04-05-2021, 06:52 PM
(04-04-2021, 07:11 PM)SunsetBengal Wrote: Forces more core muscle engagement, puts a lot of lower body emphasis on glutes and quads. As opposed to the rear squat being more hamstring dominate. If you want a powerful forward burst, as you lean into your first step, front squat is the way to go.
Yeah, plus it's better mechanically for a lot of people like me who were born with long femurs that make back squats a bit tougher on the knees, but I digress. They will show quickly what kind of stability you have when the upper back starts compensating for the shoulder girdle wanting to lean forward on the first rep or so.
I'd be down with the clean from the floor to press as you suggest. Cleans will show anyone in sort order who'd gym-strong and who's got real athletic burst and mechanics. My roommate in college was a linebacker on EKU's football team. He was more of a "star" back as they call them now. Only about 201, but strong for his size. Really fast. I was stronger than him on all 3 basic lifts, sometimes by a lot. When it came down to cleans, however, it wasn't even close. He could pick up about 350 and pull it from the floor, then in nanosecond drop right under it and stand up. I couldn't do it for my life, or anything close, because I'm not nearly that explosive.
