One of the most popular ways to make heavy gains is by doing breathing squats and pullover combo. They were first introduced by guys like Roger Eells and Joseph Hise and later made popular by Peary Rader of Iron Man and the great advantage with this exercise is that it doesn't apply any strain on the spinal column compared to heavy squats that do. 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. It really is amazing that One of Britain's best wrestlers ever Bert Assirati, who while in his 30's managed to do 10 reps with 55Olbs/249.4kg in basic squats, and did single leg style with an additional 2OOlbs/9O.7kg on his shoulders, and Grimek was able to 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. SQUAT AND YOUR OUT! Gironda, self styled 'Iron Guru', totally discouraged basic squats, and squat racks were simply not allowed in his gym and anyone seen practicing barbell squats, weight held behind neck, was literally thrown out on his ear. Gironda, like Reeves considered squats built up big buttocks and for thigh development recommended instead the unhappily named 'Sissy Squat' a sort of highly controlled lean back free squat, or light weights could be added (to a belt) if you wished. 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. As soon as racks became common, the poundages began to soar, with experienced bodybuilders soon beginning to use at first bodyweight, proceeded by double bodyweight, until powerlifters got to the magic IOOOlbs/453.5kg mark. It is thought that Anderson was able to squat with II6Olbs/526k of silver dollars twice a night in Las Vegas. (Coming Soon Part 3)
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