Not only did he claim that “all you are building is endurance, not strength”… when you do Hindu squats, but he went back to the ‘ole song n dance’ about knees going over your toes, somehow being dangerous.
Anyone who thinks that Hindu squats are only building endurance, hasn’t done them long enough to know this statement is false. The person is probably not involved in a combat sport, such as wrestling or ju-jitsu, because if he was, he would know better.
If we are judging strength solely based on weight lifting strength, then the person who squats with weights will appear to be stronger. But that is only ONE way to measure strength. Another way is how easily I bounce you across the room or lift you in the air. Last time I checked, those who are weight-lifting strong, cannot hold a match, much less a candle, to el Furecat.
Now, when it comes to knees going over your toes when you do Hindu squats, it doesn’t hurt your knees – but it does indicate how healthy the tendons in your knees are.
If you cannot squat without pain when doing Hindu squats, it means you are weak in the surrounding tendons and muscles that protect you from injuring your knees.
I’m 56 years young and I can still do Hindu squats – and a lot of other exercises, that the naysayers (who can’t do them), claim are bad for you. And, more importantly, I can toss your everyday strongman all over the place and he cannot do the same to me.
Most of the “strongmen” I have met are weak. I can uproot them with a light touch.
They are bigger and stronger with weights and balls and rocks and stones – but so what? That’s only one way to measure strength.
Anyway, back to more information on that Hindu squats thing:
The key is starting out slowly and training without pain (not through the pain). If you can do them all the way down without any pain, that awesome.
If you can’t, then modify the squats, i.e. don’t go as low or a fast.
If squatting half-way down hurts, do 1/4 squats. When 1/4 squats get easier, go to 1/2, then 3/4, then all the way down.
Again, make sure there is no pain when you squat. If there is, then back off until you find a level of movement that is pain-free.
If you follow this procedure, you’ll eventually be squatting pain-free, regardless of whether your knees go over your toes or not.
More forthcoming on this matter.
In the interim, check out my international best-seller, Combat Conditioning, as well as my other goodies, by clicking here.
Kick Ass – Take Names,
Matt Furey
P.S. Follow me on Instagram – @mattfureysays
