Learning/Teaching the Squat & Deadlift
 

Found this google video of Dan John leading a seminar group through some drills to learn & teach the squat, romanian deadlift, and deadlift in preparing the group to learn olympic lifts.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...1744&q=fitcast

Thought some may find this fun and/or educational

Hey Depalma, thanks for the link to this video. I got a chance to watch it this morning and learned a thing or two. ;) Really great tips for me since I am starting all over again with the lower body. Funny thing is, if I were to watch my three year old in his play, I would also learn how to squat with better form. He does it perfectly. :s:

I hear you Lydia. If we could all have the form and flexibility of a 3 year old. Ah youth...wasted on the young.

I loved that video. Still when I squat that low even without weight I wind up hurting myself (not seriously hurt, but still...) Mostly my back I think its a combination of lack of strength and lack of flexibility. I just wish I could do it without having my lower back ache! (I think I am arching my back because I don't have very open hip flexors. I try to keep good form but it seems that I am just a little off).

Thanks so much for posting it!

Yeah those are olympic squats. Remember this was an olympic lift seminar although all the drills did not pertain strictly to the olympic lifts, thus the deadlift work, the squats may be a bit deeper than many are used to or comfortable with, I think the drills are still helpful for those squatting to parallel.

The key points to remember which are applicable to all squats:
1. Weight on Heels
2. Chest out ("Break the finger")
3. Sit back and down under the weight, not fold under the weight.

If you are feeling it in your back, you perhaps may not be keeping your chest out or you may be failing to push off with your heels and firing the glutes coming out of the hole. It is common for people to push up with their backs on the ascent. I saw a clip of Mike Robertson coaching someone on this very thing, and he reminded her to "think butt!" on the way up. I find sometimes on the last rep or two of a heavy set, I'll start to get sloppy on form and start to come up with my back as well, and I remember what Robertson said and will say to myself "Think butt!" and it actually helped regain form. One time, at the end of particularly hard set, I actually let this little mantra slip out load, which got me a few weird looks at the gym.

But you really have to make sure you don't say "break the finger" and "think butt" in the same breath.

But seriously its great advice. Especially the chest I know I am collapsing it. I really have to work on posture.