Barbell Squat Exercise - Building Leg Muscles Like Paul Anderson

The squat exercise is your fastest route to big arms, powerful shoulders, and a muscular chest.

The Barbell Squat - King of Exercises

When you think of building your body, chances are you will visualize bigger arms and shoulders, and a muscular chest - but not big legs. For many, building leg muscles are an afterthought and something only to be considered after the more glamorous body parts have been taken care of.

For those who DO build their leg muscles, there is a similarly good chance you will get your strength training workout on the leg extension machine, or perhaps the leg press. Equally, there is an excellent chance you do not squat.

Right HERE is the typical trainee's number 1 mistake.

Why Squat?

So why is the barbell squat exercise so important and why must you endeavor to make squat training the core of your workouts? To be blunt, heavy squat work - and its many variations such as the lunges exercise - is the fastest route to big arms, powerful shoulders, and a muscular chest.

Confused?

This paradox was unravelled over half a century ago:

Squat to Power

This champion of the barbell squat exercise was Mark Berry whose contributions to strength training included serving as the coach of the American weightlifting team in both the 1932 and 1936 Olympics - a man whose most widespread and enduring gift to strength training involved the promotion of heavy squats.

Consider how Mark Berry added over 50 lbs muscular body weight to his own frame, and how his students made comparable gains, and it is no surprise Berry was said to have ushered in a "new era" as a direct result of his emphasis upon intensive training of the body's largest muscle group, i.e., the legs.

Enjoying the benefits of squats, others would soon follow in his wake, including possibly the strongest man in history, and certainly the strongest man in his day, Paul Anderson.

To discover your how to squat myths and tips see squat technique

Building Leg Muscles Like a Titan

Paul Anderson began strength training as a 5' 9" 190 lbs teenage football player looking to improve his athletic performance. Training almost exclusively on the barbell squat, Paul soon weighed 275 lbs and was squatting close to 600 lbs.

By November 1953 Paul squatted 820 lbs (and this was in the era when many authorities were calling Doug Hepburn the strongest man who ever lived).

The mid-1950s saw Paul squatting a staggering 900 lbs in the squat exercise!

Barbell Squat Testimonials

Here is what Paul Anderson's rival, Doug Hepburn, had to say about the best testosterone booster:

"Of all the exercises used to develop body power, one stands alone. I am referring to the Deep Knee Bend or Squat. No other single exercise can give the trainee greater overall strength in return for the time and effort involved."

"Yes, the king of exercises, the squat, will help your overall gains more than any movement."

In Summary

Want to build your body? The barbell squat exercise is your fastest route to big arms, powerful shoulders, and a muscular chest. Follow the example of the strongmen of yesteryear, and embrace this King of Exercises.

Want to unleash the superhero in you? Let the stiff leg deadlift show you how.

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