Squat Articles

Articles Tagged with Squat

How to Overcome Squat Sticking Points

The barbell squat is an exercise that nearly all athletes can use to improve their...

Sun Apr 06, 2025

The Front Squat

The front squat is a multi-joint exercise that emphasizes the anterior chain while remaining capable of adequately training the posterior chain muscles. This movement helps to improve the strength of the quadriceps, hip flexors, back, and trunk. This variation is often one of the first squat variations we use when training athletes, as it helps to improve strength and technique in the competition squat directly.

Sun Mar 09, 2025

The Safety Bar Squat

One of the specialty barbells regularly used at Westside Barbell is the safety squat bar, also known as the SSB. Aside from the giant cambered barbell, the SSB is the most commonly featured specialty barbell in a Conjugate Method training program. Considering the anterior chain emphasis this barbell provides, it is a barbell that should be in regular rotation for all athletes.

Fri Jun 09, 2023

The Reverse Hack Squat

The reverse hack squat is an accessory exercise that can be useful for any athlete regardless of sport or training focus. Athletes will always need stronger glutes, hamstrings, and calves, so a machine that can be used in this manner will always remain an appropriate option when selecting accessory exercises. Considering the anterior training options also provided, you can see that the hack squat is a valuable training tool.

Sat Mar 11, 2023

Proper Execution of a Box Squat

Over the years, Westside Barbell has utilized the box squat to create some of the strongest, most explosive squatters and deadlifters. Additionally, we have improved many athletes' strength, speed, and explosive power via the box squat.

Fri May 20, 2022

The Giant Cambered Bar: King of All Specialty Barbells

The use of specialty bars for sport-specific training is nothing new. Many years ago, Louie demonstrated to the strength and conditioning world the effectiveness of specialty bars when used to train powerlifters and other athletes.

Today, gyms worldwide are buying specialty bars, accommodating resistance, and specialty machines to give their clients the best training tools. Once again, Louie was right. Formerly, folks criticized Lou and Westside over the use of specialty bars, and now the entire powerlifting world embraces them.

Wed May 04, 2022

Box Squats for Raw Powerlifters - Execution and Programming

After implementing box squats into your training for a few months, you can expect to be stronger, faster, and more explosive. The box squat offers a safer way to squat heavy weights for max effort while also holding the lifter to competition standard depth. When used for dynamic effort workouts, lifters improve their rate of force development, resulting in improved bar speeds and sports performance.