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Don’t go to failure on it. Especially when there’s no spotters. It’s embarrassing and no one will help you when the weight pulls you to the ground. Ask me how I know 😭
@@LaymensLameManI go to failure all the time on it. It just pulls me into a very deep squat position as it hits the floor, then I unhook the belt and stand up no problem
@@natenate4525 the one I was using didn’t use a pully system. The weight couldn’t even touch the ground. I couldn’t sat on the platform and it still would’ve kept tension 😭
its amazing, it completely reliefs the pressure off your joints/back/shoulders/neck. I just tried it today, i usually hate doing squats because it puts so much pressure on my shoulders and knees. I ended up doing 500lbs for 5-6 reps and multiple sets, legs feel amazing.
I've been to 5 out of 8 gyms in my town and I've yet to see this machine Edit: now I've been to 7 out of 10 gyms here, turns out there was a new gym and one I didn't know about. Still no belt squat though
Many chain gyms are not going to have because they consider themselves ‘health clubs’. Had a big exec for one of these chains tell me that there is no real $$ in “iron heads”. The more casual customer is the most profitable. Moving more toward the Planet Fitness model because they are so profitable. My gym recently had a complete makeover and the first thing to go was the power racks. Much more casual place now.
You need to check the gyms that are locally owned because the equipment will be whatever the owner would like to put in there and they're more open to bringing in recommended equipment
@@1997saps Yeah, it was one of the last hardcore gyms in the area. I mean everyone threw the dumbbells, nobody cleaned anything, I loved it. I paid like 350 cash for the whole year. The old equipment is wayyyyyy better especially for tall people. I love the flex leg extension and lying leg curl. You just don’t see those anymore.
I switched to belt squats after years of repeatedly injuring myself with barbell squats, and I can't see myself going back. No more lower back issues, and I can go super low, even allowing a butt wink, because there's no downward force on my spine. It sets my quads on fire.
@@GodsForesight-JesusIsKingit's not just that, barbell squats are inherently more dangerous because like mike said they stress your back and improper form or undeveloped back muscles will cause excessive strain. even if you don't ego lift you can hyperextend on accident like cbum did in the first clip of this vid and now you're in trouble. better to avoid it all
Belt squats FUCK my quads up better than anything, especially the VMO right by the knee. Great exercise to include in any program that needs quad development.
Love this exercise if the setup allows for proper depth. I’ve used some that only allow for me to get like barely to parallel before bottoming out. Glad to see it gets Mike stamp of approval
Stand on a pair of 45 lb bumpers plates. Regular 45s will work too but bumpers are better. The best option for this is if your gym has the 12”x12” rubber tiles used for adjusting box squat heights.
Absolutely. I am on the tall and lighter frame side and barbell squats are very fatiguing. I set up belt squats using my half rack and what an amazing difference. I get a huge pump and wobbly legs without the crushing fatigue if the barbell on my shoulders. An A++ exercise. You can DIY this at home in many ways . Using a landmine or half-rack and a dip belp
train your traps, they will benefit with stability on squat. and tighten your core on all excercises as you control your breathing, it will train your core stability (i dont train abs 😂)
same! i’m a tall woman with long femurs and belt squats have been a lifesaver for building my legs bc any other squat variation including leg press would just completely obliterate me with systemic fatigue way before my legs feel anything at all. i do a slightly different belt squat variation with a chain belt, platforms and kettlebells which targets my glutes wonderfully
I'm a loooong femur lifter and I had been struggling to figure out how to recover from my workouts week to week for a long time. I include both deads and squats on different days but my fatigue buildup was just too high no matter how I structured my workouts (reps/weight/sets/alternating days etc - including altering my accessory lifts). I switched from Squats to Belt Squats and my SFR has vastly improved instantly (almost) but not only that I have never felt my quads eXPLODe like this on any other exercise like I have on Belt Squats. My quads and my fatigue management are better than ever and I'm progressing like I should have been. Legit S-Tier exercise.
Belt squats are great to pair with deadlifts to give your low back a break, rather than doing squats and deadlifts in the same workout. Works well to trade off posterior/anterior focused leg days.
@@legionerer I'll do them on the same day if I'm going lighter on one of the two or both. Plenty of powerlifters train them on the same day too. If you're leaning toward a body building style training, there's just no need.
@@legionerer All the time. I see it in the gyms very often. I use to myself when I was strength training but now I'm training for hypertrophy so I have separated the two for different workout days.
For every home gymer/DIY person - get a landmine attachment for your bar and a dip belt. Put a platform with a gap or even two bricks to stand on and belt squat away
this can be done in commercial gyms that just don’t have this machine as well. i do find it targets the glutes more which is what i’m looking for but maybe you could tweak the technique
I've been to 10 gyms in my local area, 4 different chains (24, Gold's, Crunch, Fitness 19), as well as a few gyms out of my state (Arizona, Colorado, and Nevada), and have NEVER seen this machine in person. As someone with mild scoliosis and ankle problems, I'm always looking for ways to train the quads without traditional barbell squats, as the axial fatigue plus foot stability issues hinder my squat. I would try this in a heartbeat if I had access to it, but it's a mythical creature as far as I'm concerned.
Actually was able to use the belt squat today for the first time and the amount of tension in your legs during the workout is insane. Definitely a new favorite
For you home gym folk, a decent substitute for the belt squat is the somersault squat. I do it with a kettlebell, but I think it would work with a db or potentially barbell. Makes the quads quiver
Belt squat is great. I like to try to get as upright as possible when I do the belt squat so I can really hammer the quads. I recommend putting a wedge under your feet, really helps you sink down deep and push your knees forward. This made it better for the quads and harder then a back squat for me which is usually not the case if I do a normal belt squat without the wedge.
I was so happy when one magically appeared in my gym 6 months ago! I love it. I have tennis elbow so getting my arms tight for a squat can get trigger the tennis elbow.
I never even knew that the belt squat was a thing. 😮 Thank you Dr. Mike. Also, thank you Dr. Mike for fixing the captions of your video to be below your thumbnail, channel name, and the subscribe button. Now what you say can actually be read! However though, and yes, I mean though spelled all the way, not tho, I think Scott the video guy had more to do with that than you Dr. Mike, but still, thanks. Also, I have one more thing to thank you for, and I’ll try to thank you concisely so that I don’t come across as annoying, even though I am. Anyhow, the thanks is this. Thank you Dr. Mike for the helpful information that you dispatch to the general public in an atypical way. I love you, your content, your channel, heck… I even love Scott the video guy. Peace and joy to you.
I’m literally here because in my little leisure center gym (the kind of gym that has a swimming pool) just got one in. And I tried it today and absolutely loved the feel. As I never liked the feel of weight on my back. But through my hips it just felt nicer and more comfortable with a lot more tension (for me) through my quads. Happy days.
I badgered the gym for 2yrs and they finally got one. 😂 With my sciatic problems i haven't squated outside sissy squats and goblet squats in decades. This is freaking awesome piece of equipment.
My gym just got this machine, and I didn’t know how to use it. I have seen people doing rows on it but finally saw someone using it with the belt for squatting. I got to try it now
I just found a way to do belt squats with my ankles closer together! It is activating a whole lot more of my legs . I’ve noticed in a lot of videos the other guys have their heels elevated, and their toes pointed outward almost like a square angle 📐, I did this last go-round and got an amazing upper leg workout Low and slow with a pause or two all the way down for the first couple reps immediate activation and the rest just a bit slow but making sure you go all the way down is what controlled my tempo and forced me to do them right. It makes you do them right going all the way down. It gives you no choice but to get the perfect leg work, from what I’ve found. I’ll be applying this aim to my wide squats from now on as well. I’m in love with the close stance squat right now ( new discovery) im already hooked. ….. my nervous system is getting to wear I don’t have to deload so frequently 👏🏼 I’d argue that roid-rage actually happens to naturals like me, it’s a mental game pushing your body for prolonged periods if you’re not paying attention and not making yourself chill for a good 6-7 days. I haven’t felt like postal lately, so I’ve been debating on if I need a de-load or not, plus my hair starts to fall out it grows back, but damn.
Ive only ever encountered a hack squat once in my life, nevermind this machine! The same place had a leverage squat machine which felt awesome. Wish i could train there every leg day!
One tip. Hug a moderate heavy kb or dumbel and then flex with the ass up and go down again. Google sumersault squad. Its a.brutal finisher for the quads and follows almost the same principle
These work great, my Quads have gotten bigger and just doing 6 x 15 - 20 slow with a pause at bottom..my back and knees feel better and CNS isn't taxed as much..
Fyi, if you dont have this machine in your gym, you can replicate it by using like a dipping belt, put weights on it, then stand on two boxes or chair or bench. You just squat down and it works fine. It takes some time to prepare but I think it's worth.
I'd love to try this but I haven't seen this in any gym I've gone to. This could be a game changer for my squats and deadlifts as I could go heavy on these without my low back taking such a beating
my gym just got one of these.. i can’t barbell squat do to pain and the very high chance of injury, which has left me on the ground for hours with nobody around. i will give it a try and hopefully i wont look like i skip legs!
For people checking for a belt squat machine you can also use a weight belt and some plyo boxes or a platform I usually find all gyms either have one or the other
I started lifting about 5 months ago and I was liking the barbell squat but when i hit around 200 pounds the next day my low back would be twinging when everr i leaned forward or stood up im sure its my technique but i haven't been able to fix it but i made a belt squat machine and no more back pain! Im liking it so far
I believe this is exponentially more beneficial for advanced lifters who cannot manage to add more weight on to their already stacked BB/Smith squat and instead really need for a better FSR exercise. In contrast, beginners can already benefit greatly from normal squats, not a big deal if you can find this machine.
Just started legs back after suspected (but not) hernia. Did 4 sets of strength and had super anxiety and paranoia the next day. Shit just straight up made me go crazy from fatigue. Trying this mother fucker out
Idk if it’s a tall person thing or I’m just prone to fatigue after back squats but boy do I feel some type of way afterwards, wish my gym had a belt squat machine
I couldn’t find a gym near me that had one so I bought one from rogue. Key thing I learned was to wear the belt insanely low. Otherwise my low back would hurt
