I had seen the first video after our throws coach at the time went and heard him speak at that conference, but I had never seen Louie's gym. I like the inversion table in the background, or "spine decompression" machine.
In the first video he talks about "10000 box squats= 10000 squats to correct depth" etc etc.
In the second video I don't see ANY squats to proper depth, not a single one…
Proper depth is a relative term. Westside lifters routinely incorporate box squats to varying depths, including down to a six inch box. The primary reason that most box squats are done down to parallel or slightly above, is because Lou has found the most 'missed liftsl' fail about two inches above parallel, so that is the depth they seem to work out most of the time. Also, most of the lifts on the video were what Lou would call 'dynamic', in that they were done at a lower weight. Most dynamic lifts I have seen them do are to a depth of about 2" above parallel.
As far a being proper depth, the Westside squaters are second to none, so I guess they have the depth thing worked out. Google Chuck Vogelpohl if you have any doubts about that.
First, they are not necessarily different than full squats. They can be done to any depth. The real difference is the pause at the bottom.
Below, I've included a few links to articles by Lou concerning box squatting and squatting in general. Read through them with an open mind, keeping in mind that Lou does not write well…he rambles, talks too much about things that aren't Germaine to the topic at hand, and other than spell check, I don't think he has anyone review his article before he puts it up. But as he will be happy to tell you, the proof of his methods are in the results of his lifters.
why does he think box squats are so superior to full squats?
Because they have had great success with them.
Are squat maxes equivalent to box squat maxes?
No, box squat maxes are generally lower than competition maxes…its a more difficult lift because of the pause at the bottom.
What about unequipped squatting? I have not seen many people box squat less than their raw squat max, if ever. Is this something you have seen as well?
Star61,
I've seen videos of their competitions. I've never seen a training or competition lift that even approaches proper depth. They "have it nailed" for their own definition.
As far as dynamic, some of the guys on the vid were in half-gear already and one even failed the lift.
I believe in IPF depth, these guys are in a different "sport".
What about unequipped squatting? I have not seen many people box squat less than their raw squat max, if ever. Is this something you have seen as well?
Louie doesn't do alot of unequipped squatting he believes the strongest guy is the guy who puts up the most weight no matter how much the equipment helps. Its interesting to see the different personalities in Westside though. You got the bench only guys like Mike Wolfe who are chill and love to joke then there are guys who do the full meet like Chuck Vogelpohl and they are so intense they stare holes through you. You'd everybody there would be insane.
First, they are not necessarily different than full squats. They can be done to any depth. The real difference is the pause at the bottom.
Well, from what I watched ,Louie would say they are different because he says they are superior to full squats. From what I saw, it looked like the difference was that you actually sat your ass farther back than normal squats so that on the way up it would recruit more hamstring fibers. I like the idea though. Can you just throw in box squats instead of normal squats on any given day?
Star61,
I've seen videos of their competitions. I've never seen a training or competition lift that even approaches proper depth. They "have it nailed" for their own definition.
As far as dynamic, some of the guys on the vid were in half-gear already and one even failed the lift.
I believe in IPF depth, these guys are in a different "sport".
We've seen them lifting in person. We've talked to them at length about their training. Lou personally wrote a 'circa-max' workout for one of my lifters before his last competition.
As far as competition depth, they only go as deep as they need to…why go deeper if your opponents are not? In training, they vary the depths. They do wear gear most of the time, because that's how they compete.
