Switching to high bar squats, any good resources on learning it?

[Alex B]

Although I started out low bar squatting, as the program entails, before long my shoulders just couldn't hack it. Even after rehabbing them and stretching my upper body, the position not only is difficult to hold, it's difficult to get. In general, I just can't stand low bar squatting, both in terms of setting up for it and how it actually feels.

So, I'm going back to high bar squats and I'm sticking with them. When I have money I'll get some proper shoes, but until then are there any good resources out there for high bar squatting/stretching for it? Thanks to Rippetoe there's a wealth of stuff out there for low bar squatting, but I haven't found much for high bar.

Any links or tips are appreciated. Thanks.

[solomson]

I've switched to high bar aswell since low bar was too much of a PITA. For me high bar comes pretty natural, just use a stance you are comfortable with, bar comfortable on traps, knees track over toes, keep head in neutral position, big chest + valsalva and you're pretty much good to go IMO.

[aa7]

Although I squat primarily in the high bar position, I can say with complete impartiality that the lower the bar is on your back, the more terrifying it is when you're squatting heavy. Much more challenging. I should make the effort to do heavy low-bars so I can feel more macho.

[revs114]

This is the best one I found when I switched back to HB:

http://www.elitefts.com/documents/Te..._the_squat.htm

Good luck!

[Rusi]

This is the best one I found when I switched back to HB:

http://www.elitefts.com/documents/Te..._the_squat.htm

Good luck!

No need to over-think it. BTW Jim Wendler squats high whether he admits it or not. All of his squats are high. So don't imitate his videos. Anyway high-bar is easy to learn.

1.Shoulder width stance. Toes point out a little.
2.Place bar on top of traps.
3.Unrack the bar by doing 1/8 squat not good-morning.
4.Drop down until you feel your hamstring touches the calve and Keep Your Low Back Arched.

5.No need to sit back when you high-bar. Just down. The sit-backs squat is the low-bar. As soon as you reach depth explode. Don't ever pause unless you want to do that variation.

6. Look forward or up. Never down.

7. Usually you will bounce out of the hole to just above parallel. At this point just fucking push. No need to think about hip-drive and other fancy terms. Just fucking push.

8. Try to prevent your knees from moving around as much as you can. Some moving is ok but not extreme.

This is the real deal.

[Alex B]

Alright guys, thanks very much, I feel very confident about high bar squatting today. Just one question though; do any of you know any good ankle stretches? I've got really tight ankles, so anything you guys know that helps open them up would be great. Thanks again.

[manisstrong]

Do you get used to the bar feeling heavy on the traps? The low bar seemed a more comfortable position.

[Alex B]

Do you get used to the bar feeling heavy on the traps? The low bar seemed a more comfortable position.

For me, on the traps/slightly below is far more comfortable, both in terms of how it feels and how stable it feels, than low bar.

[aa7]

This:



He's moving around in the bottom position with help from pushing down on the bar to get a stretch out of both ankles' muscles and tendons. It's probably called "ankle stretch with bar". Common for OLers

[ToyStory]

I want to kill myself now. THIS GUYS SQUATS 405 ATG HIGH-BAR FOR OVER 3 MINUTES. And I thought I got a little stronger.