JFIFC    $ &%# #"(-90(*6+"#2D26;=@@@&0FKE>J9?@=C  =)#)==================================================K" }!1AQa"q2#BR$3br %&'()*456789:CDEFGHIJSTUVWXYZcdefghijstuvwxyz w!1AQaq"2B #3Rbr $4%&'()*56789:CDEFGHIJSTUVWXYZcdefghijstuvwxyz ?u S\.qeo vKr^xBIrZ/ ʯtq0kWTN=h/ _W_G_ZGa}nV06ېO8 :ߥw,!3&eXdc\<A{MX@JK`H#G ڛmNku8k"xSIrA=* &gZrKpcn)k׈;tm0*ݰ$W:7Ռ(Zkhͻ#;0}t3+Z)W4AO]k>\ncl _CCO}.oۄx?ҭi->I &RY1=s@^ 壒A#\÷AUݬe?eĖ̀*Jv? ]k(ؐ:4oh$i&bb4_ h4Dhw 26 VYXq '6x\X :~`;Y׈|3mZĪ\Ef?VbNr{jί M_H{}cMxbg3 w4c#^Jc ixn{WtrxVx8<޳[/5IY= A Ρ{[dgߨnq#8jx߇Q<@!F T0<"/Ajׅjnd!~vSܜMuӿ/Po'7DboCcZZ=ލid 2lFAB$Ju~j4 e[]E@2~cԚ{M6\][*(vy$pvVLVC1<Ӹ#V۾1,rH23͗{;^5Uǯz;].qZխNhT|Qu ǃɲemӰqޯhǴZI~& A Z\,1+&>wpEhkF[m-܄}UuFN,D@ TzU g۞aʮa 8_h>ki q 35j{$gk+C`eU\f#Y> Dಂ9VCt*G i~ ݤ2wnUČ9{ ֶ=xD[i$eTd^O.huS@tsYu{Ď0p O8?g2<sM4?בb`rqڵt5mq/DgxIőDY  ͟9溍@:{Gk8)VNt?EsOg-+9n[p5t[?_EsZ΁vAwDx]kL[gx +CZ[ET4iZtVp:cG |Vc?i"D_銢T+l0a~t]v]REXA&6袀4A^dTVSm&?[0ޓtQ@-3zue-3-8sO6Zm`2c8gproblems except now the athlete's feet are flat and the heels are firmly planted on the floor.&nbsp; The knees are better but this athlete doesn't need to squat quite that low.&nbsp; In figure 4, we find the feet are close to the squatting stand and the knees are back which is good but this athlete has three major problems: First, squatting too low, second the lower back is not locked-in; and third, the upper body has too much forward lean.</P> <P>Figure 6 shows the perfect low power position.&nbsp; The athlete has his feet&nbsp;close to the Squatting Stand. His feet and heels are firmly planted on the floor.&nbsp; His knees are back and not extended past the toes.&nbsp; The athlete is at a perfect parallel position.&nbsp; His eyes are focused on a point which helps the lower back and upper body position.&nbsp; If you said one of the major problems in figure 2 and 3 was the head position, I wouldn't argue.&nbsp; Notice the difference in the chin position of figure 2 and figure 6.&nbsp; The athlete pictured is my son, Matt, while he was in the 8th grade.&nbsp; At this time, he weighed 125 and Parallel Squatted 225 pounds. </P> <P align=center><STRONG>PRE-SQUAT TECHNIQUE</STRONG></P> <P align=left><STRONG>A. Grip:</STRONG> There are two technique guidelines to consider when establishing a proper grip on the squat.&nbsp; First is thumb position.&nbsp; Should you have your thumb around the bar or in back of the bar as illustrated in figure 7?&nbsp; About 60% of power lifters have the thumb in back while 40% of power-lifters prefer their thumbs around the bar.&nbsp; Both styles are acceptable, but I prefer to coach my athletes with their thumbs in back of the bar.&nbsp; I feel this style is superior as it tends to prevent slippage of the bar.&nbsp; Sometimes athletes will have a problem in keeping the bar on the shoulders.&nbsp; Sometimes the bar will actually slip off the shoulders and slip down the back.&nbsp; The bar seems to be more secure with the thumbs in back; but if an athlete, after trying both styles, really prefers to have his thumbs around, I don't object.</P> <P a