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  • Splendid video, great job!

  • great vid explaining biomechanics of the front squat. Also like your explanation of why its better to hold the bar like a olympic lifter rather than a bodybuilder, it made sense.

  • in english please. . .

  • Unfortunately, front squatting tear up my wrists...I've had to stick with overhead squats and back squats.

  • I think you definitely make some good arguments about posture, and I think I will implement this into my workout, but I doubt any strength and conditioning coach on the planet would agree with it being better. Front squats are far too quad focused and quads are the most useless athletic muscle in pretty much every sport save skiing and speed skating and a few others. The back squat when done correctly forces you to use hamstrings which are easily the most important athletic muscle in your body.

  • If I do a normal squat with more then 2 plates I have to keep my arms strait across the bar. Its almost laughable for me to atempt overhead squats, as when Im all the way down my arms arms face foward at least 15-20 degrees. My body type is short and heavy(long arms), Im 5'6 175-185 usually. I do alot of cross fit and stuff and excercises like the dead lift are easy for me. I do however suffer from my crapp shoulder flexability

  • @Inspeckdadeck Your not alone, not many people can overhead squat it took me along time to achieve an average one, you need to be flexible everywhere and a lot of shoulder mass and back mass will prevent good shoulder mobility.

  • Hmm I think I must be the master of super supination. I seem to have an easier time front squatting because my shoulders are SO inflexable that I sometimes have trouble even positioning my arms back on the bar for a normal back squat. Also when I stand comfortably my biceps face inwards.

  • front squats r super important 2 hockey players, it really defines your upper body strength and your fitness level

  • Good tip to help people with their front squats about the Clean hand position as apposed to the Cross Arm position for Thoracic Spine problems

  • do u have a degree in physiology?

  • Awesome Video Brutha! Keep bringing the gospel!

  • can you talk about squatting if you have flat feet. thanks

  • only because i love this shit.its awesome to share.

  • That was good information.

  • Great vid! MrCranberry777 talks a lot.

  • i have been studying kinesiology and exercise physiology for over 7 years.im alot like elliot.i love strength and every aspect of it.olympic,bodybuilding,powerl­ifting,strongman,scottish heavy events and all in between.i just want to say good luck to everyone in yourgoals,no matter what they are.let us finish the job in style.

  • i own zeaus gym .i have nothing but the highest repect for elliot.i modeled my gym after westside barbell,iron sport gym etc.we have 16 power racks,5-300lb dumbells,8 olympic platfofms,2 monolifts,atlas stones,replicas of the dinnie stones,anvils with custom length and handles,elieko and pendlay bumper plates,1,2.5 and 3 inch bars,thors hammers,10 buffalo bars,10 s-cube bars,10 apollons axles.enough chains for every rack,4.8 acres of land to throw for the scottish heavy events out back.

  • i dont post anything on my channei period due to one thing.the last time i had a channel my daughter and her friend posted a video of their dog chasing ice cubes.i recieved over 70 people emailing that wanted to rape,sexually assault my daughter and her friend.

  • under the bar with the elbows directed to the sides.bring the bar into the shoulders and whip the elbows around to recieve it in the clean rack position.recieve the bar initially at a quarter squat depth,and finally at full squat depth.

  • recieving position.even when performing a full depth clean,the bar should be racked as quickly and as high as possible,with the ATHLETE then riding it down to the bottom of the SQUAT,rather than the ATHLETE attempting to rack the bar near the bottom of the SQUAT.mid hang clean-begin in the mid-hang position with a clean-width hook grip on the bar.aggresively drive with the legs to extend the body and accelerate the bar upward.at the peak of body extension,change directions with a shrug and pull

  • reach their peak height,the ATHLETE will pull the bar into the shoulders and whip the elbows around visciously,relaxing the hands and delivering the bar smoothly to the rack position on to the shoulders.the ATHLETE should settle in the recieving position for a moment and verify that his or her positioning is correct before recovering to the standing position.again,the ATHLETE may initially perform a powerclean,recieving the bar at quarter squat depth,before proceeding to a full squat depth

  • mid hang cleans;as with the snatch,the final drill in the clean learning progression assembles the previous componets into a clean from the mid-hang position.beginning in the mid-hang,with a clean hand placement and the hook grip,the ATHLETE will extend the hips and drive againsr the ground with aggression.at the peak of extension,the ATHLETE will immediately initiate the pull under the bar with the arms,keeping the elbows rotated to the sides and the bar as close as possible.as the elbows

  • split squat or lunge.the lead leg should be positioned so that the lead shin is approximately verticle in the bottom of each rep.

  • just so you know,i share easily accesible knowledge.none of the things i say cant be proven scienyifically at any time.bulgarian split squat;the bulgarian splitsquat is SIMPLY a split squat performed with back foot elevated on a bench or box rather than on the floor[the top of the foot resting on the top surface].the bar can be racked on the back or on the shoulders in the front.this exercise provides tough unilateral leg training with a somewhat greater balance componet than a conventional

  • I really appreciate your videos. I used to run daily to maintain weight and also as a fun hobby, but I have taken up strength training of late and reduced my running as I'm finding strength training to be a great practice. You have VERY long videos, but I love the studious approach in everything, and I value your knowledge and lectures on the subject. Two minute instructions don't relay anatomy, physiology, and professional tips like you do. Thanks, again.

  • even golfers are now incorporating squats into their routines to increase hip strength among many other advantages.this statement has to be a stupid joke.

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  • we should never neglect in any way the value of the olympic back squat either.countless olympic champions have aleays included them from day one of their training.leonid tarenenko really only loved the back squat-with a high of 380kg.his frot squat would hit 320kg for a single.for perhaps the best results,incorporate both in your routine and watch your legs take on a whole new dimension of strength,density,thickness and size.be smart,think for yourself.

  • that modifications from the strict prescription are rational and sound instead of haphazard and likely improper.squats are one of the most valuable of all exercises,second only to the clean and jerk as king of the lifts.the squat is used in countless sports and events worlwide.its as basic a movement for athletes as you can get.my wife is a champion shotputter and highland game athlete.squats was one of the first exercises she was taught.i hope that this is just a bad joke on your part.or youare

  • the squat is foundational to the olympic lifts as a position,a movement and a strength exercise.without a well developed and consistent squat,neither pulling technique nor pulling powerwill produce entirely successful olympic weightlifting.the great natural physical variation among athletes dictates that there will never be a universally perfect presscription for body positioning,but irrespective of this variation,the fundamental princples remain consistent.continued reliance on them will ensure

  • you cant possibly mean squats arent good for atletes.football,soccer,basket­ball,olympic sprinters,speed skating,OLYMPIC WEIGHTLIFING,golf,tennisbaseba­ll,high jump,scottish heavy events,worlds strongest man,bodybuilding,powerlifting,­swimming,rehab for the knees,etc

  • FALSE!

    Squats aren't a good exercise for athlets.

    Quads are only for the look.

  • @Manuelcr7 Are you even an athlete? Yes, you need legs. Unless your a damn golfer >.>

  • @mudlums i faster than you on any distance for sure.

    I think squats aren't an effective exercise.

    There are much better strength exercises for athlets like splitsquats, TB Deadlifts or single leg hip thrusts. If you like front squats, do Hangcleans. But for athlets i highly recommend hip dominant, single leg exercises.

  • wow. excellent, makes me want to quit doing back squats

  • Wonderful job at explaining the front squat. I have had a difficult time transitioning to the front squat and this is really helpful.

  • 2:58 made me lol pretty hard

  • i hope this helps.good luck!

  • place either a clean or jerk grip on the bar,position the body underneath,and use the legs to drive him-herself up into the bar.

  • the athlete will tuck the thumb into the palm,wrap the fingers over it in a fist,and ulnar deviate the wrist[stretch the wrist away from the thumbs origin].for many,the shoulders will also need stretching to enter the clean front squat position.in order to stretch all parts involved in this position,the position itself is ideal.placing a bar in a rack just below shoulder height and loading it to a weight that cannot be easily lifted will provide an anchor around which to stretch.the athlete will

  • flexor and extensor stretches can be performed with one hand pressing against the other,but are often easier when pressing the hand against the floor while kneeling or against a wall while standing.different degrees of internal/external rotation of the arms can be used to change the stretch somewhat.for some athletes,the introduction of the hook grip will prove painful as the structures to the unfamiliar demand.this can be mitigated somewhat by stretching the thumb extensors.

  • fingers will be pressed,bringing them and the wrist into extension.this will be the default stretch because it will hit both flexor groups,but often the fingers will limit the range of motion of the wrist somewhat,so more direct wrist flexor stretching may be necessary.in order to promote full mobility and balance,the extensor groups should be stretched as well.this is done simply with the reverse action as the flexor stretches-pressing against the back of the hand to flex the wrist.

  • are in the the extended position-but wrist flexability can be necessarywithout accompanying need for finger flexor flexability,such as is the case with the jerk rack position in which the wrists will be extended to a great degree while the fingers remain flexed.in order to emphasize the wrist flexors,the streych should be performed by pressing aginst the palm of the hand rather than the fingers-this will ensure the fullest possibleextension of the wrist.to stretch the finger flexors as well,the

  • pulled straight out from the forearm before its extended.this pulling actionshould continue during the stretch,directed toward the tips of the fingers.simply shaking the hands out as well is effective for loosening up the structures of the wrist before and after stretches.flexor stretches can be performed to emphasize either the finger or wrist flexors.finger flexor flexability will always be accompanied by the need for wrist flexor flexability-in the clean rack position,for example,when both

  • positions.the remaining stretching is more for balanced mobility yhan direct benefit.the wrist is comprised of a large number of small bonesand deals regulary with high degrees of compression.this compression can become residual and leave the wrist in a condition of reduced mobility.in order to stretch the wrists effectively,they should be first decompressed-this will allow a further stretch and prevent unnecessary stress on the carpals.when initiating a flexor stretch,the hand should simply be

  • here we go;the positionaldemands on the wrists by weightlifters are great,and inflexibility will limit performance and expose the athletye to injury.wrist flexibility can be a constant struggle because of the large volume of flexor work from gripping a barbell.over time,athletes will likely find themselves habitually performing wrist stretches throughout the day.the primary issue will be the finger and wrist flexors-these will be what limit the athletes ability toassume the clean and jerk

  • alo try squatting with a 1 inch board under your heels.we used this when we were learning the olympic back squat-WITH A PVC PIPE!ugh!

  • Yo, Elliot when i do front squats i can do the exercise but for some reason my wrist hurts and i feel like i am going to snap some shit, what could i do? Please thumbs up so he can see

  • I will have to agree with you 100%. I switched from back squats to front squats over a year ago and my weight was damn near cut in half, but my legs got bigger and my core is stronger now than it has ever been in my life! I use the arm crossed method but I have learned to keep myself upright by pausing and resetting at the top of each rep.

  • huh... i backsquat a ton and i slouch all the time! when im sitting and standing. when i stand my should slouch forward and down. my whole upper torso does. and my neck is crooked because of it. i wonder if front squats will change it

  • Hey Elliot, what do you think of using the smith to front squat?

  • back squatting with my 2 inch apollans axle bar,from the bottom position below parallel,still remains one of my favorite exercises.alway has,always will!

  • racked across the back of the shoulders,or an elastic band secured to the base of the bench and looped over the back of the neck.the movement can be performed slowly to maximize leg flexion demand,or with speed to make the leg flexion more of a finishing movement with less tension.nice talking.

  • while there are variatios in terms of back extension[or the absence threreof],the glute ham raise is essentially a hip extension on a glute-ham bench finished with knee flexion.the back can be hold in extension throughout the movement,or it can be flexed and extended during each rep along with the hips.the fulcrum of the glute- bench will need to be placed at approximately the mid-point of the quads to allow both pelvic rotation and leg flexion.additional weight can be held against the chest or

  • Join the clean and glute ham raise as the primary movement for athletes

  • Good points. I would submit that many of the issues you address are also going to be largely addressed by the addition of Olympic movements (particularly scapular adduction). Furthermore, there are still advantages to back squatting as higher overall loading is possible and therefore a better training effect. This is why olympic weightlifters tend to use the back squat as a primary structural movement. There is great value to the front squat. However, IMHO the back squat should still ....

  • Great video sir. Found this helpful.

  • Yo Elliot, How can i improve my 40 and my vertical jump in about 2 months? Im attending the nike sparq comebine and i want to do a good job and get a high sparq score, So what work outs should i do??? Please help me.

  • You can really tell this guy knows what he's talking about!

  • he siad alot of shit from the 2 minute mark that didnt make fuck all sense.

  • 2:52 LOL 

  • @haczabim

    Agree!  :)

  • I LOVE the Anatomy terminology. Helps me when reviewing for Physiology 3103

  • how about all of you drop the shitty front and back squats and try overhead squats

    overhead squats make front squats look like pussy shit

    (im obviously all for the overhead) lol

  • idk if this is true but i've heard that front squats work your quads while back squats work your quads, hams, gluts, and toughens ur traps.

    but I like front squats a lot more than back squats.

  • damn, i guess it's time to do some front squats...

  • Elliot what do you think about overhead squats?

  • Comment removed

  • Completely agree, the Front Squat is the best exercise for athletes.

  • Hey Elliot. Just wanted to ask about the difference in front to back squat in regards to the leg portion. In the video you mostly address the upper body functions. I have heard that a front squat is more quad heavy and less on the hamstrings vs back/box squat. Is this true?

  • Front squats, not everyone can do them because they don't want to train hard. Why? They are hard. That's why there is the alternative: back squat. Good video.

  • @capscave if you dont train hard

    you are already a loser

    back squat = pussy

  • @loxspliff1 That shit was funny. I do agree with you. Back squat has it's place when used appropriately but it's not nearly as hard as front squats. For you trolls, if you don't front squat you have no place to comment.

  • this is an awesome video and really makes me wanna start front squatting more.....i got on here with the intention of just watching the the pull up vid and going to bed. Its now an hour later and im still clickin your vids elliot

  • Great video Elliot! You Addressed a very important thing with the back squat. Most people can't go into thoracic extension and thus compensate with the lumbar spine which creates tons of extension in the lumbar spine which will cause an anterior pelvic tilt which will lead to underdeveloped glutes and SI joint problems.

  • Really good video and info, you seem well studied. Its cool to hear things like this with a good explanation as to why.

  • Comment removed

  • back squats are for pussies

    best squats in order

    overhead squat (good luck)

    front squat

    zercher squat

  • @loxspliff1 Zercher? OMG!

  • @loxspliff1 LMAO!!! I agree with you about back squats. They are for people who don't know how to front squat or overhead squat.

  • Holy shit I think you just blew my mind. i was wondering why my gut has been sticking out more and more and im 99% sure this is it. since then i switched leg press but im gonna do front squats now.

  • my wrist starts to hurt a crapload for some reason.. it goes away after about 15 minutes.. is that normal?

  • @itsmerobinyi No.

  • Would practicing front squats improve on the issues that are made evident by doing the exercise?

  • you just described me when u were talking about back squats.. weak abs, bend more in the back shoot my ass back- i suck at squats

    next leg day, i will throw in some front squats.. see how it goes

  • what about holding the barbell in the military press position during front squat so your elbows are pointing outwards?

  • good video dude, thumbs up.

  • hey where did you learn all that stuff?

  • What about over-head squats?

  • i completely agree with what you are saying. i have mild hyperlordosis and have been front squatting for the past 9 or 10 months and it has helped a lot. this man knows what he is talking about. great advice

  • @Buttzoor i have a bad posture from lazyness and if i do front squats like he showed will i get my posture back?

  • @godsmackya will be far better than a traditional back squat on your spine and posture. also try to strengthen your rhomboids (middle back) it will help pull back your scapula and push your chest out

  • first when i heard this guy saying yo eliott yo though he is tipical douche. Actually saw then whole 10 mins of this vid and he does know about what he talks, showing a lot of years of trainning i guess and less brotips and the other thousand of fitness vids. Great work yo

  • Yo Elliot, you're awesome! I've been doing high-bar back squats for a year now and I've noticed that my butt looks like two cantaloupes. While I'm not complaining, I don't want to get a butt like a baboon! Are front squats more quad-intensive and less likely to make my glutes bigger?

  • started the front squats last week, its great, and def works extremly well in a full workout. i do em before the full squat. i like to say as a warm-up but they are more than that!

  • hahaha oh this video was informational and funny

  • Would you recommend front or back squats for a cyclist? (Time trial sprinter)

  • Yo Elliot, what do you think about compound movement vs isolated movements for gaining strength?

  • how do pec major muscles affect them?

  • you are really helpfull,and i would appreciate it if you could answer my question, due to the lack of knowledge over the year or two of training i developed poor posture, my shoulders lean forward, what can i do to improve it? thanks for your help

  • Yo Elliot, you broke a lot of sweat in 10 minutes just talking!

  • @jackp780 yea, it was like 90 + degrees that day... remember I live in FL and my gym is just a garage (no AC). I sweat like that ALL day! lol

  • @strengthcamp A real mans gym

  • I swim and notice that all swimmers have a huge hunch.

  • This guy is an awesome source of info.

  • Does this apply to both low bar and high bar back squat?

  • Yo elliot, i cant bend my arms like that for front squats i tried it, and i hate doing it crossed. How can i work on getting my wrists more flexible for this. It puts alot of the weight on my wrist when i try it the olympic way

  • what can i do about getting my ass to the grass without putting plates under my heels? I stretch all the time but no improvment...

  • Yo Elliot I have done the front squat with my arms crossed I tried doing it the olympic way but I can't go as heavy as I can with my arms crossed. Whats up with that?

  • Thanks a lot man, great video.

  • this is such good advice. i did them today and i normally do the cross arm meathod cause it hurts my wrist other wise. but i did the stretch today and then did it with the supranated grip and it felt better actually. i use to get winded quick from front squat cause my body was allcrunched in but when i did it your way more open i was breathing better and focus more on the muscles. elliot for pres.

  • I'm pretty much a beginner when it comes to lifting, but if I can front squat successfully, I don't really have to worry about the "hidden weaknesses" I might have from doing back squats only?

  • this was great to watch/listen to.

  • i.... actually loved this. :D

  • Thanks for the explanation of the olympic front hold. It opens up the way for me to return to doing front squats, but I will still have to use a bar pad.

  • front squats r better but more difficult

  • muscle ups now this......*shakes Head*

  • Comment removed

  • I found that front squat easier for ya back ,

  • Hi Elliott,

    I work out from home and when it comes to squatting, I've recently taken to doing hack squats. I've found that I've been able to lift more than doing regular squats, as I don't have a squat rack and getting the weight up onto my shoulders can be a problem with heavy weights.

    Basically I was wondering if hack squats are a good substitute for 'regular' squats?

  • @AScannerDarkly22 truth is that i've never done hack squats... so i couldn't say.

  • Love your videos. I now am gonna do front squats thanks to you.

  • Thx elliot, this was some Sweet knowledge to drink

  • Yo Elliot! loving the vids. do a work study at drexel u in S&C and am looking into collegiate S&C as a career. Any chance your gonna do a great video on "cleans" and tips on ensuring triple extension is achieved?

  • @Davidson032390 i think i may have done one a few months back... search the archives.

  • Yo elliot is it possible to fix the postural problems i mean i think i have a fucked up posture . and have had a lot of lower back problem ever since i  was 11

  • @Greddybear you can avoid pain and get stronger with corrective stretching and exercise selection... but i've never seen anyone who became "fixed"

  • Yo Elliot, when I front squat I use the cross arm style. My lower arms (forearms) are a lot longer than my upper arms, which I've read can make it pretty difficult to front squat with the normal grip. Do you think I should keep stretching my biceps and working on flexibility, try a wider grip, or just stay with the cross arm style?

  • @gr8whitehyp3 i'm really not sure, id have to see how "short" your arms really are.

  • @strengthcamp The problem is I have long monkey arms, lol, so the forearms are just a lot longer than the upper arms. It's been a long time since trying with a normal grip instead of the cross arm style, the stretch you showed in the video should help some. Thanks for getting back to me.

  • do a double bicep pose!Q!Q!W!WQ!SSSS!S!!11111111­1111111!!!!

  • anybody know where i can watch a good video on front squat form? tried front squating yesterday, went well except for in my wrists and forearms, hurt like hell afterward, i suspect i'm not holding the bar right. any advice?

  • your a genius elliot thanks for the help i have a hard time with my forearm and wrist hurting when i front squat so ill try those streches

  • hey bro im one of the weak people who have been lazy for way too long (probably 50% of your youtube fans), and I appreciate you puting these tip vids out thats awesome. you got a good perspective and I respect you for what youre doing. Not many athletes are as inspiring as you. thanks peace.

  • I know this is normally not recommended but is it okay to hold the lower arms perpendicular to the floor when front squatting?

  • @TheRetardOnTheLoose I've used that to teach people the front squat, but only in the beginning.

  • Just started front squats (w/ clean hold). What I'm finding is higher rep sets are far more challenging and difficult than back squats, even with the reduced weight. Maintaining proper form after 3 or 4 reps (when using heavier weights) is as we say... a biaaaaatch! Tough to stay as upright as is necessary to keep the bar from from rolling forward and once it does, even a little, *##!! That, at my left wrist hurts like hell on the higher rep sets. Takes time. Love the challenge, though.

  • hows the knee elliot?

  • @DoNotClickUFreak haha! thanks for asking... it was bruised, took about 24 hours before it felt better.

  • My core has goten a lot stronger from front squatting and deadlifting!

    thanks elliot your still the man

  • i learned more watching this video then in my nutrition 150 class today.. haha thanks bro.. so many words..haha

  • How important are core exercises? I too hate doing abdominal exercises, however, I love doing front squats, power cleans and deadlifts. Is it still necessary to incorporate core exercises?

  • @misztal2112 it depends, if you are built like me (donald duck posture) then you NEED ab exercise... if you have a flat back, you may also have tight abs and should therefore avoid crunching of all types.

  • I very much appreciate videos like this one. I don't have the background in lifting to learn or get the most out of the exercises I have selected in the past. This helps me to select the best exercise for my aging skinny self.

  • yo elliot ! I tried it yesterday and damn i had to reduce my weight by half , pretty sore on my hands, but it was worth it !

  • Yo Elliot, does it help at all to have weightlifting shoes for front squats? never used them before for back squats. cool vids as always!!!

  • @jpeacock1234 I always use em for front squats, over head pressing and dead lifts.

  • This is a video I really needed. I actually was the first question you answered on these Yo Elliot segments. My user name was alexmartin712 when I asked the question. I am still having trouble gaining anything with my legs but I have always felt that front squats made more sense. They say to act like you are sitting back in a chair when you squat but if the weight is behind you it's kinda hard to do. If it's in the front you are counter balanced better.. Am I wrong in this?

  • @HomeGymFitness depending on how you are built, you may only get results from one variation of the squat over the other... if you feel more comfortable with the ft. squat then go for it.

  • @strengthcamp +1 for the hypolordosis. I always felt it was a fine line between excessive anterior tilt and staying neutral in a heavy back squat. Tight hip flexors have been a problem for me for a while and I could never figure out why, as well as the strength balance between anterior and posterior core musculature. Ive never tried a front squat but I might switch now. The difference it can make of your anterior core is really the key point for me.

  • What about a low bar back squat compared to the front squat? In regards to the psoas + hip flexors

  • 2:57 lol'd

  • YO ELLIOT! I TRIED FRONT SQUATS TODAY AND THEY'RE FUCKING AWESOME MAN!

  • This is bullshit - NOTHING is better that real deep front squat, period.

  • @satandueglemsk that can't apply to every single person

  • Yo Elliot, I weigh about 60kg, I'm a bit of an athlete, my health in all aspects is quite balanced including ofcourse muscle development. As for workouts I classic pushups/situps/squats, but one thing I've noticed is that I sort of developed a 2-pac on my stomach. The upper area of my stomach appears to be ripped, tough and in good shape. The lower area looks as if it's been untouched..now if you ask me a 2 pac isn't a good look. So Elliot, how do I make this 2-pack into a 6-pack?

  • @KakashiOwnage

    drop bodyfat %

  • LMFAO 2:53 made me CREASE UP!!

  • This guy just loves what he does...

  • @heaneyboxing its true :)

  • This was really helpful thanks Elliott

  • awesome question and answer!

  • This man has single handedly saved my low back from a lot of future pain.

  • thank you so much for this video. i just started incorporating front squats into my routine last week.

    2:57 lmao!

  • i watched all ur videos and u helped me a lot , thx very much