I do now.

Thanks

[ishred]

@bowler180max check out Lost Battallion Hall in queens if you want to do oly lifting.

[bowler180max]

@ishred

Thanks for the info. I will visit the Hall on Wednesday

[anathamon]

Looking strong Tim, keep up the good work.

[Karlhumphreys1988]

Hey John, do you think oly shoes are necessary for squats if you've got the flexibility to hit ATG in flats/barefoot? I've been trying out barefoot squats and they feel great, much better PC recruitment for me, and as an aspiring track athlete would this be superior? Cheers!

[jailer345]

Can you refer me to a web site that does a half way descent job of explaining how to high bar squat properly. If you have the time, a video of yourself explaining it would be better yet. I have been squatting for many years but have never done high bar and I don't know what's truth and what's bull out there.

[Fiarzen]

@jailer345 same bro

[BROZKNOWS]

@jailer345 The new website that I am working on will have over 20 technique vids.

[Quigboosan]

@BROZKNOWS Waiting with baited breath... surfing the net for good advice is tedious.

[clarence0]

ATG squat at 52 years old holy shit...

[TheLenneh]

I'm glad the Broz are keeping us educated about how Squatting, contrary to popular belief, is GOOD FOR YOU!

[michaelzwarszawy]

Broz, do you think lifting heavy often for many years will cause joint problems in the future when you're older?  i keep hearing that, but i'm skeptical.

[BROZKNOWS]

@michaelzwarszawy I think that it will have the opposite effect. If done properly, the body adapts and thus becoming stronger. I know many guys at my age who don't lift and have way more issues then I do. I've been training my entire life to full throttle.

[michaelzwarszawy]

@BROZKNOWS alright awesome. thanks for the quick reply

[PxQxP]

@BROZKNOWS do you know how i should convince my father to begin training with me? we have the equipment, but he just not have the motivation, and he firmly believes that it is detrimental to his health. haha thank you.

[BROZKNOWS]

@PxQxP show him vids like this and physically drag his ass with you to the gym.

[choymantisbxr]

@BROZKNOWS Hey coach, I've been having some problems with my blood pressure during heavy sets of squats. I hold my breath on the decent and let it out with a slow "hiss" on the way up. Problem is, while this allows me to lift a good deal more weight, it seems like it's always the limiting factor in my maxes. I can tell my legs can handle more weight/reps, but I always feel like I cant push harder for fear of bursting a vessel or passing out.

[BROZKNOWS]

@choymantisbxr try to let out a bit more air. Not all by any means, but slightly more than you are.

[MellonVegan]

@michaelzwarszawy If you always use good technique you will stay mobile and healthy later. Heinz Ollesch for example (Strongest Man of Germany for 12 years) was told by his doctor that 20 year old soccer players look worse than him.

[timothyenriquelee]

I'll be in LV from the 6th to the 8th. When should I come in to train? :D

[BROZKNOWS]

@timothyenriquelee probably sometime between the 6th and the 8th. contact info and address on website, along with google maps.

[GokuSuperSayianJin]

Very good job there!!!

Just a question. Didn't you go a little too deep and kinda fast? Doesn't this have a bad effect on the knees?

Thanks - Christopher

[BROZKNOWS]

@GokuSuperSayianJin contrary to conventional wisdom, going all the way down, ATG (ass to grass) is the most natural thing to do with your legs. Just today I watched my 1 year old niece grab a candle off a tall shelf and do a full squat. Literally until her butt was on the ground. And not because I coached her to. lol.

[tombennettpiano]

@BROZKNOWS my friends that half squatted with knee wraps and belts have WAY more back and knee pain than I have. I've been going deep, raw for at least 10 years. Squatted 500 low bar 10 years ago and am now working to highbar 500 at 39 year old. Believe it or not only my ANKLES are ever sore.

[RandomStevie]

@BROZKNOWS Squatting all the way down is perfectly natural because that's how humans took a shit for tens of thousands of years.

[ArCxlioN]

@GokuSuperSayianJin no, it doesn't.

[bowler180max]

I want to be able to do that! do you guys provide training?

[BROZKNOWS]

@bowler180max yes

[bowler180max]

@BROZKNOWS

I live in Brooklyn NY, do you have a gym close by?

[BROZKNOWS]

@bowler180max umm, not really...unless you mean by plane. 

[Schwarzalbenheimen]

Hope I can do that at 52!

[SilverbackFitness]

Respect.