Could I please get a form check on my squat and deadlift?

[Levakama]

I'm not sure about my form on these two lifts and as the weight is getting relatively heavy, I would really like to prevent any injuries.

Squat : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bdmP...ature=youtu.be

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=szsB...ature=youtu.be

Deadlift: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1AmS...ature=youtu.be

Thanks for any comments.

[BareSteel]

Hi Leva,

Squat: You're doing high bar squats - not SS-style low bar squats with hip drive. Is that your goal?

DL: I've seen plenty worse, but there are a lot of issues here, starting with the fact that these plates are too small in diameter, which puts the bar closer to the floor than standard height plates. From there, I can see that you could benefit from:

1. A better stance - angle your toes out a little bit and then shove your knees out to the sides to correspond with the toe angle.
2. Learning how to line the bar up with the middle of your foot (search this message board - lots of information on here about this important cue).

Let's start there. There's more for you to work on, but fixing these two things will be a great start.

[Levakama]

" Squat: You're doing high bar squats - not SS-style low bar squats with hip drive. Is that your goal? "

Yes, is this good form for high bar squats?

"DL: I've seen plenty worse, but there are a lot of issues here, starting with the fact that these plates are too small in diameter, which puts the bar closer to the floor than standard height plates. From there, I can see that you could benefit from:

1. A better stance - angle your toes out a little bit and then shove your knees out to the sides to correspond with the toe angle.
2. Learning how to line the bar up with the middle of your foot (search this message board - lots of information on here about this important cue)."

Are the plates really non-standard height? They always seemed big enough in real life, I'm not sure whether the video could be skewing the perspective a bit or not.

But much thanks for the tips, I will definitely work on the aformentioned issues.

[Adam Skillin]

Why would you want to high bar squat when the universe contains low bar squats? Have you read this?

http://startingstrength.com/articles/squat_rippetoe.pdf

Those are tiny little plates. Real plates are like 17.75" in diameter.

[BareSteel]

I'd still have you stop doing that hip tilt before you descend. Watch 0:23 or 0:29, for example, on the first video. See how you do that little backward motion of your hips? Eliminate that. It's over extending your back.

Looks like your knees are pinching in too (gotta shove 'em out) too, which is really slowing you down.

[Levakama]

Alright, I've decided to switch to low bar, thanks for all the advice and wish me luck!

[BareSteel]

Good luck, Levakama. Read the book and post your revised squats for a new critique.

[Levakama]

Okay, after a long delay, here it is https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rfrz...ature=youtu.be

[BareSteel]

Okay, you're getting there.

You still do that hip tilt before you start squatting. Kick that habit immediately.

This, plus better hip drive, and your lift will clean up nicely.

[Levakama]

Thanks a lot, I will implement these fixes asap