When Zercher Squats Are Better Than Front Squats

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  • Опубликовано: 2 окт 2024
  • In this QUAH Sal, Adam, & Justin answer the question “What value does a Zercher squat provide that a front squat doesn’t? I find the pain of the bar, in the crook of my arms for Zercher squat, limits the weight I can lift way before my muscle strength does. So, I wonder if I should front squat instead?”
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Комментарии • 150

  • @ToddDCLT4
    @ToddDCLT4 3 года назад +206

    You don’t need padding just scream while doing it and it won’t matter

  • @highperteams4023
    @highperteams4023 3 года назад +275

    3 months after rotator cuff surgery, Zerchers became my only free weight option for lower body. I hated them my whole life--until it was the only thing I could do. So, now I do them 3 days a week. Perspective is a great teacher.

    • @showrobber
      @showrobber 3 года назад +11

      Haha true. The same for me with bulgarian Split squats... I did them due to the Corona lockdown with two dumbbels each hand, because i didn't had a barbell and hated this exercise. Now i do them in my gym as heavy Mainlift with a loaded barbell on my neck and love it!

    • @LDarlong
      @LDarlong 3 года назад

      Will they be effective if the weight isn’t that high? In terms of hypertrophy

    • @skylerrezentes
      @skylerrezentes Год назад +1

      Hell yeah, bro. Had rotator cuff and labrum surgery. Zercher's are much more kind on the shoulder capsule

    • @VeinyDickTracy
      @VeinyDickTracy Год назад +1

      Did it help you in the bedroom? 🛌
      I remember you saying you needed help in that area too.

    • @Bodhinaut
      @Bodhinaut Год назад

      Same brother. I’ve had 2 shoulder surgeries and lost range of motion to back squat. I love my zerchers.

  • @WilliamsWrestlin
    @WilliamsWrestlin 3 года назад +174

    If you're a wrestler, zercher squats as well as zercher good mornings should be a staple to your training

    • @AmirMalik-sj3ov
      @AmirMalik-sj3ov 2 года назад +23

      Because when someone tries to take you down you defend by getting underhooks to defend

    • @DYELGAINZ
      @DYELGAINZ 2 года назад +9

      @Cornejo I mostly do a LOT of body lock takedowns, it mimics the lift in a while and also improves your grip and traps a lot. Zercher lifts are so useful

    • @x-Musashi-x
      @x-Musashi-x 2 года назад

      Agree

    • @icarusnicholas2852
      @icarusnicholas2852 2 года назад

      Love the channel name brah

    • @jonathanmesa4834
      @jonathanmesa4834 2 года назад +1

      FSU wrestling REPRESENT. Crazy to see you out here in the comments

  • @schibleh531
    @schibleh531 3 года назад +217

    I am loving the Zercher squats. They feel so damn different but a lot more natural than any squat I did.

    • @gr33n.
      @gr33n. 3 года назад +7

      Yeah, i feel the same!

    • @bayupatten4777
      @bayupatten4777 2 года назад +17

      they have a real primal energy to them which i love.

    • @joet3123
      @joet3123 Год назад +8

      @@bayupatten4777 that's for sure. It's one of the most practical exercises I think. We squat and hold sht in front of us all day

    • @muaytha1201
      @muaytha1201 Год назад +1

      I agree just started doing them and I’m in love lol

    • @jevgenijsalunin9820
      @jevgenijsalunin9820 4 месяца назад

      I've heard somewhere that they are bullshit and didn't even try them. Now I've tried and they are just freakin' amazing

  • @dbjmk8083
    @dbjmk8083 3 года назад +45

    I have a squat rack at home and I started using an old pillow to buffer my arm. It's actually way harder with the pillow and my strength without the pillow shot up.
    Zercher pillow for the win!

  • @coolbyfar
    @coolbyfar 2 года назад +93

    My very elderly grandmother took a nasty fall and I’m the only one in the house that could get her up. Inspired me to start training my Zercher Squats seriously

    • @percfiend69206
      @percfiend69206 Год назад +7

      Hope your grandmother is doing okay and you are successful

    • @muvsharma
      @muvsharma 11 месяцев назад +3

      I hope both of you are doing well bro.

  • @MrObasiah
    @MrObasiah Год назад +7

    Elbow sleeve fixed the discomfort for me. I can reach muscle failure before the uncomfort even becomes noticeable.

  • @demigodubermensch8173
    @demigodubermensch8173 3 года назад +71

    I love Zercher Squats and Zercher Carries. They have such a big "real world" carry over.

    • @declan5184
      @declan5184 3 года назад +8

      @Who Cares? an ode to labor workers worldwide lol

  • @humanityenslaved3380
    @humanityenslaved3380 2 года назад +30

    As a jiu jitsu competitor I feel like zercher squats definitely translates way more into my discipline.

  • @alpagator1372
    @alpagator1372 2 года назад +20

    For me the only real benefit of a Zerhcer squat is that it's the best/safest way to squat without a rack. Which makes sense since that's literally the reason it was invented. Without a rack, sure you can clean the bar to do front squats but unless you practice the technique for the clean it quickly becomes a limiting factor for the weight, with the Zercher holding the bar starts as quite painful but you quickly get used to it. If you do have access to a rack you're better off doing other squat variations, but if you don't or there's some other factor that prevents normal squats then the Zercher is an invaluable addition to your exercise selection.

  • @capo-amg6755
    @capo-amg6755 3 года назад +16

    Zercher squat is my new favorite exercise
    Brutal and effective

  • @northbuster290
    @northbuster290 8 месяцев назад +6

    First time trying zercher, did 3 sets of 10 with 225lbs, quads literally destroyed the day after.

  • @BIGIFANDYELLOWCARD
    @BIGIFANDYELLOWCARD Год назад +13

    I'm 6 foot 2 with a herniated disc so squats are hard to do not only due to the length of my legs but the back injury. These are fantastic.

  • @michaellopez2070
    @michaellopez2070 3 года назад +15

    Can't think of one good reason not to use a pad with zerchers. It's actually harder with a pad, though less painful, because it isnt' as locked into your elbows and you have to squeeze more to keep it close to your core.

  • @DeadbatteryVT1300
    @DeadbatteryVT1300 3 года назад +16

    I use a barbell pad for my zercher squats. I love them !

  • @fishoxspearo7665
    @fishoxspearo7665 2 года назад +11

    When my family got covid i could not go out for weeks. All i had at home was a barbell and 2x 20kg and 2x5kg plates no rack so high rep zercher squats and rdls was the only thing i could do for lower body

    • @Jotaromilktea
      @Jotaromilktea 2 года назад +2

      you could also learn how to clean too

  • @shredmonkey686
    @shredmonkey686 3 года назад +22

    Just dislocated my shoulder a few days ago and then learned about the zercher squat today. Im gonna try it tomorrow cause front and back squats are pretty scetchy in the weeks following a dislocation.

  • @steve_jackson9933
    @steve_jackson9933 3 года назад +23

    I cannot stand front or back squats, I then found out about zerchers, love them. They are horrible, but get the job done.

  • @mikekuj3397
    @mikekuj3397 3 года назад +22

    I just put my knee sleeves on my arms for it

    • @StaticDreamsEntert
      @StaticDreamsEntert 3 года назад +6

      Jeez. I have knee sleeves and didn’t even think of that. Thanks for pointing that out lol

    • @paalani27
      @paalani27 3 года назад +1

      Same here

  • @kingquads6982
    @kingquads6982 2 года назад +10

    This information is gold men, thanks a lot guys. "We are not posture robots"

  • @hunterhedwall2220
    @hunterhedwall2220 3 года назад +40

    Great video! I've been doing lots of high rep zerchers to slowly build up to heavier weights, and is a brutal exercise indeed!

    • @wtDrake
      @wtDrake 3 года назад +4

      Oh yeah yeah

    • @vincentrascon5944
      @vincentrascon5944 3 года назад +3

      I'm gonna start doing Zerchers during my next workout 💪💪

    • @hunterhedwall2220
      @hunterhedwall2220 3 года назад +4

      @@vincentrascon5944 Nice man, they're great. It'll build your biceps and back a lot as well :D

    • @hunterhedwall2220
      @hunterhedwall2220 3 года назад +1

      @@wtDrake ayyy😎

    • @joet3123
      @joet3123 Год назад +1

      Absolutely. I do 2 plates now. I reckon I can do 275. My goal is 315 in the next month or 2

  • @chrisnall5896
    @chrisnall5896 Год назад +1

    I recently recovered from a herniated disc and have an ECU tear (wrist). Zerchers are oddly enough the only barbell squat that I don't get low back pain or wrist pain

  • @dumbbuff
    @dumbbuff Год назад +6

    I never realized zercher had a carry-over to stone lifting

  • @ksr3869
    @ksr3869 3 года назад +33

    Fighters love zercher squat🔥

  • @markceaser8073
    @markceaser8073 Год назад +4

    Zercher squats so helped my martial arts training, especially aiki ju jitsu.

  • @chadsmith71
    @chadsmith71 8 месяцев назад +2

    I bought a Zercher pad from AbMat. It's awesome. No pain in the crook of my arms. I don't have the mobility needed for a front squat, and back squats can irritate my lower back, once the weight gets to a certain point. I also think Zercher squats are a more "natural" position for squatting, meaning (just as you guys mention in the video), if you bend over to pick up something heavy, you're basically mimicing that movement with a Zercher squat.

  • @BizzyBlount08
    @BizzyBlount08 5 месяцев назад

    I'm going to try the Zurch because twice I've hurt my lower back doing regular squats and I like walking, standing and using my legs in general

    • @reb349
      @reb349 3 месяца назад

      Recovering from a lower back injury, and honestly I only do zercher squats as my main squat movement. I'm lifting way less than I did when I back squatted, but I do notice a lot more rigidity in my trunk now and that's removed all the niggles I used to feel even when my physio said I should be able to go back to being 100% now. Def recommend them.
      I just do leg press and leg extensions to hammer my quads a bit more as I def feel zerchers more in my core and glutes.
      But if you've had lower back issues, these are gold

  • @ShepherdschapelYTexplainsbible
    @ShepherdschapelYTexplainsbible 2 года назад +4

    Shepherdschapelcom Theseasonorg explains the whole Bible God bless
    1. KNOW that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23
    2. UNDERSTAND the wages of sin is death. Romans 6:23
    3. CONFESS that Jesus Christ is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead. Romans 10:9
    4. REPENT of your sins Luke 13:3
    5. READ and STUDY God's Word to show yourself approved. 2 Timothy 2:15
    6. PUT ON the whole armor of God. Ephesians 6:11
    7. BEWARE of the son of perdition who is coming first disguised as Jesus to oppose and exalt himself above all that is called God, or worshipped. 2 Thessalonians 2:3,4
    8. WATCH and PRAY until the true Christ returns Luke 12:37 Remain as a chaste virgin waiting for her true husband (Christ). 2 Corinthians 11:2

  • @mariomolnar3184
    @mariomolnar3184 2 года назад +8

    My best Front Squat was 110kg x5 reps. I stopped squatting for 2 months during lockdown, but first time trying it i did 120kg x5 on Zercher Squats.
    It even keeps my torso more upright.
    Just use a long sleeve shirt or some knee sleeves

  • @whodoyouratemore
    @whodoyouratemore 4 месяца назад

    Too many people step in a gym.and get so infatuated with perfect posture for every movement and i wonder what they do when they fall off their bike or fall over running on a concrete path do they have time to align everything before they impact the floor at 15km an hour

  • @AHam-tp5xz
    @AHam-tp5xz 10 месяцев назад +1

    As someone that does zercher squats. You get used to it after 2 or 3 months. it used to make my forearms numb but now my forearms are fine. maybe the blood vessels got stronger to something from all the constant pressing on it. Idek

  • @SB-rf2ye
    @SB-rf2ye 2 года назад +9

    zercher squats are easier on the back, which might be good or bad, depending on your training.
    they're also safe to fail. you just drop the weights.

  • @Rick-ov5rp
    @Rick-ov5rp Год назад +2

    Incredible bicep shoulder stomach isometric contraction(also mid lower back) so 2 lifts in one!

  • @jasonwelsh417
    @jasonwelsh417 2 года назад +3

    Heavy sandbag zercher squats and carries changed my life

  • @flow1188
    @flow1188 9 месяцев назад +1

    vastus mediales activation is high. is hard to train with the Common excercises

  • @bakhtiarsaini9880
    @bakhtiarsaini9880 4 месяца назад +1

    As a person who loves to lift heavy sand bags Zercher squats are the only lift that mimics it I can do in the gym

    • @KettlebellMaxxin
      @KettlebellMaxxin 3 месяца назад

      Yup! The bear hug squat is fantastic which is similar to the zercher.

  • @bigdaddywpb
    @bigdaddywpb 4 месяца назад

    I use elbow sleeves

  • @SOC-ir6im
    @SOC-ir6im 3 года назад +6

    Use an axle bar

  • @Oi-mj6dv
    @Oi-mj6dv 9 месяцев назад +1

    Zerchers feel fucking amazing. Such a meathead yet satisfying activity

  • @steveos3185
    @steveos3185 2 месяца назад

    If you're tall like me.. keep the weight out front. Traditional squats too harsh on the spine for tall ppl

  • @t.bruceford4098
    @t.bruceford4098 2 года назад +2

    Use kids' swimming noodles. Works perfectly and cheap.

  • @omarcosve
    @omarcosve Год назад +1

    - Real world exercise
    - Hit differently the quads

  • @richardjessiejohnson9108
    @richardjessiejohnson9108 2 года назад +1

    Hoodie or an axle bar helped me with the hurts. I can zercher more than I can front SQT now lol

  • @nonoasailo9690
    @nonoasailo9690 3 месяца назад

    The glutes activation was good for me.

  • @CL-Filmz
    @CL-Filmz 9 месяцев назад

    "I got more glute activation from the Zercher Squat, it's actually Jessica's favourite squat now" 😜

  • @chrissheehan5793
    @chrissheehan5793 5 месяцев назад

    Or just don’t complain and fight thru the pain. Lifting is difficult for a normal person to take seriously. Whether is a back, front, or zercher on or not onto a box each has its own specific benefits for you strength and size. Like it’s said JUST DO IT

  • @powskier
    @powskier Месяц назад

    The "Zercher Pro" pad is far superior and worth it. I always hated zerchers until i got one.

  • @NJames-dh6kz
    @NJames-dh6kz 10 месяцев назад

    Zercher squats with an axle are very comfortable and a good option for squatting if you don't have a squat rack.

  • @ms3ben
    @ms3ben 10 месяцев назад

    Belt squat have a similar movement pattern to zerchers, but you don't have to hold the weight.

  • @benzhuang1759
    @benzhuang1759 3 года назад +6

    I use a curl bar for zercher. No pad needed

  • @A-RJ
    @A-RJ 3 месяца назад

    O.M.G 😮😮😮 tried these the other day now ill never stop doing them

  • @Misterutubism
    @Misterutubism Год назад +1

    I feel like these guys don't know the meaning of totally different when they call the front squat and zercher squat totally different exercises.

  • @herculesrockefeller4584
    @herculesrockefeller4584 11 месяцев назад

    I use old knee braces for the crooks of my arms when I Z squat.

  • @MASTERLUKEYSLOC
    @MASTERLUKEYSLOC Год назад

    Found you while researching zercher for grappling

  • @oops262686
    @oops262686 Год назад +1

    I love how my arms look when I do zercher squats 😉

  • @christopherduffy1703
    @christopherduffy1703 9 месяцев назад

    I do both zercher and front squats on leg day.

  • @rhaven090
    @rhaven090 Год назад

    "How you lift things in the real world" I'd really love a list of those functional lifts

  • @S___________
    @S___________ Год назад

    Pain from the zercher in arms no way it just sits there ???? He's soft

  • @codyaims
    @codyaims 5 месяцев назад

    axle bar zerchers are superior

  • @jvm-tv
    @jvm-tv 9 месяцев назад

    The most functional squat variation.

  • @alicantuncer4800
    @alicantuncer4800 Год назад

    Get a THICK bar. I cannot stress THICK enough. Go improvise some street sign pole or go to trainyard for scraps.

  • @goblinsgym
    @goblinsgym 2 года назад +5

    One solution to the discomfort is to use an EZ curl bar. The curve of the bar hugs the crook of the elbow very nicely, and also
    makes sure that the bar is centered. I do them with resistance bands rather than weights.

  • @nemesis8626
    @nemesis8626 Год назад +2

    I would of thought a goblet squat would be more like a functional real life movement than this because never in real life if you pick up an object do you hold it in the middle and balancing on your arms, with the ends of both side of the object unstabalized you hold things more like you would hold a dumbell during a goblet squat, I get you can load the barbell more but I'd rather stick to goblet squats

  • @ShepherdschapelYTexplainsbible
    @ShepherdschapelYTexplainsbible 2 года назад +1

    Stay natural

  • @shanebluesky7452
    @shanebluesky7452 Год назад

    Love doing zercher gm

  • @Ajay-uk6kc
    @Ajay-uk6kc Год назад

    Fat grips

  • @hins2693
    @hins2693 3 года назад +2

    I haven't done squats in a couple of years due to tweaking my knee and been worried since, I've also put squats off for too long as I often felt like I was not getting deep enough even though I could go heavy so it's not been in my routine for ages!
    I tried to back squat and front but it just felt so un natural to me with the positioning. I remembered about this format of squat and I absolutely loved it only on 60kg as I didn't want to overload and wanted to try slap my knees with the bar in term of depth.
    I'm training to be a wrestler and I feel this will really load up my legs and increase my drive in my trap deadlifts aswell. I can't wait to see the progress and actually feel comfortable squatting for once

  • @AchillesFeel
    @AchillesFeel Год назад

    Cool! Thanks

  • @dasdip2001
    @dasdip2001 2 года назад

    quads

  • @gblikesnikes
    @gblikesnikes 2 года назад +1

    6’6 shooting guard here and now a regular gym work out patron. Fuck everything about the Zercher squat shit is mad uncomfortable.

  • @1wisestein
    @1wisestein Год назад

    Terrible zercher, needs more rounding

  • @hioxd
    @hioxd Год назад

    Then why not goblet squat lol?

  • @nikitaw1982
    @nikitaw1982 11 месяцев назад

    lies.

  • @robertsullivan9232
    @robertsullivan9232 Год назад

    Zercher for life

  • @mohamedyossef8146
    @mohamedyossef8146 3 года назад

    Not true. Deadlift mimics real life lifts the most.

    • @rampagesmackssons508
      @rampagesmackssons508 2 года назад

      So what, they still mimic real life

    • @mohamedyossef8146
      @mohamedyossef8146 2 года назад

      @@rampagesmackssons508 it teaches you correct lifting techniques. It’s skill is transferable.

  • @MrInzombia
    @MrInzombia 3 года назад +3

    zercher is bicep tear waiting to happen.