Mikhail Koklyaev no hands squat

[std01108]

Hello Mr Rippetoe,

I saw a video where Mikhail Koklyaev is doing a no hands squat.
If a person told you that he was able to do that, would you be sure that he is backsquatting this weight with perfect form, without the need to see him squat, or is this irrelevant? That is, could someone be able to balance the bar on his back like this and squat, and still be squatting wrong?

Thanks.

[Mark Rippetoe]

This is a bizarre question.

[Slatts]

This is a bizarre question.

I think he may just be fucking with you.

[std01108]

I just can't learn how to squat after all these years of trying. I thought maybe a thing like this could force the body to use the correct mechanics. For example it would at least force a vertical bar bath wouldn't it?

[Mark Edward]

This has to be an attempt to fool you into saying that the high-bar position is correct. Or something like that.

[Mark Rippetoe]

I just can't learn how to squat after all these years of trying. I thought maybe a thing like this could force the body to use the correct mechanics. For example it would at least force a vertical bar bath wouldn't it?

No, you can squat incorrectly without your hands too.

[std01108]

I was serious actually, I didn't realize it was so idiotic so as to sound I'm joking. And what was that about the high bar squat? I thought a no hands squat would force someone to form the "shelf" of the low bar squat. Can you balance the bar with no hands on a high bar squat position? But anyway, thanks for the responses everyone.

[Jamie J. Skibicki]

"No, you can squat incorrectly without your hands too."

True, but it's much harder to squat incorrectly without your hands. If are having a hard time learning the squat, this would be a good way to train the squat. You can do it low bar, you just have to really raises you shoulders and shoulder blades.

Please take videos of your attempts so we can critique your form.

[Mark Edward]

This is the video we're talking about, correct?

It would seem to me that parlor tricks aren't a good thing to use as a training tool.

[oenamen]

No, you can squat incorrectly without your hands too.

Well put.