Dumbbell Squats
- Thread starter TH1
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we have a lot of young members here. i'm like a broken record - you're still growing, don't do anything drastic. you should have some professional isntruction so you don't hurt yourself !
This is the second or third time I’ve seen you post this, and I really don't understand why... Maybe you're implying that he shouldn't pump himself full of steroids and supplements, but he never even mentioned anything of the sort. I don't think dumbbell squats are "drastic" by any means. In fact, it's probably a good way for him to build up his strength without worries of pinning himself under a barbell.
TH1 - If you want to train and workout, then do it and don't sit around avoiding all things "drastic". You need to push yourself a bit to grow and see gains, but do it smartly. Use a spotter, be aware if you’re feeling any recurring pains, and be sure to eat and rest well.
Most importantly, train hard and have fun!
Question About Form.
Everyone says to use the correct form. I am all for that. BUT -- what IS the frikkin' correct form? I went to 12 different sites and saw 12 different "correct" forms for a dumbbell squat. Some of them had the dumbbells overhead and some had them by the side. Some people squatted until the dumbbells hit the floor and some squatted until the dumbbells were just a little past the knees. Some people say to keep the back straight and some say to keep the head and chest in a straight line but to move the upper body forward as your legs bend deeper. SO, again, what IS the correct form?
I am sorry if I sound a little frustrated but I am a total beginner and I am trying to do things right and finding that no matter how I do it, some expert says that I am doing it just 100% TOTALLY WRONG! I want JUST ONE RIGHT WAY of doing a dumbbell squat! Is that too much to ask?
Everyone says to use the correct form. I am all for that. BUT -- what IS the frikkin' correct form? I went to 12 different sites and saw 12 different "correct" forms for a dumbbell squat. Some of them had the dumbbells overhead and some had them by the side. Some people squatted until the dumbbells hit the floor and some squatted until the dumbbells were just a little past the knees. Some people say to keep the back straight and some say to keep the head and chest in a straight line but to move the upper body forward as your legs bend deeper. SO, again, what IS the correct form?
I am sorry if I sound a little frustrated but I am a total beginner and I am trying to do things right and finding that no matter how I do it, some expert says that I am doing it just 100% TOTALLY WRONG! I want JUST ONE RIGHT WAY of doing a dumbbell squat! Is that too much to ask?
Really?? There is def a BIG difference. I think dumbell squats are way to easy. I can hang 150lb dumbells from my side and squat that many times. But if you put 300lbs on a bar and rest it on your neck, well....thats a whole different story
To the OP, in any squat, if you wanna grow, you have to squat to where you thighs are parallel or below parallel to the ground. But more importantly never.......NEVER sacrifice form for weight!!
Yep. The biomechanics of those two squats is completely different. Squatting with a bar on the traps is much better (i.e., more difficult). With the weight above your fulcrum, it's more difficult than DB squats (where the weight is below your fulcrum). You also need a much stronger core when the bar is sitting on your traps.
But DB squats are still better than doing nothing.
CrazyShortGuy, there are actually different ways to squat, depending on your discipline. Maybe this will help to answer some of your questions:
T-Nation.com | Olympic vs. Powerlifting Squats
Bodybuilding.com - Jeremy Likness - Utilizing Squat Variations!
If you want to squat like a powerlifter: The Squat
I started squatting doing box squats so I would learn when to break parallel. I find the powerlifting squat technique to be the best suited for me, probably because it's the first squatting technique I learned.
Enjoy!
The best way to answer: depends on the person, and it depends on the situation. Generally, my idea of a squat is getting as low as you can without effecting proper body mechanics (rounded back, heel coming up...etc.) However, a lot of people aren't capable of getting that low, so we improvise. A squat holding the weight overhead is considered an overhead squat and is completely separate from a regular squat.
Things to consider: please do not round your back, please do not bring your heels up, please keep head as it will help the first part.
Overhead Squat vs. Normal Squat.
Thanks for the responses to my question in re corect squat form. They were helpful. However, I need a further clarification. Functional Train said that an overhead squat is different from any other type of squat. How is it different? Does it exercise the upper body rather than the lower body? Is it similar to a barbell squat? What are the benefits (if any) of an overhead squat? I assume there must be SOME benefit or else nobody would be doing it, let alone talking about it.
Thanks for the responses to my question in re corect squat form. They were helpful. However, I need a further clarification. Functional Train said that an overhead squat is different from any other type of squat. How is it different? Does it exercise the upper body rather than the lower body? Is it similar to a barbell squat? What are the benefits (if any) of an overhead squat? I assume there must be SOME benefit or else nobody would be doing it, let alone talking about it.
An overhead squat is where you hold a barbell with a snatch grip over your head and then do a regular squat.
Do not do this if you have never done OH squats because chances are you will drop the bar on your head and/or injure yourself.
Start off with a broom stick. Seriously. Most people can't do an OH squat with a broom stick because they lose their balance (either because they don't have the necessary range of motion required in their shoulders to hold the bar steady when going down into the squat or because their core strength is not sufficient to control the weight and the movement).
The beauty of OH squats is that they have the ability to immediately point out any technique problems/issues you have with regular squats. You can then correct them and your regular squats will be just that much better
Do not do this if you have never done OH squats because chances are you will drop the bar on your head and/or injure yourself.
Start off with a broom stick. Seriously. Most people can't do an OH squat with a broom stick because they lose their balance (either because they don't have the necessary range of motion required in their shoulders to hold the bar steady when going down into the squat or because their core strength is not sufficient to control the weight and the movement).
The beauty of OH squats is that they have the ability to immediately point out any technique problems/issues you have with regular squats. You can then correct them and your regular squats will be just that much better
Overhead Squats.
I_Love_Muscle -- it is good to know that overhead squats are strictly a barbell exercise. In my humble opinion, barbells are for bodybuilders -- professional or otherwise. I have zero intention of lifting 50 lbs. on each of my eyelashes.
I just want to get in shape and look reasonably good so that when I go to the beach, the young women in sexy bikinis don't have to take time out from volleyball to puke when they see my chest and abs.
So, for now, I am going to stick to the dumb-bell exercises and not worry about stuff like overhead squats.
I_Love_Muscle -- it is good to know that overhead squats are strictly a barbell exercise. In my humble opinion, barbells are for bodybuilders -- professional or otherwise. I have zero intention of lifting 50 lbs. on each of my eyelashes.
I just want to get in shape and look reasonably good so that when I go to the beach, the young women in sexy bikinis don't have to take time out from volleyball to puke when they see my chest and abs.
So, for now, I am going to stick to the dumb-bell exercises and not worry about stuff like overhead squats.
WOW! Thanks for this!!! i watched 2 of them and well.....wow. I think watching these and correcting all my flaws ill be able to get 500 in no time.
Cheers
Barbells are for anybody
I'm female and I am not a bodybuilder. I have been using barbells for a very, very long time.Barbells are used for bilateral work. Dumbbells are used for unilateral work. There are benefits in using both.
What is Bilateral Work?
I_Love_Muscle -- I work out both sides of my body with the dumb-bells. Sometimes I work both sides at the same time and sometimes one side at a time. I assume that by bilateral work you mean that barbells force a person to work out both sides at the same time, all the time.
I will admit that the main reason I prefer dumb-bells is the lack of space. I live in a small apartment and I have no space to set up a barbell rack. I could join a gym, though, if barbells are absolutely essential to strength training.
Women are biologically different so their muscles don't grow in the same way as men. The men who do barbells generally have muscles sticking out everywhere and they look ugly and unhealthy. I want to look good and remain healthy.
I_Love_Muscle -- I work out both sides of my body with the dumb-bells. Sometimes I work both sides at the same time and sometimes one side at a time. I assume that by bilateral work you mean that barbells force a person to work out both sides at the same time, all the time.
I will admit that the main reason I prefer dumb-bells is the lack of space. I live in a small apartment and I have no space to set up a barbell rack. I could join a gym, though, if barbells are absolutely essential to strength training.
Women are biologically different so their muscles don't grow in the same way as men. The men who do barbells generally have muscles sticking out everywhere and they look ugly and unhealthy. I want to look good and remain healthy.
Yes, that is what I mean
The basic difference between men and women is the amount of male hormone surging through our system. Our muscles still respond exactly the same way, though
Using barbells is not a one-way ticket to acquiring "muscles sticking out everywhere". It has to do with what type of training you are doing and how much weight you are using. (BTW, I don't happen to think that looks ugly or unhealthy. In fact, I find it extremely visually pleasing.)
I think the men you are referring to who use barbells are most likely using performance enhancing substances. Increasing muscle mass to have "muscles sticking out everywhere" literally takes years.
I wouldn't worry about looking like that if I were you. Most men will NEVER look like that unless they are prepared to work very, very hard in the gym for many, many years and adopt a strict diet specific to their discipline.