Tom Platz is not a fan of modern-day squats and shared the perfect form!
Bodybuilding legend Tom Platz built legendary legs during his career. He did this by focusing on perfect form and technique during training sessions that have become legendary in the fitness world. In this post, we detail Platz routine to fix your form while squatting that begins with getting away from the modern-day technique.
[RELATED: The Ultimate Tom Platz Leg Workout]
“I never had a knee problem in my life because of perfect, pure technique.”
Platz, who also goes by the names “The Golden Eagle” and “The Quadfather”, was a 70s and 80s era bodybuilder. He even stepped on the Mr. Olympia stage from 1979 to 1986, even competing against Arnold Schwarzenegger in 1980. He is known as one of the greatest bodybuilders to never win an Olympia title. He finished third in 1981, which was a stacked lineup.
| Full Name: Tom Platz | ||
| Weight | Height | Date Of Birth |
| 225-235 lbs | 5’8″ | 1955 |
| Division | Era | Nationality |
| Bodybuilding | 1970, 1980 | American |
Tom Platz Explains Perfect Squat Form
Tom Platz wanted to remind weightlifters that the squat is meant to be a quad movement. Instead, it has shifted in the modern day to glutes and lower back. This brings on more risk of injury and makes it a worse exercise all together.
“Modern day squatting, the technique has been bastardised. The technique is about a hip thrust, with people using their buttocks and lower back too much and not the quads. I believe in quad-dominant squat, the foundational movement like Olympic lifters do.”
Platz urges those to focus on being at the correct angle when squatting and this helps focus on quads.
“It’s a quad-dominant movement. Having the back not perfectly 90 degrees, but maybe four or five degrees off. Most people who are fitness advocates nowadays are somewhere in the area of 45 degrees. It’s easier to teach an incorrect squat than it is a correct squat.”
Why Improving Squats is Important
As to why you should be mindful of improving your squat, there are a few reasons, let’s dive on!
For one, gains are far better with better form. Who wouldn’t want their gains to be more glorious? For example, if you are half-repping your squats, or any exercise for that matter, you are not getting the full muscular engagement as opposed to when you complete a full range of motion. Squatting with the best possible form, leads to the best possible gains for the lifter!
Another reason to be mindful of how you are squatting is injury. Performing squats incorrectly could result in things like back issues, knee issues, and other unwanted issues that could put you out of commission. It is every lifter’s worst nightmare to be injured to the point where they cannot hit the gym at maximum strength. Make sure to do everything you can to avoid something like that.
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