Belt squats

[Perrin Aybara]

So I'm a huge fan of these for sumo deadlift assistance. You can mimic the movement of the deadlift without hitting your lower back, allowing it to be trained more often as the lower back is slow to recover. Because I go to a commercial gym I have to DIY my setup. I'm using a plate loaded calf raise machine at the moment. Before was using a t bar type setup. This is better though.



Anyway, I'm curious about other people's experiences doing these either DIY or on an actual machine.

https://www.roguefitness.com/squatmax-md

This one seems very interesting to me as it's actually free weight rather than cable based or plate loaded lever action. Titan Fitness makes a pretty cheap lever one as well for half the price. I feel like the free weight one would be easier on the knees though and be closer to a squat and deadlift. The Rogue one also has a close stance option to use 25lb plates and take a narrow stance.

 

[Mac11wildcat]

We have a couple people doing them off a pair of platforms with the belt attached to a hanging plate pedestal.

Digging the DIY concepts though. May give it a shot.

 

[Perrin Aybara]

We have a couple people doing them off a pair of platforms with the belt attached to a hanging plate pedestal.

Digging the DIY concepts though. May give it a shot.

We only have one platform at my gym. I don't like the idea of standing on two benches because of the instability of the padding. The calf raise setup has been working well. You can engage and disengage that lever that holds the plates up yourself working out alone.

I'm just feeling like a free weight version would be ideal. The handle things look interesting too. Reminds me of Hatfield squats, which I've never actually tried.

 

[Worf]

Never done it like that. Use pit shark or ATP. Great accessories

 

[Perrin Aybara]

Never done it like that. Use pit shark or ATP. Great accessories

Damn, those are high dollar machines. Your gym must me nice. I saw a pit shark at a gym in Tennessee a few months ago, wasn't my belt squat day though and didn't try it out. Wish I would have now to have something to compare to.

 

[Mac11wildcat]

When I say platforms I really mean boxes. 30” or so, next to each other with a gap for the chain.

 

[Mighty-mouse]

Man I think my gym has a set up for that. I will check on it tomorrow and work it in

 

[Perrin Aybara]

Besides the sumo deadlift carryover it seems like it's pretty good for hypertrophy. My legs are definitely bigger since I've been doing them regularly. Lately I do them twice a week, one day 5x20 and the other 3x30.

 

[Worf]

Damn, those are high dollar machines. Your gym must me nice. I saw a pit shark at a gym in Tennessee a few months ago, wasn't my belt squat day though and didn't try it out. Wish I would have now to have something to compare to.

It’s got everything a power lifter needs, except weight releasers. Its a small space but they also have some outdoor shit for strong man.

 

[Perrin Aybara]

It’s got everything a power lifter needs, except weight releasers. Its a small space but they also have some outdoor shit for strong man.

Weight releasers like you load and when they hit the ground they come loose? I bought some of those awhile back and never really used them much.

 

[Worf]

Weight releasers like you load and when they hit the ground they come loose? I bought some of those awhile back and never really used them much.

Yea, those. They have some that looks like weight releasers laying in the corner but they aren’t complete. Looks like somebody tried building some and never finished them.

 

[Perrin Aybara]

Yea, those. They have some that looks like weight releasers laying in the corner but they aren’t complete. Looks like somebody tried building some and never finished them.

I was gonna DIY some and I went to Menards and it was gonna cost almost as much to just buy some cheap ones. Using like the square metal rods with the holes to make it adjustable. I think mine are Titan Fitness.

 

[Perrin Aybara]

I have these.

 

[Worf]

Those actually look fairly sturdy

 

[jJjburton]

So you puut the belt around your waste and attatch the chain to the end?

 

[jJjburton]

Looks like you can do it with a barbell too same concept but a perpendicular barbell in the corner of a wall type of thing. I will def try these out.

 

[Perrin Aybara]

So you puut the belt around your waste and attatch the chain to the end?

Looks like you can do it with a barbell too same concept but a perpendicular barbell in the corner of a wall type of thing. I will def try these out.

Yes, both of those work.

 

[nukklehead]

Belt squat and reverse hyper are one of the greatest 3 rehab pieces in the world ( along with sled) . I am so fortunate to have a place that has all 3. Im 50 y/o and 6 weeks out from hip replacement surgery and using the belt squat off a high box and loving it. Havent squatted in over 10 years but I feel the belt squat is going to be a integral part of my rehab process. I like everyones ingenuity in replicating but if you ever get a chance to train with a real one you will love it. FWIW my gym didn't get one until the owner suffered a significant hip injury that he is pretty much 90% recovered using these 3 pieces. His misfortune became my good luck unfortunately. But so is life, timing is everything

 

[Perrin Aybara]

Belt squat and reverse hyper are one of the greatest 3 rehab pieces in the world ( along with sled) . I am so fortunate to have a place that has all 3. Im 50 y/o and 6 weeks out from hip replacement surgery and using the belt squat off a high box and loving it. Havent squatted in over 10 years but I feel the belt squat is going to be a integral part of my rehab process. I like everyones ingenuity in replicating but if you ever get a chance to train with a real one you will love it. FWIW my gym didn't get one until the owner suffered a significant hip injury that he is pretty much 90% recovered using these 3 pieces. His misfortune became my good luck unfortunately. But so is life, timing is everything

Been looking at ways to DIY a reverse hyper, but haven't tried it yet.

 

[Worf]

Been looking at ways to DIY a reverse hyper, but haven't tried it yet.

Wouldn’t be too hard to reverse engineer it. Need some tube steel and a welding machine. The pendulum would be the most difficult thing