Barbell Newbie Experience of a Zercher Squat with Unloaded Olympic Bar

[Denys Carthusian]

So, I finally attempted the Zercher - Dan John says in his experience people either love it or hate it. I did it with the 45 lb 7 foot olympic bar so I couldn't possibly bias the results by too much load.

My opinion? I don't know whether I will love it when I add it into the training routines in a few months with heavier load, but I didn't hate it and it is without a doubt the freakiest abdominal contraction I've ever experienced. That alone has me very intrigued. I've done Goblet Squats (and do them pretty much daily) and have done single and double kettlebell front squats before (Thanks to Geoff Neupert for pointing out the zipping up the middle potential of DFSQ even with 12kg bells) but the Zercher is something else all together.

If you haven't given it a shot, you're missing out.

 

[watchnerd]

If you haven't given it a shot, you're missing out.

Nah.

I much much much prefer a fully racked barbell front squat.

 

[Denys Carthusian]

Nah.

I much much much prefer a fully racked barbell front squat.

I have no rack, so Zercher is it. Nevertheless, very surprised by how much I liked it.

 

[silveraw]

Nah.

I much much much prefer a fully racked barbell front squat.

That is just your elitist mobility talking.

I like em, but they feel more like a partial squat for some reason. Good transfer to a lot of carry events though.

 

[silveraw]

I have no rack, so Zercher is it. Nevertheless, very surprised by how much I liked it.

Steinborn squat it.

 

[Denys Carthusian]

Steinborn squat it.

My chiropractor would buy a new home if I even attempted it.

 

[Don Fairbanks]

That is just your elitist mobility talking.

I like em, but they feel more like a partial squat for some reason. Good transfer to a lot of carry events though.

 

[Geoff Neupert]

I like em, but they feel more like a partial squat for some reason. Good transfer to a lot of carry events though.

Do you take them from the rack or from the floor?

To parallel or rock bottom?

 

[watchnerd]

Just gonna leave this here for light reading....

Is The Zercher Squat For Pussies? - Thibarmy

I am writing this article to explain my point of view on the Zercher squat and why I think it's a good lift.

thibarmy.com

 

[watchnerd]

That is just your elitist mobility talking.

I like em, but they feel more like a partial squat for some reason. Good transfer to a lot of carry events though.

Elitist mobility would be preferring overhead squats.

 

[Denys Carthusian]

Do you take them from the rack or from the floor?

To parallel or rock bottom?

From the floor (I don't have a rack) and I go to rock bottom. So far, I haven't heard any tearing sounds.

 

[Denys Carthusian]

From the floor (I don't have a rack) and I go to rock bottom. So far, I haven't heard any tearing sounds.

Whoops. Just realized Geoff Neupert wasn't responding to me. Never mind!!

 

[watchnerd]

I have no rack, so Zercher is it. Nevertheless, very surprised by how much I liked it.

Bruh...

'Fully racked front squat' wasn't referring to a squat rack, but to this, the rack position...

 

[Denys Carthusian]

Bruh...

'Fully racked front squat' wasn't referring to a squat rack, but to this, the rack position...

Bruh, this would require me to clean it to the rack would it not?

 

[watchnerd]

Bruh, this would require me to clean it to the rack would it not?

Indeed, as the Gods of Iron intended when they invented barbells *before* squat racks.

 

[Denys Carthusian]

Indeed, as the Gods of Iron intended when they invented barbells *before* squat racks.

My 1st thoracic vertebrae let out a squeal just reading this.

 

[watchnerd]

Oof.

Bromley puts Zerchers in the C tier...

 

[watchnerd]

I'd agree with Meg on it being a great ab exercise!

 

[John K]

 

[Luis T. Gonzalez]

I saw that earlier. Just looks like my SI joints would burst trying to get up like that.