Rippetoe's Squat Form

Hanley · 19-02-2009 01:30AM #1

http://media.crossfit.com/cf-video/CrossFit_RipSquats315x10.wmv

Discuss.

BobbyOLeary · 19-02-2009 01:39AM

Youtube version

Rip Squats 315lbs x 10

Hanley · 19-02-2009 01:44AM

While we're at it, boards.ie version;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FVKEl4Wxoqc

Colm_OReilly · 19-02-2009 09:18AM

Rip actually critiques his squat on his Q&A forum, but I can't find the thread atm.

kevpants · 19-02-2009 11:32AM

On rep 3 it gets a little heavy on the way back up so he forgets his "head down" mantra and looks up a little. Driving his head back and chest up, just like he should be doing anyway. Subsequently on rep 4 he's feeling a little shaky and doesn't quite get depth. In my opinion. Though maybe he did but he definitely didn't go AS deep.

Sorry Rip, Looking down in the squat = fail.

EDIT: Actually as the reps go on you can see he lifts his head a little more each time. He's just dying to squat properly but it's too late to change his teachings now!

Transform · 19-02-2009 02:07PM

Jesus put your bloody head up mate - never looked into this guy but overall its not too impressive and have seen better here.

He is a bit on the chunky monkey looking side also, could do with a bit of cardio. wraps and all for just 315lbs - 6.5 out of 10 from me. Transform Coach says - needs more work and lift your bloody head!!

Jimmy Bottlehead · 19-02-2009 02:11PM

Wow. Not impressive. And after all I've heard about Rip being some sort of God from a few people on here.

Kevpants, can you look dead ahead while squatting or is it perferable to look up (about 45 degrees or so)?

Roper · 19-02-2009 04:09PM

Some coaches can't play the game, doesn't mean they're not good coaches.

Transform · 19-02-2009 04:47PM

well its ok but not from someone that is putting himself out there as an expert.

BossArky · 19-02-2009 04:52PM

I have not yet watched the video above (as in work).

Hopefully it won't have me regretting the money I spent on Amazon for the second edition of Starting Strength :eek:

DM-BM · 19-02-2009 04:54PM

@ Transform and Kev

Can you explain what is so wrong with these, in detail?

Have you read Starting Strength, and do you understand his reasons for teaching the squat the way he does?

I think a 53 year old doing 143kg x 10, is pretty good going, a lot more weight for a lot more reps, than a lot of people on here.

Roper · 19-02-2009 04:55PM

Transform wrote: »

well its ok but not from someone that is putting himself out there as an expert.

I don't agree. I can list off athletics, boxing, gymnastics and lots of other coaches who have never performed the sport.

DM-BM · 19-02-2009 05:00PM

BossArky wrote: »

I have not yet watched the video above (as in work).

Hopefully it won't have me regretting the money I spent on Amazon for the second edition of Starting Strength :eek:

Why would it, there are a lot of 20 something arm chair experts on here, who think they've learnt more in 5 years lifting, than some one coaching for 30. Just because you can lift, doesn't mean you will be any good teaching it.

Watch the video, read and understand the book, try his techniques and make your own mind up.

I may have people wrong, but sometimes it seems, some people dismiss his methods, without reading or understanding the book.

g'em · 19-02-2009 05:01PM

Roper wrote: »

I can list off athletics, boxing, gymnastics and lots of other coaches who have never performed the sport.

How many of them are expert coaches though?

As an athlete I'll have more respect for someone who can walk the walk as well as talk the talk - someone who knows the highs and lows and the practical aspects of my sport. the point here is that for someone who touts themself as such an expert in a given field and purports that their training method is one of, if not THE, best going... Rip's squatting is sh!t.

DM-BM · 19-02-2009 05:08PM

g'em wrote: »

How many of them are expert coaches though?

As an athlete I'll have more respect for someone who can walk the walk as well as talk the talk - someone who knows the highs and lows and the practical aspects of my sport. the point here is that for someone who touts themself as such an expert in a given field and purports that their training method is one of, if not THE, best going... Rip's squatting is sh!t.

What's **** about it?

Jimmy Bottlehead · 19-02-2009 05:10PM

DM-BM wrote: »

What's **** about it?

His feet are pointing out too far aren't they? And (I'm VERY open to correction here) his knees seem to be going forward too much?

g'em · 19-02-2009 05:10PM

A 53 year old man squatting 140kg+ for reps is great, but given who this particular 53 year old is I expected a lot more. His form seems quite inconsistent and I really don't see the logic behind the head down thing.

DM-BM · 19-02-2009 05:17PM

Jimmy Bottlehead wrote: »

His feet are pointing out too far aren't they? And (I'm VERY open to correction here) his knees seem to be going forward too much?

It depends on what you believe a good squat looks like, as for his knees, they go less forward than some videos on this board.

DM-BM · 19-02-2009 05:19PM

g'em wrote: »

I really don't see the logic behind the head down thing.

Do you mean you've read the book and disagree, or you don't know why he advocates this?

Hanley · 19-02-2009 05:20PM

DM-BM wrote: »

What's **** about it?

The big breath at the top. He should be breathing into his belly. Look at what happens after he does it, his chest drops.

The fact he drops into the hole and is soft as sh!t. Which is directly related to the point above and the fact he never tightens up before descending.

He’s looking down and falling forward. Fancy that.

Why’s he snapping the bar at the top? We get it, you’re “explosive”. How about some explosiveness out of the hole.

And that’s without mentioning the fact it’s 140kg x10 off someone who’s been training for what, 30-35 years?

There may be some armchair experts here, but it beats being an armchair fan boy.

Hanley · 19-02-2009 05:21PM

DM-BM wrote: »

Do you mean you've read the book and disagree, or you don't know why he advocates this?

Because he wants his lifters to fall forward like he does?

How much do you squat? Have you tried his techniques with heavy weights? Do you realise how ridiculous they are if you're squatting 1.5 - 2x bodyweight?

g'em · 19-02-2009 05:25PM

DM-BM wrote: »

Do you mean you've read the book and disagree, or you don't know why he advocates this?

Both.

Hanley wrote: »

He’s looking down and falling forward. Fancy that.

What ^^ he said. Granted, it's a while since I've read the book, but doesn't he say you should look forward for squats in it? I rate the book highly myself, I've no issues with it. My issue is simply with the form of the guy behind it.

BossArky · 19-02-2009 05:25PM

DM-BM wrote: »

Why would it, there are a lot of 20 something arm chair experts on here, who think they've learnt more in 5 years lifting, than some one coaching for 30. Just because you can lift, doesn't mean you will be any good teaching it.

Watch the video, read and understand the book, try his techniques and make your own mind up.

I may have people wrong, but sometimes it seems, some people dismiss his methods, without reading or understanding the book.

I have read the 1st edition and refer to it every now and again. However, it is a shody electronic pdf version. I'm sure many on here have seen the one I mean.

I want the book itself so that I can sit down in my fireside armchair, pipe in hand, to ponder technique.

Personally I found his info quite helpful. Still, I will be shocked if his squat looks crap when I take a look at the above video tonight.

DM-BM · 19-02-2009 05:31PM

Hanley wrote: »

The big breath at the top. He should be breathing into his belly. Look at what happens after he does it, his chest drops.

The fact he drops into the hole and is soft as sh!t. Which is directly related to the point above and the fact he never tightens up before descending.

He’s looking down and falling forward. Fancy that.

Why’s he snapping the bar at the top? We get it, you’re “explosive”. How about some explosiveness out of the hole.

And that’s without mentioning the fact it’s 140kg x10 off someone who’s been training for what, 30-35 years?

There may be some armchair experts here, but it beats being an armchair fan boy.

I not a fanboy, i just think that if we are going to discuss form, then lets do so, but a lot of the comments so far don't discuss anything, they just say he's sh!t and even transform mentioned he's chubby- what has that got to do with teaching the squat?

If you think the form is bad, fine but at least explain why, i know you have just done so, but most posters didn't.

Now i am not claiming these squats to be perfect, and for what it's worth neither does he.He doesn't adhere to his own advice in this set, but is that enough evedince to dismiss his teachings?

Roper · 19-02-2009 05:31PM

g'em wrote: »

How many of them are expert coaches though?

Plenty. There's many, many more people who were average athletes and great coaches. Cus D'Amato is the boxing coach who springs to mind first.

Jimmy Bottlehead · 19-02-2009 05:33PM

DM-BM wrote: »

It depends on what you believe a good squat looks like, as for his knees, they go less forward than some videos on this board.

True, but people on this board (well most

) don't put themselves forward as an expert coach.

DM-BM · 19-02-2009 05:46PM

Hanley wrote: »

Because he wants his lifters to fall forward like he does?

How much do you squat? Have you tried his techniques with heavy weights? Do you realise how ridiculous they are if you're squatting 1.5 - 2x bodyweight?

So far the most i've squated is 132.5kg x 5 , 132.5kg x3, 132.5kgx 2 @88kg done attempting to employ his techniques.The problem i have Hanley, is having read SS and constantly dipping back into it to try to improve from when it slips, it has become the only way i know.

When i see people here or on other forums giving out advice, well it's never going to be as comprehensive as the squat chapter in SS, so i find it hard to try other ways as i don't have as much of a reference to go off as i do with SS.

When you say "falling forward" are you referring to back angle or knees going forward?
He does advocate leaning forward to get the bar over the middle of the foot.

g'em · 19-02-2009 05:49PM

Roper wrote: »

Plenty. There's many, many more people who were average athletes and great coaches.

Ah, this I agree with, but initially you said:

Roper wrote: »

I can list off athletics, boxing, gymnastics and lots of other coaches who have never performed the sport.

I'd find it hard to believe that someone who has never competed/ performed at high level (even badly!) would have the knowledge and experience to be a brilliant coach.

DM-BM · 19-02-2009 05:53PM

g'em wrote: »

Ah, this I agree with, but initially you said:

I'd find it hard to believe that someone who has never competed/ performed at high level (even badly!) would have the knowledge and experience to be a brilliant coach.

He was a competative powerlifter, before he became a coach, i don't think he was very sucessful, max deadlift was 611lbs. I think he was also a US team oly lifting coach.

MS2008 · 19-02-2009 05:53PM

g'em wrote: »

How many of them are expert coaches though?

As an athlete I'll have more respect for someone who can walk the walk as well as talk the talk - someone who knows the highs and lows and the practical aspects of my sport. the point here is that for someone who touts themself as such an expert in a given field and purports that their training method is one of, if not THE, best going... Rip's squatting is sh!t.

I wouldn't buy into that at all.. Many of the best coaches weren't experts themselves. As long as the coach has good ideas and can improve the athlete then who cares how good they are or were!

celestial · 19-02-2009 06:24PM

Can't wait til Colm O Reilly gets here

Rippetoe's Squat Form

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