Auxiliary Squat Workouts

Here are a few auxiliary workouts that can help improve your overall squat form and one rep max potential but I think you should take some pre JYM pre-workout before starting it. I utilized many of these workouts myself to improve my form and leg strength for the clean and jerk, but they’re in effect actually auxiliary workouts to improve the squat. The squat however is a very important workout that takes full body tension and strength to balance and drive the heavy weight upwards without injuring yourself. I myself injured myself doing squats due to bad form, so once again I’ll emphasize the importance of technique. Also, nothing will make you stronger at the squat than the squat itself, so don’t spend effort on the auxiliaries before you perform your core exercise.

Box squats: This is an overused auxiliary workout designed to eventually eliminate your dead zone in the squatting motion. If utilized correctly however it can become the best auxiliary you can have. Put a weight that you cannot squat on the bar and go down into a low enough squat that you can only perform two times. Do this for a few sets and leave it for the day. Continue this until you can do more than two reps, and then go lower. Use the boxes to let you accurately measure how low you’re going, don’t actually sit on them. Once you touch the box you know how low you’ve gone. Often you can do this without boxes, but this is good for consistency. Eventually you’ll be able to do a full squat with a weight you could formerly not do and viola, you’ve got a higher one rep max!

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Front squats: Develops your legs in a different way from the regular squat, and emphasizes technique and balance more than the squat usually does.

Lunges: Using fairly heavy weights, you can develop some good leg strength as well as balance and stability using lunges as part of your squat program.

Leg press: Leg press machines are great for developing one rep max strength in the squat, as you get very heavy poundage supported by your body position. Great way to isolate the legs and hips into the pressing movement. Make sure to go very low, close to knees hitting the chest low to get the max benefit.

One legged squats: Once you’ve developed your legs for a one rep max you’ll be able to perform a one legged squat. If you cannot balance, hold a weight in your hands out in front of you as a counter weight. Not only is it impressive, it’s a good substitute workout for days you cannot get into the gym.

Simplicity is key. As long as you keep with these few important workouts, they’ll be all the auxiliary workouts you’ll ever need in developing your squat. These were picked for their strength gaining potential.

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