Strongman – To Squat, or Not to Squat?

In the world of strongman, it’s become increasingly rare to see squats featured as a competition event. As a result, many athletes choose not to include them in their training. Why add a neurally taxing compound movement when it doesn’t directly relate to your next comp?

Makes sense in theory—but if you're leaving squats out of your program altogether, you're missing out on a host of benefits.

The Pro Scene

Like in any sport, athletes and coaches often look to the best in the world for guidance. And when it comes to squats, three names stand out:

• Hafthor Bjornsson (Thor) – 460kg squat PR

• Mitchell Hooper – 392.5kg squat

• Lucas Hatton – 272.5kg for a set of 20 (yes, twenty!)

Guess who’s been making up the podium at recent Arnold Classic and Strongest Man on Earth competitions?Yep—the same three athletes with the biggest squats.

And it doesn’t stop there.

• 2017 World’s Strongest Man: Who won the squat event? Eddie Hall.Who won the competition? Eddie Hall.

• 2019 World’s Strongest Man: Who won the squat event? Martins Licis.Who won the comp? Martins Licis.

The results speak for themselves.

Why Squats Matter in Strongman

Squats carry over to nearly every event in strongman. Stronger legs mean more power when push pressing, better explosiveness when throwing, and improved work capacity for endurance events and longer-distance carries like farmers or yoke.

Almost every strongman event uses your legs in one way or another. Periodise your squat training to build both maximal strength and muscular endurance, and you’ll see your event performance improve across the board.

Need help with your squat technique or want to learn how to program squats into your strongman training? Contact myself or one of our experienced strongman coaches at our local Geelong gym for expert advice and support.

Coach Bradman

Strong Geelong

#StrongestGyminGeelong