Let’s go back in time to see how bodybuilders, weightlifters and other power athletes used to build lower body strength. But before that, let’s make a few things clear. A leg workout is the lower level foundation of every path to building strength. Whether you want to play tennis or squat a monster weight in a powerlifting competition, you should seriously consider training your legs and preferably use a squat rack as an essential build for developing leg power. , but we’ll talk more about that later.
The only weapon of leg exercise equipment that athletes used in the past was simple, flat squats. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying that using two metal urns with “J” hooks is bad or anything. I’m just saying you may have a much better solution for your training than the old days. Although a squat is still a good solution, it does not provide a very important detail: safety.
The squat rack, although used in the past, was not common equipment in the gym until the last two decades, when all other sports began to pay more attention to weight training. More and more money was being thrown into the ring, which resulted in very good training machines. Today we are witnessing equipment so advanced that an ordinary person, if thrown into the gym, would never discover how it works. But complicated and advanced does not always mean that you can somehow benefit from it. IMHO it’s always good not to overcomplicate things and go back to the basics of old school style. A barbell, a set of weight plates and a squat rack is all you need for a powerful lower body workout. No need for all that advance hype. Returning to the essential form of development of power is enough.
But what exactly makes squat racks stand out from the crowd? Well, first of all, let’s just say that squats are always the number one leg exercise, regardless of what goals you’re trying to achieve. But to truly harness the power of the squat, you need to perform it with a squat rack. When performing squats, there is always the possibility of slipping and falling on the bar. Knee, leg, or spine injuries are just a few of the potential problems that can occur. Since the squat rack has side receivers to hold the weight if for some reason you lose your balance and start to fall, an injury-free workout is guaranteed. Also, your brain will have nothing to fear. Since fear can be a great blocker when it comes to putting your best foot forward, the security and fear relief you get with the brace can make the difference between 90% and 100% useful leg training. Not many people know this, not even some experienced lifters. But squat racks make things easy for your brain, and therefore allow you to focus on what matters most: proper exercise execution and technique.