Squats aren't functional!

[ZKP]

Comm.'s

Well...

I have heard many reasons not to do squats and the only one that has ever been good is "I don't like them. I know I should do them but they're just too much work so I don't." Last time I checked, your lower back was an essential link in the chain and was supposed to be one of the hard parts of a complete squat, adding to what makes it such a difficult and productive exercise. Well yeah, you're limited by the strength of your core in some respects. That's part of the point! It's a multiple joint balancing act as much as anything else. Maximum output? I can leg press several hundred pounds more than i could squat, so could anyone. Does that make the leg press more productive? What about maximum output!?

Over intellectualized bullsh@# if you ask me. Rather than coming up with flaky reasons not to squat, focus and use that energy to get those boys repping with a he// of a lot more than 230. A perfect example of over thinking yourself into absudity.

[SoGun]

I will still be squatting. Its about posterior chain. The grip is the weak link in the dead lift. Is the dead lift a grip exercise?

[irongpj]

I watched this clip in complete "awe" myself. First off, the discussion only seems to discuss one aspect of squatting (whether or not it is the best leg exercise for training athletes). He doesn't seem to be telling people not to squat, just that it may not be the best exercise to train athletes.

My questions to him would be: what about the hormonal benefits you acheive from squatting that promotes overall hypertrophy? What about the stabilizing muscles involved in squatting...doesn't squatting benefit this? What about the neurological benefits of your body supporting 230 pounds regularly vs. 115 pounds?

And let's not forget, squatting is a sport in itself. If you eliminate the squat, bye bye powerlifting.

I've seen Boyle speak. He is one smart dude but I think he needs to clarify what he he trying to say in regards to squatting. I think he could lose some respect on this one.

[JLB]

Well,

I have just gone back to back squatting after not doing it for a couple of years (I just got Rippetoe's book STARTING STRENGTH and the DVD, both fantastic primers on the basic lifts)...I listened to the Boyle excerpt...I suspect that his real message is elsewhere...on the rest of the DVD, if you'll only shell out some bucks...

The reasoning he provided on the excerpt didn't make much sense.

[greg57]

I put myself in Bloyle's situation, what is the easiest most time-tested method to sell a book on one legged squats (or whatever his product is but I think I am pretty close here) Slam on the competition. That's why we make fun of Frankenstein body builders and mullets here. It is like everything else in marketing, you can convince people your product rocks or that the competition sucks, it's kinda like politics too in that manner.

[alit4]

the reasons for not squatting given in the clip seem pretty lame to me. there are plenty of reasons for doing unilateral work to even imbalances yes, but to elimanate the full excercise because freshman college guys find it hard, that's weak.

[ZachariahSalazarRKC]

Squats are functional if they help your goal. If you dont have a real goal which many in the fitness biz actually dont then i always try an include one serious axial loading lift: a squat, a clean, a deadlift; at least a heavy eccentric loaded kb snatch.
Functional= whats your function. If you are a climber squats may matter little. powerlifters need them by definition.
All of this assumes heavy barbell back squats. i prefer front squats. ALL of my cleans perform squat patterns as part of their training but they just might not load them heavy if it doesnt help them with THEIR function. zzzzzzzzzzzzzz