Squats, Squatters and More Squatting (Part 2)
May 16, 2008
A great proven way to gain weight and having been so since the times of Mark Berry, Roger Eells and others are breathing squats and pullover combo. They have been backed up by Peary Rader of Iron Man for many years and what really makes them stand out is the fact that they don’t put any strain on the spinal column like heavy squats do.
It doesn’t matter which form of breathing squat that you may undergo, the suggested poundage is always total bodyweight, which is normally enough for anyone. This exercise is obviously quite tough on Sumo wrestlers and big Indian wrestlers, so they have to rely on the latest chemical cocktail to match breathing squat results.
You may be confused when you begin to understand that the more simple the workout, the bigger the gains…so stick to light squats. I mentioned Roger Eells who really was a pioneers in breathing squats, well it isn’t so well known that when he wasn’t training he was always in bed…but only resting.
If you wish to move on from ‘free squats’, especially the ones without weights, then you should try and do single leg bends on a bench, although this is hardly ever seen nowadays in schedules, yet old timers could work up to some really awesome poundages in this difficult style, as you also need to maintain some balance.
It really is amazing that One of Britain’s best wrestlers ever Bert Assirati, who while in his 30’s managed to do 10 reps with 55Olbs/249.4kg in basic squats, and did single leg style with an additional 2OOlbs/9O.7kg on his shoulders, and Grimek was able to do the same.
Squatting without additional weight, George Eiferman, who was around at the same time as the late Steve Reeves, could manage I5O consecutive reps on one leg. Reeves didn’t really like basic squats, preferring front squats, or ‘hack’ squats, in an attempt to avoid developing to large a posterior. Even Vince Gironda was under the same opinion when it came to less butt.
Gironda, who was better known as the “Iron Guru” was totally against basic squats, and in his gym squat racks were banned and if he should have seen anyone doing barbell squats; with weight held behind neck, well they were literally thrown out. Gironda was on the same wave length as Jeeves as he considered big buttocks as a result of squats, so he always recommended the so called “sissy Squat” for thigh development, which can be described as a highly controlled lean back free squat, although you could add light weights to a belt if you liked (without getting kicked out).
One of the best was Roy Callender and he used to just workout by instinct, and did squat 100 reps or more on sissy squats and after that would do high reps lunges, and would finish off with work on the leg extension machine. I am sure he did his fair share of basic squats to get those massive legs. Boyer Coe also did sissy squats, as he had already got plenty of power built up by basic squats, and he could squat with 5OOlbs/226.7kg at the early age of I8yrs old.
The moment the racks became common, the poundages just rocketed, and experienced bodybuilders soon began to use at first bodyweight, followed by double bodyweight, with eventually powerlifters managing the magic IOOOlbs/453.5kg mark. It is suggested that Anderson squatted with II6Olbs/526k of silver dollars twice a night while performing in Las Vegas. (Coming Soon Part 3)
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