The best exercise for improving my squat has been the front squat. Jordan is a strength training and nutritional consultant based out of boston massachusetts. It has been used at westside barbell for years by many of the top lifters in the world as an integral part of their training. Opening arguments there is no debating the fact that the freeweight squat is the king of all leg exercises. During 1960s, box squats then called rocking box squats were first popularized by olympic hammer thrower and power lifter george frenn boyle 2010. Matt wenning goes over the specifics and mechanics to achieve a box squat that will laterally improve your full squat. Behind the squat rack, place a tall wooden box or chair. Below im going to outline why the box squat is so effective and safe that are straight from louie simmons of ownermastermind of westside barbell, the worlds strongest gym. Unfortunately, that means my days of heavy back squats are mostly over. By training at 5060% of your 1rep max in a 3week wave, a large squat can be developed. There is a lot of available data to support the notion that box squatting is a viable method for increasing the squat and deadlift. This is, in my opinion, the safest way to squat because you dont use as much weight as you would with a regular squat. The standard template there is a great story from dave about how the standard template originated. We encourage you to continually expand your knowledge base by learning from books, dvds and.
We use the box squat with thousands of athletes worldwide regularly with great success. We use the box squat fairly often in the training programs that we write, and today im going to tell you why we. When you take a barbell out of the rack, it should never hit the front. He is westside barbell certified, precision nutrition certified, and is an ipapowerlifting world record holder. Box squatting is the most effective method to produce a. There are a lot of things to like about the conjugate method. Box squat 524555% or box jump stiff legged deadlift 3585%. Tempting the wrath of all of the louie worshipers out there, i gotta say i was a tad disappointed in this book. Now, how do you know how much you can full squat if you box squat all the time. We did box squats on speed days with a large amount of bands and weight. The first 800 pound squatter pat casey in 1970 was a box squatter from the original westside barbell in culver city. Make sure the bar is across your upper traps and not on your neck.
A guide to accessory work i outlined how to program and structure your individual training routine based on westsides conjugate method. Check out our dvds, books, or articles for more information. Ideally, the hands dont hold the weight, rather your shoulders and collarbone support the bar. Westside barbell book of methods simmons, louie on. You must have a specific reason when implementing anything in an athletes training program. Hesitant to begin westside powerlifting forums t nation.
The culver city gym had a tremendous impact on louie simmons training philosophy and thinking. The goblet squat is a regressed version of the barbell front squat that can be done to help beginners develop proper positioning. The results that westside barbell has incurred alone speak volumes, but is this movement relevant to the. With this harness, i can still have a pretty intense squat session using considerably less weight than i can back squat. This is a 70 page manual giving the readers handson insight on westside barbell s most effect training. Ive heard it 435 different times and it never gets old. Louie simmons teaches box squat phil johnson ma, cscs, usaw.
The knowledge i gained in that first year far exceeds everything i learned studying exercise science in college. Westside barbell the official fan page posts facebook. Basic westside barbell template starting strength wikia. The technique ill describe has taken my squat from 760 to 935 over the past five years, but i wasnt always a big fan of the box squat. It is more quad dominant than a back squat, but still works all. Sometimes a front squat apparatus will be used for sets. While the barbell squat is the perfect exercise for building big, strong legs, using the box squat as an adjunct to regular squats has been shown to produce numerous world records in the squat.
If you are using bands or chains use 50% of your 1rm. After working with louie simmons for so many years, it was. The reasons why i love the box squat so much are really quite simple. I highly recommend for more information on conjugate training and westside barbell to visit their website. Programming with the conjugate method my favorite features. The box squat teaches you to sit back, whereas with the deep squat you need to think more about sitting down between your feet. Westside barbell is an invitation only training facilityliving laboratory pushing the boundaries of athletic performance under the guidance. Since louie started publishing his articles on his methodologies in power lifting usa back in the 1990s, the methods grew wildly in popularity. The westside barbell book of methods by louie simmons. The only way you will have depth issues from box squatting is if you set your box height too high.
Westside barbell training method for beginners fitness. If you want to see someone in good shape who uses westside barbell take a look at jackass. Train the front squat and zercher movement to the maximum potential with the get strength new generation boss zercher harness reasons why you must front squat. Three lifters trained with 405480 for 810 doubles with 120 pounds of chain as a reactive method. Unfortunately, no matter what you try, some people just cant get used to a barbell digging into their neckthroat area. Westside training method louie simmons powerlifting method. This book is a collection of training methods i ha. Begin by positioning a barbell at or just below shoulder level in the squat rack. The best way to get this flexibility is to dofront squats. Watch the front box squat video, learn how to do the front box squat, and then be sure and browse through the front box squat workouts on our workout plans page. The ultimate exercise for posterior chain and quad development.
One of the best resources available for strength and conditioning books and manuals. However, what is clear is that the original westside barbell gym was based out of culver city, california. Squat and deadlift manual by louie simmons rogue fitness. Dec 03, 2017 we just piled up box squat boxes and pulling boxes and wedged a board press board behind the bench so it wouldnt slide. Worldrenowned strengths coach louie simmons and his staff created this club to provide an allnew education system through which they will share extensive knowledge and experience on using the conjugate system. The squat is always done to a parallel box with a wide stance, except for front squats. Every member of westside barbell performs box squats year around with the only regular free squat being done in competition. While i dont put it on the same level as the back squat as a bread and butter lift, i find it to be extremely effective to build the legs, core and upper back while also being effective at improving the squat and front squat. Over the last year or so ive really fallen in love with the method again for use with my clients.
Sign up for our email and be the first who know our special offers. Box squatting is the most effective method to produce a firstrate squat. The westside barbell template for athletic development. I cant credit louie simmons enough for what he has provided to the strength training world and the popularization of the box squat is largely due to westside barbell and louie simmons. The wide stance box squat is definitely a gamechanger for every athlete ive used them with. The primary focus is on the muscles located on the front of the thighs when performing this movement and its a fantastic exercise to include in your crossfit wods workout of the day. For most athletes the barbell front squat is a better choice than the back squat. Day 1 maxlifting deadlift squat day 2 rest day 3 maxlifting bench press day 4 rest day 5 dynamic lifting for lower body day 6 rest day 7 dynamic lifting for upper. Now you are doing only box squats and you take a weight 46 weeks into the cycle. Box squats were later popularized by louie simmons. Friday for speed work with a large training volume and with medium intensity 5060% of a contest squat done off a box at or slightly below parallel. My problem is this is basically a collection of all of his articles from powerlifting usa.
Westside barbell squat and deadlift manual by louie simmons. Oct 26, 2016 the box squat is widely used in the strength and conditioning community. As such, louie named his gym westside barbell in their honor. At the time i bought this book, you could download all of this material right from the westside website. Look him up at elite fitness or search here in the photo section. Theres no better squat for powerlifting training than a widestance box squat. Learn the secrets of how to lose fat and gain muscle from the most trusted training and nutrition resource on the internet, syatt fitness. Westside barbell is an invitation only training facilityliving laboratory pushing the boundaries of athletic performance under the guidance of louie simmons. Crossfit dynamiceffort squat day at westside barbell. Crossfit dynamiceffort squat day at westside barbell part 2 with louie simmons. They recommend such strategies as doing reps to failure to eliminate assistance work and doing only the squat, bench press, and deadlift. The front squat can be a relatively challenging movement and therefore, many people, especially if they are not fully confident in their ability to execute the move, will choose to do the front box squat instead. It will cover topics such as the most productive methods. The conjugate method is a term and methodology made most popular by louie simmons, owner of the westside barbell club and the creator of what has become known as the westside method of training.
From renowned strength training expert louie simmons and the team at westside barbell, the squat and deadlift manual is a musthave for any weightlifter serious about elevating his game. Why you shouldnt box squat athletes anymore simplifaster. See more of westside barbell the official fan page on facebook. I am talking about westside barbell, and especially the louie simmons style of box squat. A guide to variation by jordan syatt october 11, 2012 in my articles the westside barbell conjugate method. Let me say first that, no, they wont hurt your spine, you dont use lbs. The barbell front squat is a powerful multijoint compound exercise that helps to increase size and strength in the lower body. Apr 12, 2018 those of you who have been following my work for some time know that im quite fond of the zercher squat. The safety squat bar ssb front squat is a great alternative if you want the loading of a traditional front squat, without some of the discomfort of using a standard barbell. After many years of experimentation i feel like ive finally got a formula down for how to best apply the methodology with the. This movement has another interesting component that increases drive off the box.
Similar to olympic weightlifting except powerlifter soften squat low bar vs high bar back squat, the barbell squat is a necessity in training and competition. Dozens of variations are used by powerlifters and athletes using louie simons westside barbell program. Watch the barbell box squat video to see this exercise in motion. Elastic storage and breaking the stretchshortening cycle. It seems everyone has their own, which they devised on the basis of their own experience. You always want to squat to a slightly below parallel box, or lower depending on the selected exercises.
Additionally, the box squat from the front squat position is included as well, demonstrating how the box squat can. Westside barbell bench press manual louie simmons on. Provides easy bar control without stressing shoulder, elbow, or wrists. Coaches may not want to stop using the box squat with their athletes, but it has no. Article by louie simmons there is much talk about training philosophies, methods, and methodologies. Jan 01, 2000 westside barbell book of methods book. We also used the reverse hyper machine and did glute ham raises, pullthroughs, and abs. Part one of our visit to westside barbell of columbus, ohio. Westside barbell squat and deadlift manual louie simmons on. Dave tate, cscs i have been training at westside barbell in columbus, ohio under the coaching of louie simmons for over seven years.
Starting strength wikia is a fandom books community. Westside barbell training incorporates 4 workouts per week. In the below video, the box squat is demonstrated with a barbell back squat. He has a way of working the westside method into three days. For squat deadlift perform 8 sets of 2 on the wide stance box squat. Of course the most important way to improve the squat is to just squat and squat heavy. It can also be used for gpp by loading a bar on the zerch. Westside for raw made easy by burley hawk berserk barbell. I learned them during my olympic lifting years, but reinstated them in my powerlifting regimen after speaking with mr. Front squat exercise guide proper form and muscles worked. Front box squat technique and benefits cross training pro. The results that westside barbell has incurred alone speak volumes, but is this movement relevant to the nonpowerlifting community of. Check out for more information and detailed exercises. The zercher harness is an invaluable tool in any serious strength arsenal.
You dont see box squats commonly performed in the gym because the majority of even the most experienced lifters dont know how to do a. Oct 11, 2012 the westside barbell conjugate method. I also told you that every member of westside barbell does box squats yearround with free squats done only in competition, including the 19 westside lifters who can squat. A users guide and the westside barbell conjugate method. It can be used for both zercher squats and zercher deadlifts.
Wave the weight from 45 to 55% of your 1rm free squat over 3 weeks, then start over at 45. I also told you that every member of westside barbell does box squats yearround with free squats done only in competition, including the 19 westside lifters who can squat more. The results that westside barbell has incurred alone speak volumes, but is this movement relevant to the nonpowerlifting community of people that just wants to get stronger and look better. Jan 22, 20 the best exercise for improving my squat has been the front squat. This is a freeofcharge publication from westside barbell to assist coaches and trainers in creating faster, stronger and less injury prone athletes, by training the correct way and utilizing the time spent in the weight room in the safest, most efficient and most effective ways. A guide to accessory work i outlined how to program and structure your individual training routine based on westside s conjugate method. The front squat is simply squatting with the barbell supported on your chest. This is followed by special exercises for the back, hips, hamstrings, and abs.
Improve your squat and deadlift by box squatting thibarmy. Apr 22, 2016 the front squat can be a relatively challenging movement and therefore, many people, especially if they are not fully confident in their ability to execute the move, will choose to do the front box squat instead. The box squat is widely used in the strength and conditioning community. The box squat also places all the stress directly on all the squatting muscles.
Place your feet outside of shoulderwidth with your toes pointed slightly out. If i buy westside barbell book of methods e book how do i download the e book westside barbell the official fan page. The front squat allows you to fully extend the hips and it enforces a better technique the back squat is a lot easier to cheat on by coming up tail first. The front squat is essential for leg strength and maintaining a correct back position for pulling. Get step by step instructions to properly execute the movement and get the most of your quads workout. The squat is trained with a barbell two times a week. If you are using bands or chains use 55% of your 1rm. How i built my best squat everfront squats juggernaut. The front box squat is especially beneficial for those who would like to work on their depth. A lighter weight can achieve a bigger squat with box squatting. Here the box is just being used as a teaching tool to help ingrain the idea of sitting back and engaging the hips. Westside barbell template working with the standard template by jim wendler for. Learn how to lose fat and gain muscle syatt fitness. The trick is to start with a high box and slowly drop it down as.