# Why Squat?
**URL:** https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/t/why-squat/3202
**Category:** Training Discussion
**Created:** [August 30, 2018, 9:20pm UTC](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/t/why-squat/3202 "2018-08-30T21:20:11Z")
**Posts on this page:** 17
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@jonathanfjallrud](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/u/jonathanfjallrud)
#### Post date: [August 30, 2018, 9:20pm UTC](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/t/why-squat/3202/1 "2018-08-30T21:20:11Z")
Controversial topic perhaps, but I have some thoughts about squats I’d like to share and discuss.
Is the squat really necessary for general strength?
For powerlifting purposes I understand that the squat is very important, but wouldn’t pulls and presses be enough for a good amount of hypertrophy and full body strength?
How much would you be missing out on by skipping squats entierly, and focusing on getting really strong at deadlifts and presses instead?
I’m not trying to prove anyone wrong here or anything. I just want to have an interesting discussion.
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### Author:  [@brettkeefer](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/u/brettkeefer)
#### Post date: [August 30, 2018, 9:49pm UTC](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/t/why-squat/3202/2 "2018-08-30T21:49:11Z")
you’d have to turn your man card in bro
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### Author:  [@PWard](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/u/PWard)
#### Post date: [August 30, 2018, 10:16pm UTC](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/t/why-squat/3202/3 "2018-08-30T22:16:38Z")
If you want to replace one arbitrary test of strength with another, it’s not a big deal. However, deadlifts themselves don’t really train the quads very well, so you probably would still want to do some form of a quad dominant lift (eg leg press). Also, it’s very hard to train the deadlift with enough volume to be your sole lift that hits your lower body.
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### Author:  [@llaffin](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/u/llaffin)
#### Post date: [August 30, 2018, 10:35pm UTC](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/t/why-squat/3202/4 "2018-08-30T22:35:18Z")
I think a squat trains the hip musculature pretty well, as well as the quads, in a way that the deadlift cannot. Although I’m sure you could certainly replace them with leg presses and be just fine from a health and general strength point of view.
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### Author:  [@tfranc](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/u/tfranc)
#### Post date: [August 30, 2018, 11:46pm UTC](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/t/why-squat/3202/5 "2018-08-30T23:46:57Z")
I would say squats are important. The squat movement (and variations) are used frequently enough in everyday life, so that training the squat has the potential to benefit quality of life by increasing performance/ease in doing everyday tasks.
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### Author:  [@Kristara](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/u/Kristara)
#### Post date: [August 31, 2018, 2:03am UTC](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/t/why-squat/3202/6 "2018-08-31T02:03:54Z")
@jonathanfjallrud What would the benefit be of not doing the squat? I mean I can think of many benefits of doing the squat even for daily living, lifting and a myriad of other reasons, I actually can find more reasons to do it than not to do it, mind you I am a bit bias. So benefits of not squatting?
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### Author:  [@Austin\_Baraki](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/u/Austin_Baraki)
#### Post date: [August 31, 2018, 2:48am UTC](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/t/why-squat/3202/7 "2018-08-31T02:48:28Z")
> [@jonathanfjallrud](#):
>
> Is the squat really necessary for general strength?
What is “general strength”?
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### Author:  [@Dave\_E](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/u/Dave_E)
#### Post date: [August 31, 2018, 5:15am UTC](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/t/why-squat/3202/8 "2018-08-31T05:15:02Z")
You cant deadlift yourself off the toilet, so I guess there’s that…
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### Author:  [@FredM](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/u/FredM)
#### Post date: [August 31, 2018, 1:55pm UTC](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/t/why-squat/3202/9 "2018-08-31T13:55:25Z")
So you don’t get stuck with pin legs and pulling only 3 plates?
Squats arent that bad dude. Just don’t do them at RPE 10. And if you hate them so much you won’t do them one or twice a week then at least do some leg pressing or deep belt squats.
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### Author:  [@Elton](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/u/Elton)
#### Post date: [August 31, 2018, 2:04pm UTC](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/t/why-squat/3202/10 "2018-08-31T14:04:14Z")
You can live a long and fulfilling life with just Bench and Deadlift. The Big 3 are arbitrary tests that we made up, as is the Snatch and C&J, or any other sport. How you train is goal specific.
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### Author:  [@MitchellCole](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/u/MitchellCole)
#### Post date: [August 31, 2018, 7:32pm UTC](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/t/why-squat/3202/11 "2018-08-31T19:32:41Z")
How are you going to possibly reap the benefits of the “refining power of voluntary hardship” if you don’t grind through 10/10 sets of fahve on the low bar squat?
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### Author:  [@Bear\_Bryan](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/u/Bear_Bryan)
#### Post date: [August 31, 2018, 9:50pm UTC](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/t/why-squat/3202/12 "2018-08-31T21:50:51Z")
> [@MitchellCole](#):
>
> How are you going to possibly reap the benefits of the “refining power of voluntary hardship” if you don’t grind through 10/10 sets of fahve on the low bar squat?
This. Surprised it took this long for someone to say it. _Desire to lean intensifies_
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### Author:  [@Corey](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/u/Corey)
#### Post date: [September 1, 2018, 10:51am UTC](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/t/why-squat/3202/13 "2018-09-01T10:51:08Z")
> [@Elton](#):
>
> You can live a long and fulfilling life with just Bench and Deadlift.
Most people are verifying that you can live a long and fulfilling life with minimal exercise. But we know things can be better with exercise!
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### Author:  [@Elton](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/u/Elton)
#### Post date: [September 1, 2018, 2:50pm UTC](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/t/why-squat/3202/14 "2018-09-01T14:50:49Z")
> [@Corey](#):
>
> Most people are verifying that you can live a long and fulfilling life with minimal exercise. But we know things can be better with exercise!
Sure. I absolutely agree. My personal bias is towards squatting and deadlifting regularly. This style of training keeps me motivated.
However, my mom doesn’t like the idea of putting a bar over her back, or having a barbell contacting her legs the entire way up. So I decided to buy a trap bar for my home gym. My mom also doesn’t like the idea of benching due to fear. So I made this routine for her:
Monday, Wednesdays, and Fridays:
1. Dumbell Press
2. Trap Bar Deadlift
3. LISS on Assault Bike
Saturday:
1. Tai Chi at the park
She likes the routine. I rather my mom be training than not. Maybe down the line, she will ask me for more advice.
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### Author:  [@brettkeefer](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/u/brettkeefer)
#### Post date: [September 2, 2018, 12:51am UTC](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/t/why-squat/3202/15 "2018-09-02T00:51:24Z")
I would say that your mom is going to be missing out on a lot of quality training due to unnecessary fears and that she should be educated properly.
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### Author:  [@Elton](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/u/Elton)
#### Post date: [September 2, 2018, 1:40am UTC](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/t/why-squat/3202/16 "2018-09-02T01:40:52Z")
I wish. If only it was that simple. lol
Though, I do need to step up my coaching game. Still learning!
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### Author:  [@PWard](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/u/PWard)
#### Post date: [September 2, 2018, 1:35pm UTC](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/t/why-squat/3202/17 "2018-09-02T13:35:47Z")
Unfortunately, you can’t force people to do anything. What you have your mom doing is much better than most people’s mom’s are doing. Sure, it may not be “optimal” but it would be hard to argue that she isn’t going to get quality of life and health benefits out of that routine. Hell I wish I could get my mom to just do something/anything, but most people just don’t have the desire. Good on you for finding something that is sustainable for her!