We all know the benefits of 3rd world squatting. I was wondering how many people here have successfully gone from unable to hold the position for more than a few minutes, to be able to sit for as long as they like in the squat.
I am asking this as I have been doing bodyweight squats with a pole to help in b/w sets and it has helped with my mobility, so I am assuming by improving my 3rd world squat will improve my mobility even more.
Interestingly I was in Taiwan for a few weeks and noticed many examples of 3rd world squatting in the streets.
I travel on the train in the UK and in the mornings its really busy going into London, so a few months ago i thought sod this i’m not standing up like all the other muppets. The fast train is about 20 minutes journey. I can manage about 10 minutes straight until i need to stand up because my legs go numb and start hurting, by which time we get to a station where people are getting off so i have to stand.
I do get a few looks because its rare to see anyone in the UK do this. I do when ever i can so i can get comfortable in that position. When putting air into tyres, grabbing items of the bottom shelf out shopping. I noticed when i was doing it regular, at first i had to think about squatting rather than bending down, then one day i remember catching myself in a full squat. I started to do it subconsciously!
Ive always had hip and mobility problems, they seemed to have helped me out the past few months. I do them every night when i do my normal mobility routine, sometimes before I squat I’ll get in a front squat with just 135 and hold it in the bottom of the squat for a minute or so to warm up.
My grandmother could maintain that position for 2 hours peeling bean sprouts in her sixties despite already had lower back and hip problems at that time.
I could eat while squatting like that in my early teens. I can’t do it anymore. However, I’ve not noticed any detriments because of not being able to. I honestly don’t see the point unless using them as a warm up/ stretch before exercise.
[quote]djamazon1 wrote:
I travel on the train in the UK and in the mornings its really busy going into London, so a few months ago i thought sod this i’m not standing up like all the other muppets. The fast train is about 20 minutes journey. I can manage about 10 minutes straight until i need to stand up because my legs go numb and start hurting, by which time we get to a station where people are getting off so i have to stand.
I do get a few looks because its rare to see anyone in the UK do this. I do when ever i can so i can get comfortable in that position. When putting air into tyres, grabbing items of the bottom shelf out shopping. I noticed when i was doing it regular, at first i had to think about squatting rather than bending down, then one day i remember catching myself in a full squat. I started to do it subconsciously![/quote]
is that on a London commuter train? That’s be hilarious
What helped me was the couch stretch at least once a day and Defranco’s Limber 11 every morning and night. I have never been able to hold the “3rd word squat” until I started doing this.
I still never back squat below parallel, but my hips feel much better.
When I started I needed something to hold on to in order to “force” my body not to topple over backwards. Now I do it all the time, especially playing with the kids. I think after a good fifteen minutes, though, I’d get all tingly and uncomfortable, though.
I have NOT seen any carryover, however, into squatting or deadlift mobility. But it is useful now that it is comfortable.
[quote]djamazon1 wrote:
I travel on the train in the UK and in the mornings its really busy going into London, so a few months ago i thought sod this i’m not standing up like all the other muppets. The fast train is about 20 minutes journey. I can manage about 10 minutes straight until i need to stand up because my legs go numb and start hurting, by which time we get to a station where people are getting off so i have to stand.
I do get a few looks because its rare to see anyone in the UK do this. I do when ever i can so i can get comfortable in that position. When putting air into tyres, grabbing items of the bottom shelf out shopping. I noticed when i was doing it regular, at first i had to think about squatting rather than bending down, then one day i remember catching myself in a full squat. I started to do it subconsciously![/quote]
is that on a London commuter train? That’s be hilarious[/quote]
Yes mate. The overground going from Hertforshire. Im never able to get a seat. I must say that it is a very smooth ride though. But i would rather face the elements on my motorbike and save money. Plus its more fun! i have more interaction with people on the roads. Everyone just sits there looking at there phone these days.
[quote]magick wrote:
You don’t want to be able to do this for a long period of time, actually.
Look at hold Asian grandmas. They have crooked backs for a reason. It’s very difficult to hold an actual good squat for any lengthy period of time.[/quote]
Uhm. That is some really twisted logic. Asian grandmothers squat so they have crooked backs when they get old. As compared to more reasonable theories like not enough calcium and osteoporosis - something which isn’t limited to squatting Asian grandmothers. I am bald. I shit sitting on a toilet. Thus, sitting on a toilet makes you bald.
I think squatting is great for mobility, and useful to be able to do. I just don’t think there is much carry-over for squatting for weight.
[quote]magick wrote:
You don’t want to be able to do this for a long period of time, actually.
Look at hold Asian grandmas. They have crooked backs for a reason. It’s very difficult to hold an actual good squat for any lengthy period of time.[/quote]
Uhm. That is some really twisted logic. Asian grandmothers squat so they have crooked backs when they get old. As compared to more reasonable theories like not enough calcium and osteoporosis - something which isn’t limited to squatting Asian grandmothers. I am bald. I shit sitting on a toilet. Thus, sitting on a toilet makes you bald.
I think squatting is great for mobility, and useful to be able to do. I just don’t think there is much carry-over for squatting for weight.
–Me
[/quote]
From my experience I would definitely agree with your last statement. I have zero issues squatting (front and back) way below parallel but when I tried to work on using squatting as a resting position it was pretty uncomfortable. A position I could handle holding for a few minutes comfortably playing with my son but not something I would want to hold for 15-20 minutes waiting for a bus or sitting to eat dinner.
I saw a lot of carry over to my back squat mobility, but I couldn’t back squat very well when I started this quest. That’s why I do Limber 11. Helped me with both. For the personal goal of the third world squat I just added in some bodyweight squats in the mornings and throughout the day. I think repetition is key just to get your body used to it.