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Blog Section => ADARQ & LanceSTS - Q&A => Topic started by: Raptor on August 19, 2012, 11:25:22 am

Title: Use belt and progress or don't use it and stall?
Post by: Raptor on August 19, 2012, 11:25:22 am

I'm approaching the point in my squat where using the belt would allow me to progress in weight and not using it will make me stall (it should happen at 115-120 kg). What would you do? Use the belt and continue to progress in the squat or not use it and try to increase your squat without a belt?

To me - the belt gives additional core strength and it allows for the legs to actually fail instead of the back, so it makes sense to use the belt, plus it gives some additional safety. Not sure about it though. If I will decide to use the belt then I will keep my warmup reps beltless and only use the belt during work sets.

Title: Re: Use belt and progress or don't use it and stall?
Post by: LanceSTS on August 19, 2012, 12:18:44 pm

  Use the belt on your heaviest sets, go without on your others.

Title: Re: Use belt and progress or don't use it and stall?
Post by: Raptor on August 19, 2012, 12:41:36 pm

Cool, will start to use it when I feel it's necessary, thanks.

Title: Re: Use belt and progress or don't use it and stall?
Post by: LanceSTS on August 19, 2012, 01:12:06 pm

you bet.  Also, entropy makes a good point here:

Quote

If you can put on a belt and your form doesn't deteriorate then by all means go ahead and use it. But in my case, it makes the back squat even more of a deadlift than anything else. I can use the belt to squatmorning a lot more weight than I would be able to without a belt. I can squatmorning with a belt about 30kg more than I can without a belt. For me the belt is an instant form killer, and the more I use the belt, the stronger my back gets and my form solidifies around the squat morning. I have the same problem with deadlifts too.

make sure that is not taking place.

Title: Re: Use belt and progress or don't use it and stall?
Post by: Raptor on August 19, 2012, 01:24:27 pm

I know... but luckily I am a very "leg driven squat guy" so... it shouldn't happen.

Title: Re: Use belt and progress or don't use it and stall?
Post by: LanceSTS on August 19, 2012, 01:39:00 pm

 Yea I dont think you have the same issues, a lot of people do though.

Title: Re: Use belt and progress or don't use it and stall?
Post by: Raptor on August 19, 2012, 01:53:33 pm

Instead, 2 days ago one friend happened to be in the gym and he told me I had my bar tilted to one side while squatting, pretty badly. Now obviously I couldn't feel that on my back but I kind of expected it... I'm not sure though if it's because of my right knee pain or because of my left hip pain. Haven't asked him to where it was tilted (left or right).

It could also be because I load the left leg (MUCH stronger quad there) more than the right leg (weaker quad).

I think that's one (if not THE) reason why squat-built athletes (think Squat DR, Kingfish, acole) plant their both legs at the same time - because they don't have a CLEAR stronger leg on which to plant and rotate into their jump.

Title: Re: Use belt and progress or don't use it and stall?
Post by: LanceSTS on August 19, 2012, 04:00:17 pm

 They jump like that because the squat movement pattern is more extensively trained and stronger than a typical rvj.