Barbell Olympic Squat
The high-bar back squat taken all the way down, the way weightlifters train it: the torso stays upright and the knees travel well forward.
How to do it
Setup
Bar high on the traps, hands close to the shoulders, feet about shoulder-width, toes slightly out.
Steps
- Descend to a full squat, hips below the knees, back flat.
- Keep the chest tall and the heels down.
- Drive up and out of the bottom without pausing.
Common mistakes
Bar slipping down onto the shoulder blades: that is a low-bar squat; keep it on the traps. Heels lifting at full depth: work on the ankles or raise the heels slightly. Back rounding at the very bottom: stop just above that point.
Breathing
Big breath at the top, exhale past the sticking point.
