semi-grunching here, but for the most part I agree with the consensus that if you can descend with proper form then you should focus on ascending with the same form. It just takes more core strengf. that takes time. Beltless prob helps but I'm not going to give suggestions since far more here know far more about squats than I.

A friend I lift with sometimes has similar squats to monte, though. Lots of forward lean on the way up and I notice bad ankle stabilization/mobility out of him. I have him adjust his feet but nothing seems to ever really "fix" it. Lots of inward ankle rolling where the side of one foot comes off the ground a little. There is some knee caving, but not much. Also seems like he has poor ankle mobility in general which could be preventing him from maintaining a good bottom position.

I guess where I'm going with this is, how is your ankle mobility, Monte? Have you filmed your feet during squats? If not, could you?

I think it's alright, but I'm not really sure; I was taking Evo's suggestion last night and maintaining the bottom position in my squat for a few minutes while watching Alan Thrall videos before bed, and it was for sure harder than I expected, and I had to fight to keep the weight back as opposed to rocking forward on the balls of my foot.

I'm not exactly squatting heavy right now, but I haven't noticed any problems with rolling my feet or anything like that during reps. I guess I could film a set from behind on Monday or something.

I will give BTM 1000 in cold hard cash if Monte's ankles have anything to do it.

You're squats are not bad at all. I mean it seems like your hips are shooting up a bit early and there's some forward lean or whatever, but your squats are better than 95% of what you see in any given gym on any given day.

Deadlifts look pretty solid imo.

I'm not saying it's the main issue. I'm just saying it could be a factor, mostly since I see it with my friend often.

He, too, cannot hold the bottom position of an air squat for very long. I can hold it indefinitely. Literally did 15 minutes one time and could have gone longer, just to test it. He can do 30 seconds and it's a strain.

Again, not saying they both have the same thing, but I am curious. Filming the feet would at least be telling one way or another.

And this. Still good squats!

My friend didn't think he rolled his ankles during the reps and I was like "dude, they look terrible." he didn't believe me so I filmed them and he gave in. Proof was in the pudding.

Again...not saying you do it, but maybe you do?

hya cha cha

I think there's more of a shot of them rolling front to back (i.e. weight shifting to my toes, which seems kind of obvious) than side to side, but, as you say, we shall see. I'll do at least one taint shot from low and behind so you guys can see, as they say, the full Monte.

Started doing a few five minute static holds in front of the TV tonight, and curiously enough the side that I traditionally favor (my left side) is a little tight/sore in the groin region. I'll need to do more of this.

Then I tried to get into OHS position with a broomstick, which I've never really done before. I don't have either the shoulder mobility, t-spine mobility, or both to get the bar completely back over my head in that position. Guess I need to do that more + be more diligent about dislocations and rolling in front of the TV.

Evo

I like this one (I've seen kstar reccomend it too -obv with a more forward pointing toes) for helping air squat depth. No idea if that in anyway helps real squats.

It's a motor pattern issue

Great stuff! We all need more of these multi-tasking lifehacks.

Will give it a try

I've got a good squat and can't hold an air squat for ****. It hurts. But I can* squat 501 so come at me.

There's a difference between holding an airsquat under tension or just sitting in a relaxed Asian toilet squat. There's no way BTM can do 15 minutes with a straight spine and loaded hamstrings. Toilet squat, sure.

Yeah, I'm not sitting at the low point of my squat or anything, I'm sitting on my hamstrings and trying to keep my lumbar extended and tight, stay balanced, and shove my knees out with my elbows.

BULLSH*T! IT'S LEVERAGES AND JOINT ANATOMY!

I'm only arguing one of those things is even potentially a contributing factor, but OK

YOU ARE WEAK AND PATHETIC AND YOUR SQUAT SUCKS

Whoa. Whoa. Bro. I was just playing. That's stepping over the line. Why so mean?

+1. Ain't nobody toilet squatting without butt-wink.

You need to have tactical nous - in squats, mechanics would be an aspect of this. Psychological conditions to have a positive attitude and drive and then technique adapted to your body type. You'll squat optimally, injure yourself less and ultimately lift more.

Or you could be the chosen one and get stronger no matter what.
Don't think snitch is the chosen one or me for that matter.

2/16 (190.8 lbs)
C2 Row: 27:36 mins (6138 m)
HLR: 4x10
LISS (Treadmill, 2% incline): 30 minutes (1.8 miles)

Rowing WoD:
WoD done as written with 2 minute warm-up before the first 1500 and cooldown after the last 1500. Form seems to be tightening up, although I have to consciously remind myself to keep my scaps down/depressed during the movement.

Hi Monte. Seems like a lot of useful discussion probably happened here.

DT,

For sure.

2/19 (189.4 lbs)

A
Bench: 4x225, 2x3x225
NG Chins: 3x6x+45; 1x5x+45
Facepulls: 6x12x47.5

B
Front Squat: 2x5x165, 1x7x165
Standing KB Press: 4x10x35
DB Curl: 4x10x40

C
RDL: 3x10x135
Triceps Pushdown: 4x12x75
Cable Lateral Raise: 4x12x10

First time I've been sub-190 in forever, so no surprise that bench felt like a truck; seems like a reset is probably in order here. I did get a few extra reps on chins, though, and I've tried to use my rest time a bit more proactively to get some additional lower body assistance work in now that I'm kind of back in the groove with things.

Lost the weight forward a bit on my last front squat set; kind of disappointed that I lost three reps from last AMRAP, but it's not super surprising considering the cut and everything.