JFIFC    $ &%# #"(-90(*6+"#2D26;=@@@&0FKE>J9?@=C  =)#)==================================================u" }!1AQa"q2#BR$3br %&'()*456789:CDEFGHIJSTUVWXYZcdefghijstuvwxyz w!1AQaq"2B #3Rbr $4%&'()*56789:CDEFGHIJSTUVWXYZcdefghijstuvwxyz ?Bt,t^Tq9?U>(R6~jLC8 ks[#Fb#0;w Bܕp ւ ~rr&fU+$m-O?* +I/VP{֖k%0A_SM+bG(;?tĐ[9 5XT<3o#`cs@!N A꒰~)@G #l33TTiׇi8<X"} Iq3W@R|7#/H䭭YN6 ZW[%;և!\#[6&5'c`i%q=6>|[إbbjghf:CFҸSe"`>jb.Ř$40]]b8OqՋ<V|C8a4IT\9PF }o 9 6`+nt-VWҥZ>^a#?cy֯xve[ p J-6)J: i90 ע?{g֊Ю緻0$V az $XLʰ#q#fXÂX=И8Hg}\NKbJ͵s&y\ywlYf s+` t`oSڒ/r O#x\ϮodHIz].l#VG +ɸ|ޣ+խWլc5vqkQ^!D]r-(Oi&Ƴp#U\0H9m! K*I̊.?*)\,Xm2`+ >nAk)XzK7@ i?Ķvڞ#(~hrswwt+8UFYC@cXU]Iɔ[ S:vwp4mam9U"ʧ6$Q*2UaG+jHE7U ҹ\!7fZEX{l $MQk9.%ݭ N_Zӵ\7mEJ6Ms*JF@@b(W|lɸhc!}OaӴ,o1<0x׵!.Y3U WM{QB{%؃KwfUxe=*tBH= 2,bEP(f'2(rqY^FTN2H"uVv i@:Pjb7# $ڻU9 fM~oٶvZ*`z(XtT=ڮM*ќZYdSX=Ĺp=[Ihe1!3aT`2HϮ Sx#9 i]U${!%;z֣@?QYFE,5PsSzJ'W}ÎWZ%eb V(Fh%oMnZZn?fSu7bCA>?@ T7Pjqz`{^v6xV8ƗYmRcޫP{1SR0}`԰+9ro ghb(fm<#kH#=7mm@R@>jQ'f>֢L95G8RE y9_j( qTcE dF|{U88buU??v^HEHKos7;)ފ(c$ i\(;ʫ)+QIqEwhich 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 align=left>The second grip guideline to consider is the width of the athlete's grip.&nbsp; This is another one of those secrets which can give you an edge.&nbsp; At clinics, I ask everyone to pretend they have a bar on their shoulders and to get a "very narrow grip".&nbsp; Then, I ask everyone to sit tall, spread their chest and lock-in their lower back.&nbsp; Next, they are asked to take a wide grip and lock-in their lower backs.&nbsp; Now I ask, "Which grip makes it easier to lock-in the lower back?"&nbsp; It's unanimous!&nbsp; It'