Squelchy
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Hello all, first time poster here. Basically I'm having a debate on another forum about how essential squats and deadlifts are on gaining, and I've been challenged to create a thread here questioning my points.
First, let me clarify thed efinition of the word ESSENTIAL for anyone who doesn't know (such as one chap in the other debate). Essential means completely necessary. Not "very helpful," not "almost necessary," but COMPLETELY necessary.
Now, let me clarify the debate before asking for opinions. One of the guys in this debate is saying that squats and deads are ESSENTIAL to building muscle. My personal position is that they are incredibly useful in doing so and almost everybody should have them in their routine, but are NOT essential any more than any other exercise is completely necessary for building muscle.
I have given several examples to prove my point. One such eample was Dorian Yates, 6 time Olympia winner who at 5'10" stood on stage at an unbelievably lean and dry 260+lbs. Apparently this example is somehow invalid because he's an "old" bodybuilder, as if this somehow invalidates his insane size that he built without squats and deadlifts. I also used examples of paraplegic bodybuilders (who you can find on Google) who can't even move their legs yet have still built huge levels of mass without squatting and deadlifting. I even used myself as an example who continued to gain well with a fractured ankle for more than 6 months without training my legs.
Another thing I mentioned is that while squats and deads are great for most people, for some people because of their height, limb length, leverages, differing muscles dominances, etc. that squats and deads might be better replaced with other exercises.
So basically, my question is this. Bearing in mind the examples of people who have built incredible mass without squatting and deadlifting, who is right? To me it's a no-brainer. They're incredibly useful and most people should be doing them but are not ESSENTIAL (i.e. totally necessary and impossible to get by without), otherwise there would be no paraplegic bodybuilders at all and Dorian Yates never would've won an Olympia. Unfortunately this other chap lacks common sense and openmindedness.
So, please, thoughts?
First, let me clarify thed efinition of the word ESSENTIAL for anyone who doesn't know (such as one chap in the other debate). Essential means completely necessary. Not "very helpful," not "almost necessary," but COMPLETELY necessary.
Now, let me clarify the debate before asking for opinions. One of the guys in this debate is saying that squats and deads are ESSENTIAL to building muscle. My personal position is that they are incredibly useful in doing so and almost everybody should have them in their routine, but are NOT essential any more than any other exercise is completely necessary for building muscle.
I have given several examples to prove my point. One such eample was Dorian Yates, 6 time Olympia winner who at 5'10" stood on stage at an unbelievably lean and dry 260+lbs. Apparently this example is somehow invalid because he's an "old" bodybuilder, as if this somehow invalidates his insane size that he built without squats and deadlifts. I also used examples of paraplegic bodybuilders (who you can find on Google) who can't even move their legs yet have still built huge levels of mass without squatting and deadlifting. I even used myself as an example who continued to gain well with a fractured ankle for more than 6 months without training my legs.
Another thing I mentioned is that while squats and deads are great for most people, for some people because of their height, limb length, leverages, differing muscles dominances, etc. that squats and deads might be better replaced with other exercises.
So basically, my question is this. Bearing in mind the examples of people who have built incredible mass without squatting and deadlifting, who is right? To me it's a no-brainer. They're incredibly useful and most people should be doing them but are not ESSENTIAL (i.e. totally necessary and impossible to get by without), otherwise there would be no paraplegic bodybuilders at all and Dorian Yates never would've won an Olympia. Unfortunately this other chap lacks common sense and openmindedness.
So, please, thoughts?