Article: Too Tall to Squat?
- Thread starter The Press
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Gutterpump
Banned
6'4" and too tall to squat? Sounds like a cop-out and more like 'too weak to squat'.
Man up, fix your form, fix mobility issues, get a good belt and squat like a champ.
Source: I'm a 6'2" squatter
Man up, fix your form, fix mobility issues, get a good belt and squat like a champ.
Source: I'm a 6'2" squatter
Yolked
Member
Not just height but also flexibility in hips and ankles... and its not that they can't squat, it's that it's hard to get good quad development from REGULAR back squats. I'm 6'1" and after a while my ass only got bigger from squatting. Quads just kinda stopped reacting... even high reps. Which I've always done for legs. I backed off squats only doing a few heavy sets and doing more leg presses but didn't really get going till I switched to front squats.. I was doing 455 for 20 reps in a few months and quads were blowing up... shoes with a little bit of a heel helps too... or a little mat under heels..
Gutterpump
Banned
Yep I agree. I no longer do very high volume squats, but I squat heavy for low reps - multiple times per week. I've also played around with stance, and now I squat a bit wider with my toes out a bit, and my squat #'s are shooting up. Stance is a VERY personal thing though as everyone's mechanics are different. And this is also while I have two herniated disks. All I had to do was work on back strength for a while, especially upper / mid back strength and on the erectors/core, while fixing mobility issues in my hips. I also got a decent pair of shoes in the past few years (Adidas Adipowers), and now after all this, I'm loving squats again.
bono1132
Member
This! Too tall to go with regular stance, never get deep enough or my knees go over toes, get that stance nice and wide point the toes out and crush it!
felipelpr
New member
I am a 6'2" and I also squat, but the guy is 6'4". That's relative taller than us.
There is no too tall to squat? Maybe not. Although proportions may influence on the exercise performance/coordination/execution. We can't deny this.
Gutterpump
Banned
Definitely can't deny it. We were discussing these exact things above.
Yolked
Member
Lol... wow.. yeah me too.. I had a bulging disc (l4-l5) and had microdisctectomy a few years ago after trying to get by with therapy and exercise AND painkillers (another story there) for a few too many years. I always heard horror stories about back surgery.. so always trying to find a better way to squat... always watching what other tall guys do and DEFINITELY paid attention to Arnold's leg routine when I was really young because he was tall... lol
Gutterpump
Banned
Aww man I know your pain! I started doing hot yoga a year ago and it helped me immensely to get back under a barbell. I started doing high volume squats once I was comfortable enough to squat again, but this only resulted in back spasms. So I did what most people WOULDN'T DO (but which is actually the smart thing to do) and instead of staying away from squats, I started squatting heavier (for less reps) with more frequency!! Ohhh man this was a God-send for my back!
I have to say though, I make YTW's, reverse flies, incline (facedown) shrugs, back extensions and such a huge part of my routine now. This has helped me to become very stable under the bar.
Olestra
Member
That used to be my excuse. I was too weak to squat anything remotely resembling a respectable weight so I just used my lanky frame as an excuse. Since manning up I've made great gains and my workouts have been 100x better. Never again.
Source: I'm 6'2 as well.
Gutterpump
Banned
For whomever negative repped me for my first post:
LOL - did you bother to read the rest of the thread? Apparently, everyone in here agrees with what I've said.
I don't really care how tall people are. Anyone can squat as long as they fix their mobility issues (hips, hyper lordosis, etc), fix/adjust your form for what works for YOU (this could take a coach if people aren't good at doing their own research), get good gear (IE lifting shoes and a belt), and just damn squat. People need to work ****ing harder and stop making excuses. If people are injured, then yeah, stop doing things that aggravate the injury unless you're in a position (like I was) to start squatting again.
There was a reason I wrote my initial post the way I did... it gets a reaction, and it makes people think... and hopefully will be a bit motivating.
LOL - did you bother to read the rest of the thread? Apparently, everyone in here agrees with what I've said.
I don't really care how tall people are. Anyone can squat as long as they fix their mobility issues (hips, hyper lordosis, etc), fix/adjust your form for what works for YOU (this could take a coach if people aren't good at doing their own research), get good gear (IE lifting shoes and a belt), and just damn squat. People need to work ****ing harder and stop making excuses. If people are injured, then yeah, stop doing things that aggravate the injury unless you're in a position (like I was) to start squatting again.
There was a reason I wrote my initial post the way I did... it gets a reaction, and it makes people think... and hopefully will be a bit motivating.
Gutterpump
Banned
When I first started lifting, I've got to say I shied away from squatting because it hurt my lower back. I thought it was due to my height (originally). After getting some coaching, and doing research, I just started squatting, 3 times a week... and heavy (while also doing some mobility work)... and I got good at it, without all the pain.
I've had injuries that have set me back (non-gym related injuries), but I still move forward. Injuries just make that forward momentum a little slower.
Guaranteed, if someone is a bad squatter - and they just do a bit of hip mobilization to start with, and start a routine similar to "Starting Strength", they will become very solid in not only the squat but all the big lifts.
MistaFunnyMan
New member
I wouldn't say its a cop out for a taller chap to avoid or dislike squats as they are a tough exercise and the longer your limbs and back, the harder it is.
However, they are an exercise for everyone and even tall blokes should do them. Your feet placement is key and wearing a belt I would say is a good idea.
I'm 6'7'' and squats make up the majority of my quad workouts. I will sometimes switch to hack squats if I feel my knees or back is taking to much strain, but then again if I make sure my form is spot on then that doesn't happen too much.
Ego should be completely eliminated from a tall guys attempt at squatting. As the mechanics are tougher, then a taller man needs to start from a lighter weight and work slowly up. In the end you can get up to the more serious end of poundage's, but it will take longer compared to a shorter person.
However, they are an exercise for everyone and even tall blokes should do them. Your feet placement is key and wearing a belt I would say is a good idea.
I'm 6'7'' and squats make up the majority of my quad workouts. I will sometimes switch to hack squats if I feel my knees or back is taking to much strain, but then again if I make sure my form is spot on then that doesn't happen too much.
Ego should be completely eliminated from a tall guys attempt at squatting. As the mechanics are tougher, then a taller man needs to start from a lighter weight and work slowly up. In the end you can get up to the more serious end of poundage's, but it will take longer compared to a shorter person.
Gutterpump
Banned
Fully agree with ya. We got into a good convo in here about all this. I was just being inflammatory at first to spark up a good convo and get people motivated hehe
Yolked
Member
Lol!
Olestra
Member
This was my exact problem for a while. Well-said.
