Journal Comments for Matt Z
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- Deific Wizard of Sagacity
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Journal Comments for Matt Z
Please post any questions or comments about my workout journal here.

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- Deific Wizard of Sagacity
- Posts: 4505
- Joined: Tue Apr 25, 2006 1:19 pm
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Thanks. I have pretty short arms, which helps a lot with the presses. Meanwhile, I hadn't done front squats in months before today, but I want to start doing them more often. One thing I really like about front squats is that I don't need a spotter, since I can just drop the bar if I get stuck. This is a real consideration, since I don't have a regular training partner, and most of the guys at my gym don't know how to spot someone properly on regular back squats. As a result, I'm often end up cutting sets short when I back squat for fear of failing mid-rep and hurting myself, but with front squats I can train really hard without fear.
PS.) I was using my Stingray when I front squatted this morning.
PS.) I was using my Stingray when I front squatted this morning.
Well it is very difficult to spot a front squat so it is a good think you can drop it easily. Comparatively, it is easy to spot a back squat if you are just a little above incompetent but a lot of guys think they are somehow unmanly if they get too near a guy and spot the correct way and put a hand on his chest or something to keep him upright.
I have never used a sting ray and maybe used a manta ray a couple times but I dont really like it all that much. I either have naturally large traps and shoulders or got them that way from a lot of olympic lifting and throwing in high school so I rarely have troubles getting the bar in a good position. On the flip side, benching with longer arms is really hard and I have a really hard time getting a great groove sometimes.
I think a combination of front squats and various deadlifts can be just as beneficial as back squats and deadlifts. You just have to work with what you got. Have you ever tried sumo deadlifting? To me, that works the glutes more than any back squat but maybe that is just for me. Good way to go if you dont have a spotter and want to go up in weight.
I have never used a sting ray and maybe used a manta ray a couple times but I dont really like it all that much. I either have naturally large traps and shoulders or got them that way from a lot of olympic lifting and throwing in high school so I rarely have troubles getting the bar in a good position. On the flip side, benching with longer arms is really hard and I have a really hard time getting a great groove sometimes.
I think a combination of front squats and various deadlifts can be just as beneficial as back squats and deadlifts. You just have to work with what you got. Have you ever tried sumo deadlifting? To me, that works the glutes more than any back squat but maybe that is just for me. Good way to go if you dont have a spotter and want to go up in weight.
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- Deific Wizard of Sagacity
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Regular Barbell Squats have always been a relatively difficult exercise for me. For example, I have to really concentrate on keeping my heels down coming out of a deep squat to keep from tipping foreward. Also my groin muscles sometimes feel tight when I squat, even though I'm pretty flexible and I don't use a very wide stance. However, I don't have these problems with front squats, and overall front squats just seem more natural, although obviously I can't use as much weight.
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- Deific Wizard of Sagacity
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I ended up doing high-bar barbell squats today, since I forgot to bring a pair of wrist straps to the gym with me. Also, today I tried doing standard deadlifts standing on a ~4" high platform. Not only did this increase my ROM and recruit my glutes more, it also seemed to make my quads work a lot harder.