Squats vs. Deadlifts

[koto_ryu]

Even the heaviest of partners is never over 240 lbs, so it is a heckuva lot better for your knees than trying to explode up with normal squat weight and is real resistance that you would work with in your grappling.

Come meet my pro wrestler buddy who's 320lbs then

[Tom Yum]

Come meet my pro wrestler buddy who's 320lbs then

LOL....if you'll spot me I'll go for a fireman's carry with him

[Broadsword2004]

Barbell squats are an overall strength builder to ensure that you fully build up strength in the muscles. Carrying a person on your back is good too for cross-training, but I mean it could create inadequecies in your strength (like one leg might get a bit stronger than the other due to more weight being on one side, etc...).

Both are good.

[cboog]

The reason I think most people don't like squats is ego. They think since I can bench 275 and then leg press 450 and think their building legs or squat 315 but only do quarter squats with more wrapping then King Tut. They can't drop the ego and start doing full or atg (ass to grass) squats with a lighter weight and building up their strength from there.

[aku aku]

...for some reason my traps (muscles on back next to my neck) are really really sore. Is this cause i have improper form or does deadlift hit traps, cuase i thought it was core, and legs and lower back.

Deadlifts work your whole back, including your traps. If your traps aren't used to being worked they might get sore the first few times you deadlift.

[novicio]

Hi,

How would you say dumbel squats (dumbel in each hand, weights hanging down) compare to barbell (over the shoulder) squats. I can imagine the latter stressing more on the core as opposed to the dumbell variety which I think will only stress the legs. Am I right?

Also, we've been talking about squats and deadlifts, but what do you think about lunges. I feel that they benefit the glutes more. How would one combine these? I'd imagine a balanced routine would contain squats and deadlifts, or lunges and deadlifts, but not all 3. Is that right?

Cheers.

[aku aku]

Hi,

How would you say dumbel squats (dumbel in each hand, weights hanging down) compare to barbell (over the shoulder) squats. I can imagine the latter stressing more on the core as opposed to the dumbell variety which I think will only stress the legs. Am I right?

Also, we've been talking about squats and deadlifts, but what do you think about lunges. I feel that they benefit the glutes more. How would one combine these? I'd imagine a balanced routine would contain squats and deadlifts, or lunges and deadlifts, but not all 3. Is that right?

Cheers.

Dumbell squats or deadlifts should be ok but, if you're trying to increase strength, you will eventually reach the point where it's hard to hold enough weight.

There are many moves in martial arts where you squat down with one leg forward. I think lunges are great and there are many varieties: you can step forward, back or at different angles. You can keep one leg forward and go up and down (split squats) or you can twist to the other side as you come up (twist squats). You can do lunges while walking forward or backward, etc. You can straddle a barbell and do split squats while holding the bar.

There are many ways to combine them, depending on what your goals are. The simplest might be just to switch exercises every 2-4 weeks. You can also alternate them with different workouts: mon-deadlift, wed-lunge, fri-deadlift. You could do deads on back day and both squats and lunges on leg day. It kind of depends what your goals are.

[KotoRyu]

Deadlifts for strength, squats for mass. The carryover to all other realms of strength with deadlifts is awesome, and squats can throw more meat on your bones than your clothing bill can afford.

[Tom Yum]

Good to have you back, Koto.

Must have been one helluva hangover....

I'm down with the upstandingf@^king citizens...lol

[Daddy_Cool]

This is like comparing apples and oranges. One should do both of these exercises. They work different muscle groups. In terms of hypertrophy however, nothing beats squats.

[shirase]

I agree, I think they are quite a bit different in the sense that they hit different muscles and they have different effects. I personally enjoy deadlifts because i personally dont have a very strong lower back, so its rewarding to do them. However my knees have been bothering me this year(and i just started weightlifting this year) so I havent had the chance to squat. But from the numerous articles ive read it seems like it must be a really intense, draining exercise where you have to work hard for the results. So needless to say im looking forward to trying them when my knees get better.

[KotoRyu]

Good to have you back, Koto.

Must have been one helluva hangover....

I'm down with the upstandingf@^king citizens...lol

Nah, schooling mostly. Trying to get a degree in exercise phys, therefore I have no life now besides MA, strength training, work, and school.

[SamuraiGuy]

I go for the power cleans myself.

After getting up to a 320 deadlift... I decided Id do power cleans cause they are more fun lol.

I cant squat cause I have no rack, and no gym near me has a rack.

I however do squats holding my punching bag, with arms wrapped around, jump squats, and am going to start doing dumbell squats... only have two 25 pound dumbells though so....