JFIFC    $ &%# #"(-90(*6+"#2D26;=@@@&0FKE>J9?@=C  =)#)==================================================}" }!1AQa"q2#BR$3br %&'()*456789:CDEFGHIJSTUVWXYZcdefghijstuvwxyz w!1AQaq"2B #3Rbr $4%&'()*56789:CDEFGHIJSTUVWXYZcdefghijstuvwxyz ?=à4޵:}i!$kOg9Nߵdͽy]Y0ONցgmoq)1.bD~"kqz1O닰G=CU185 "Ưm}3pe#OS`yMUWGW74ZLr2ž}JygbSF\>8n(.H|;gOzFa?8#ڗa2J3A.yXUEwokw$q̀nQ 8#*xC &Iˌc}av=bjR~1=?fJS$(QIC}72Y'9#pFjp/um]dgۇMVr&焴[B Y|D'g4kz%>\ ]s}&Ho^I:n^G95c"gH9Fݼ=>[VtHtk[Mp79}_KV!H\L7?1foje6MG^?‚#' n,nbӼ?z<&Jʓ_52cjsZĚ%R8?&F"?-.｜.9sN-=oy.mˇEpp ⳵=2Y{AiQxoOJ _ {x_,f2?,ךYyRV i^2(31o$~%'>drH;88U!Y/L+<ۄ +uîyV#mYaSm=IgϚy\wkO=jуi:UA5oNm~}B8?{^@qSZG-裵V@MWmT٠j~jg7>YT˔Ɨ WG=H|Hn쨹 hF?x(V =scnwBzקX>,m3_K𣞖PD wd~W\IK+y7]:f48gFP~fQ%C*1V#--}Ʉ!bcdgW ԣf ashx[C̪1ȓ#b>+WMYZo, $}8zh&ΏHnAF)w_Zv@#JZ46wvQc?t/kx1{Q=tmiSPK Vܧ;o.O<{ %vdk>UP:‘Y|V*]H#"!F^@ Kᖽ5G x'=?CFΓӕ'dlO=OavŦ]c|dW kvRC+,ᶀ15gZGѦr0ђQe.otEG:1+hU@16@n~TLd䑁Vxv~S.=(Ԗծ|5qTYG)nȮz oEs)}Z }݋)6/@ ؾ)P6/ҝE7bRl_AO}Syk(Syk(Ohquite 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 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 ch