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submitted: May 16th 2008 | by: MickHart | Total views: 4 | Word Count: 612 | |

BREATHING SQUATS...The 'breathing squat' and pullover combo to gain weight proven and in favor since the days of Mark Berry, Roger Eells (who usually gets the credit for it's invention), Joseph Hise, who added the rest pause, and pushed for decades by Peary Rader of Iron Man, does NOT require the trainee to strain or place the spinal column in a poor position, as in heavy squats.

The breathing squat is a great for bodybuilders and regardless of the version preference, the poundage that is always recommended is total bodyweight, which is quite enough to get going with for most people. This exercise is obviously just too much for those giant sumo guys and the Indian wrestlers, who in general have to rely on potent chemical cocktails in order to make any serious muscle gains.

It really doesn't seem to make sense that by doing a more simplistic workout you get bigger gains, so there is nothing wrong at all with light squats. One of the first to use this form of exercise was as previously mentioned Roger Eells, who when not training spent his time in bed, but only for the purpose of resting.

If you are looking at progressing on from doing 'free squats' and I am talking about the ones without weights, it is time to move onto single leg bends on a bench. You may not even see this on modern day schedules but the guys before could reach some really amazing poundages in this difficult style, because you also need to maintain some balance.

One of Britain's all time best wrestlers Bert Assirati, who in the 30's was able to make 10 reps with 55Olbs/249.4kg in basic squats, and was able do the single leg style with an extra 2OOlbs/9O.7kg on his shoulders, and Grimek could do the same.

Squatting without extra weight, George Eiferman, who was training in the same period as the late Steve Reeves, was able to perform I5O consecutive reps on one leg. Reeves disliked basic squats and always preferred to do front squats, or 'hack' squats, as he thought that this would help to avoid developing to large a posterior, and even Vince Gironda agreed with him on that one.

The "Iron Guru" or Gironda really hated basic squats and they were a definite no no in his gym and apart from that if you got caught doing barbell squats, well you would virtually be thrown straight out of the door. Gironda agreed with Jeeves that squats caused big asses. He therefore recommends a different squat with the strange name of "sissy Squats" which is great for thigh development. This squat is best described as a highly controlled lean back free squat, but you are allowed to add light weights to a belt.

One of the best was Roy Callender and he used to just workout by instinct, and did squat 100 reps or more on sissy squats and after that would do high reps lunges, and would finish off with work on the leg extension machine. I am sure he did his fair share of basic squats to get those massive legs. Boyer Coe also did sissy squats, as he had already got plenty of power built up by basic squats, and he could squat with 5OOlbs/226.7kg at the early age of I8yrs old.

Once racks became common, so poundages rocketed, experienced bodybuilders soon used at first bodyweight, then double bodyweight, with eventually powerlifters reaching the magic IOOOlbs/453.5kg mark. It is said Anderson squatted with II6Olbs/526k of silver dollars twice a night when he was performing in Las Vegas. Equally famous as a pioneer of heavy squats is Frederick C Hatfield PhD. or Dr Squat. (Coming Soon Part 3)

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By Leading International Bodybuilding And Steroid Expert Mick Hart. Learn how to Build Lean Muscle At Micks new Blog

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