Straight to the Bar

All Things Strength

HELPING YOU GET STRONGER SINCE 2004

Jefferson Squat
Written By : Scott Bird
Filed In : exercises

Jefferson SquatBud‘s recent post To Squat or Not to Squat got me thinking about some of the lesser-known varieties of squat, and a brief conversation with my dad on Bruce Lee pointed us both in the direction [1] of the Jefferson – or Straddle – Squat.

This is little more than a variation on the usual Jefferson Lift (itself a reasonably uncommon exercise), and begins in the same manner. The difference : after the bar is lifted to the highest point possible (without causing yourself injury – try it and you’ll see what I mean), bend the legs and squat down about 10cm/4″ and return to the top. Overall it shifts the emphasis slightly toward the thighs from the usual low back work.

Another consideration is that grip strength plays quite a large role in this exercise; perhaps even moreso than in a conventional deadlift.

1. Bruce Lee – The Art of Expressing the Human Body (p120)

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Cheers.

 

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Written By Scott Bird
Scott is a long-time fitness enthusiast (Jan 2004!), writer and photographer living in Sydney, Australia. If you share the passion for spending a bit of time under a bar, welcome. Love hearing how everyone else trains. You can connect via X (Formerly Twitter), Facebook and the various networks listed in the sidebar.
Drawing of Scott Andrew Bird performing a deadlift. Artwork by Vince Palko.