October 17, 2004

3 responses to Anybody seen my quads?

1. Scott Says:
   October 22nd, 2004 at 12:07 am

   I’m curious to know if you’ve tried any Hack Squats lately (the barbell variety), and whether they upset the back at all.

   There’s certainly a bit of lower back involvement, but not as much as a standard squat. The benefit would be similar to the Zerchers - a nice compound movement that will strengthen the quads, as well as working the muscles needed for a regular squat.

2. Kris Says:
   October 22nd, 2004 at 12:20 am

   Good idea. I’ve seen that you’ve done quite a bit of them lately. Last did hack squats with a barbell at the beginning of my lifting career, and then using the variety where the bar is held tightly against the buttocks with heels elevated on a block (read punching pad filled with rice). The good thing about a hack squat, or deadlift behind the back for that matter, is that it makes it hard to lean forward excessively. I also seem to associate the movement with a hellish quad pump… Tell you what, I’ll give them a go on Wednesday.

3. Kris Says:
   October 22nd, 2004 at 12:25 am

   Did some quick googling and found the following by the man himself, Louie Simmons:

   “Various types of squatting should also be done to increase the deadlift. Michael Brugger of Germany related to me that the Olympic-style squat was his favorite exercise to increase his deadlift of 887. Eddie Coppin of Belgium made an 826 deadlift at a bodyweight of 186. The front squat was a major part of his training. In the early 1970s, George Clark pulled 700 at 181 and just missed 735, the world record held by Vince Anello. George’s main exercise was the hack squat deadlift, with the bar held behind his back. These are three examples of great lifters using a form of the squat to raise their deadlift.”
   http://www.deepsquatter.com/strength/archives/ls22.htm

   Time to resurrect the quads. Really.

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