7 Reasons Why You Should Front Squat

By Caleb Lee

I can almost guarantee you're not front squatting enough or any. For some reason, you don't see many gym goers (especially bodybuilders) using this time-tested exercise.

Crossfit has gone a long way off towards bringing it back, but if you're not performing crossfit - it's probably not even on your system.

This is a shame because if you want to get full body strength build awesome quads chisel your abs and save your "tweaked" lower back then you're going to love the front squat.

Here's 2 reasons why you must front squat for a stronger, bigger, more powerful body that moves, looks, and feels better than ever:

1. Get Better Quads - The front squat is an EXCELLENT movement to get bigger, stronger quads-probably the best exercise there is. Because you're position is more upright, it emphasizes the quads more.

2. Get Stronger, More Cut Abs (Core) - Because you're holding the weight in front of your body, and you must remain upright your entire core gets a great workout trying to stabilize the weight and keep you upright. If you find you're leaning forward a lot when you back squat, you'll quickly get stronger and fix this problem if you switch to front squats for a while.

Front squats aren't just smashing in creating the body of your dreams either! They're also certainly good at just making you more fit and keeping you more in good physical shape. What good is looking strong if you should give up your health in the process?

Here's the five additional reasons why you must Front Squat for better physical condition:

1. Makes Your Other Lifts Better - Because the bar is placed before you, on your shoulders, the front squat is very much like other exercises and strengthens the "base" of those lifts/presses. Power Cleans, Overhead Presses, Overhead Squats, and the like all share the same "starting" position as the front squat. Getting stronger and more comfortable with Front Squats will help you in those exercises also.

2. Bad Form Gets Self-Corrected - If you're back squatting with bad form you can complete the exercise at the expense of causing injury to yourself. The good thing about front squats is the form is self correcting: If you're not straight enough you'll drop the bar if you're not holding the bar right you'll drop it if you don't keep your elbows up you'll drop it. It's an exercise that pretty much forces your form to be good.

3. Less Weight - When all is said and done, if you can defy your body with less weight (because you're doing a harder training) then it is safer. Because the Front Squat is harder than Back Squats you won't be able to lift as much weight. Which means a reduced amount of spinal compression.

4. More Natural Spine Position - You're more upright with the front squat your spine is in a more nonaligned "straight" position. This combined with the fact you're lifting a reduced amount of weight is better for your spine at the end of the day.

5. Lower Back Approved - Most people have lower back problems and back squats exacerbate these conditions. But because your upper body is usually vertical (instead of leaning forward like in a back squat) there's a lesser amount of force on your lower back. I started front squatting after I hurt my lower back. - 17274

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