\nOnline Courses: Contact us at seminars@crossfit.com \nCrossFit Games Support: Reach out to support@crossfitgames.com \nFor T-Shirt Purchase: Check your inbox for instructions from customer@trackorder.site
\n","orderHistoryHeadlineText":"Order History","orderHistoryLabelText":"Order History","viewOrderDetailsText":"View order details"},"resourcesKickerText":"Resources","rulebookLabelText":"Rulebook","rulebookLinkUrl":"https://games.crossfit.com/rules","preferenceCenter":{"checkAllText":"Check All","emailCommunicationBodyText":"Select which lists you would like to receive communication from","emailCommunicationHeadlineText":"Email Communication","newsletters":[{"bodyText":"Every day since 2001, CrossFit has published a Workout of the Day for new CrossFit athletes, seasoned veterans, and anyone in between. Subscribe to Workout of the Day emails, and you'll receive CrossFit programming in a three-days-on, one-day-off, two-days-on, one-day-off cadence.","brazeGroupId":"d68551b9-ac7e-437e-bfd2-d225702413cc","headlineText":"Workout of the Day"},{"bodyText":"Get inspired with the latest and/or trending articles, stories, videos, and podcasts focused on the CrossFit community and methodology.","brazeGroupId":"1bfd806e-efe3-404d-9980-c8f38c39490b","headlineText":"What's Trending"},{"bodyText":"Be the first to know when official updates and announcements are released from CrossFit HQ.","brazeGroupId":"cb28cb07-ca09-4739-b73b-7413f95a4892","headlineText":"Updates and Announcements from CrossFit HQ"},{"bodyText":"This subscription is for those interested in announcements, updates, and stories about the CrossFit Games season and its competitors. ","brazeGroupId":"e56abfcc-c940-482d-879c-eed93958cbbe","headlineText":"CrossFit Games"},{"bodyText":"This monthly newsletter includes important CrossFit Games competition season updates, resources, and tips. It is intended for competitive athletes but is open to anyone interested in learning more about the CrossFit Games season.","brazeGroupId":"fce49890-9b3c-4e1f-9e06-1bd06cd696a3","headlineText":"The Hopper"},{"bodyText":"The Professional Coach provides a wealth of articles, media, and webinar opportunities that cover all aspects of coaching, including best practices, real-world coaching application, scaling, methodology, nutrition, CEU opportunities, and more. With contributions from experts inside and outside the CrossFit space, this twice-monthly newsletter is the ultimate tool for any coach looking to improve their skills and knowledge. This newsletter is exclusively available to those who hold a Level 1 Certificate or higher. ","brazeGroupId":"653207fb-9734-44c9-a988-23eb18142529","headlineText":"The Professional Coach"},{"bodyText":"The Affiliate Update is a newsletter for CrossFit affiliate owners and includes upcoming event details, business and marketing resources, and general updates from CrossFit HQ. The Affiliate Update is only available to licensees of record (LOR).","brazeGroupId":"1d3e4c63-f03f-4b61-8453-1fbb186ae27e","headlineText":"CrossFit Affiliate Update"},{"bodyText":"An email series for learning what it takes to open and run a successful CrossFit gym","brazeGroupId":"6ab8a53a-167c-4c74-b5ea-3a06cb857068","headlineText":"Interested in Affiliation"},{"bodyText":"CAP is a weekly email available exclusively to affiliate owners that provides comprehensive class plans, resources, and educational tips to help coaches deliver an exceptional experience to their members.","brazeGroupId":"ba7e977e-ec76-41e3-8465-158d38167ed6","headlineText":"CrossFit Affiliate Programming (CAP)"},{"bodyText":"CrossFit Health serves as a vital bridge connecting the realms of fitness and healthcare. Committed to delivering valuable insights, CrossFit Health harnesses the expertise of renowned professionals from the health, wellness, and CrossFit communities. Our mission is to educate individuals on the transformative potential of CrossFit as a powerful lifestyle intervention, ultimately optimizing health outcomes.","brazeGroupId":"a9c5a8a4-df0a-4b0c-acb6-e9b4631fc00c","headlineText":"CrossFit Health"},{"bodyText":"Be the first to know when new products are added to the Official CrossFit Store and receive special offers and discounts conveniently delivered directly to your inbox.","brazeGroupId":"905db0be-a3c8-4f5b-8903-536a04cb0a40","headlineText":"The CrossFit Store"},{"bodyText":"This subscription is for companies interested in on-site event activations and vendor booths at the CrossFit Games and other events hosted by CrossFit.","brazeGroupId":"92fa7fe8-262a-4d6a-9b0d-9fcc8cc17e7d","headlineText":"Interested in On-Site Event Activations / Vendor Booths"},{"bodyText":"Get alerted for upcoming courses. CrossFit courses and certifications are open to individuals and trainers seeking to improve their health and fitness through effective training and nutritional strategies.","brazeGroupId":"dd1ee7a4-2ef5-477b-affb-77347ce81684","headlineText":"Interested in Finding a Course Near You"}],"preferenceCenterHeadlineText":"Newsletter Preferences","preferenceCenterLabelText":"Newsletter Preferences","uncheckAllText":"Uncheck All"}}},"pages":{"breadcrumbs":{"links":[{"text":"Essentials","url":"/essentials"},{"text":"The Essential Air Squat","url":"#"}]},"contentPublishDate":"20241019","contentType":"article","commentTopics":[{"title":"The Essential Air Squat","topicId":"article.20240930104130672"}],"title":"The Essential Air Squat","topicId":"article.20240930104130672","socialMetaData":{"title":"The Essential Air Squat","image":"https://www.crossfit.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/30104937/Essential-CrossFit-Air-Squat.jpg","description":"The air squat is a fundamental movement critical to maintaining mobility and joint health in the ankles, knees, and hips. "},"categoryLinks":[{"text":"Essentials","url":"/essentials"}],"path":"/essentials/essential-air-squat","components":[{"name":"ArticleHeader","props":{"topicId":"article.20240930104130672","date":"20241019","categoryLinks":[{"text":"Essentials","url":"/essentials"}],"articleDate":"20241019","authorName":"Stephane Rochet, CF-L3","bylineText":"By","headlineText":"The Essential Air Squat"}},{"name":"TextBlock","props":{"children":"
The squat is essential to your well-being. Squatting develops mobility around your ankles, knees, and hips, keeping these joints healthy and functioning for a lifetime. If you have knee, hip, or lower back pain, you must squat more, not less, and always with excellent technique.
\n
Squats are a fundamental movement pattern you use daily whether you have the capacity or not. A squat is required when you get on and off a chair, get in and out of the car, get on and off the toilet, and get down and back up off the ground. Regarding your athleticism, your squat impacts your capacity to extend your hips, which is critical for running fast, jumping high, and throwing and punching hard. Squatting is an essential part of CrossFit.
\n
Out of all the squat variations used in CrossFit, no movement is more foundational than the air squat. For most people joining CrossFit, the first experience is learning to air squat. We believe if you can’t squat correctly, you are functioning at a fraction of your capacity and are limiting your ability to live independently. The more difficulty you have performing this movement, the more we insist you continue to practice and refine it, as your difficulty exactly describes your need to squat.
\n
Technique
\n
Proper technique is essential to achieve all the listed benefits of squatting. Fortunately, learning to squat safely is relatively easy. A proper squat looks like this:
\n
\n
Start with your heels at approximately shoulder width and your toes turned out slightly. This foot position works well for most athletes, but you can alter it as needed based on your success in executing a squat. Ultimately, the foot position that allows you to perform your best squat is the one you should use.
\n
In the top position, your legs and hips should be fully extended to their natural end range of motion. Keep your spine neutral by engaging your abdominals and looking straight ahead.
\n
To initiate the movement, push your hips back and down until the crease of your hips is lower than the tops of your knees. This is the bottom position. From here, drive through your heels, squeeze your glutes and hamstrings, and return to the start position.
\n
Throughout the movement, maintain your lumbar curve, keep pressure on your heels, and ensure your knees track your toes.
\n
\n
To help you learn, refine, and master the air squat, the CrossFit Journal article “Squat Clinic” is indispensable. Read over the common faults in the squat. If you have any of these, practice the corrective drills listed. Another great teaching method for the squat taught at the CrossFit Level 1 Certificate Course is Squat Therapy.
\n
Squat Therapy is a diagnostic and corrective tool for any athlete, regardless of capacity or skill, looking to refine any part of their squat. The drill goes like this:
\n
\n
The athlete sets up facing a wall with a medicine ball placed behind them as a depth target. The athlete should be close enough to the wall that it will be challenging for them to keep from touching it as they descend, but not so close they have no room to descend. Similarly, the bottom position should be slightly challenging to achieve, but not so much that technique is sacrificed to reach the ball.
\n
The athlete performs a slow, controlled rep, and their musculature is engaged to maintain proper form. At any point along the rep, if technique deteriorates, the coach pauses the athlete, fixes the issue, and the rep continues toward the bottom target. If the problem cannot be fixed, the setup is too challenging for the athlete, and they need to back away from the wall slightly or raise the bottom position.
\n
Once sound mechanics are comfortably maintained with the current set-up, the coach nudges the athlete closer to the wall, lowers the bottom target slightly, and repeats the process. The coach must always remain vigilant for faults, such as the knees caving in or the athlete collapsing in the bottom position, that will creep in as the athlete gets challenged more and more.
\n
Moving closer to the wall and reducing the target’s height continues until the athlete’s mechanics break down, or they demonstrate all of the technique elements required while standing very close to the wall and squatting to the proper depth. Over time, Squat Therapy will help an athlete develop a virtuous squat.
\n
\n
As the ability to do air squats increases, do not rush training the front, back, and overhead squats. Any small, seemingly insignificant fault in the air squat will be dramatically magnified in the weighted versions. If you possess any degree of the most common faults: surrendering the lumbar curve at the bottom, not breaking parallel with the thighs in the bottom position, dropping the chest on the descent, or lifting the heels, it’s too early to move on to weighted squats. Master your air squat first.
\n
Even once you have moved on to training weighted squats, do not relegate the air squat to a quick warm-up set or the met-con. Dedicated, deliberate air squat practice such as Squat Therapy is required weekly, if not several times a week, to continually develop capacity and improve this infinitely refinable movement pattern. Mastery in the air squat will serve you well with all your fitness and health goals throughout your life, so make sure to put your time in.
\n\n
About the Author
\n
Stephane Rochet is a Senior Content Writer for CrossFit. He has worked as a Flowmaster on the CrossFit Seminar Staff and has over 15 years of experience as a collegiate/tactical strength and conditioning coach. He is a Certified CrossFit Trainer (CF-L3) and enjoys training athletes in his garage gym.
\n","hideText":"Hide","status":"active","type":"alert_banner","userCanHide":"no"},"header":{"desktopLinks":[{"below":[{"id":93961,"parent":"93960","target":"_self","text":"What is CrossFit?","url":"/what-is-crossfit"},{"id":93962,"parent":"93960","target":"_self","text":"Find a Gym","url":"/map"}],"id":93960,"parent":"0","target":"_self","text":"Getting Started","url":"/what-is-crossfit"},{"below":[{"id":93964,"parent":"93963","target":"_self","text":"About","url":"/education/about"},{"id":93966,"parent":"93963","target":"_self","text":"Level 1 Certificate Course","url":"/certificate-courses/level-1"},{"id":93965,"parent":"93963","target":"_self","text":"Explore All Courses","url":"/education/explore-courses"},{"id":109033,"parent":"93963","target":"_self","text":"Private Courses","url":"/private-course/"},{"id":109034,"parent":"93963","target":"_self","text":"Military Resources","url":"/army-ignited"},{"id":93967,"parent":"93963","target":"_self","text":"Coaching Resources","url":"/education/resources"}],"id":93963,"parent":"0","target":"_self","text":"Courses","url":"/education/about"},{"below":[{"id":95951,"parent":"93968","target":"_self","text":"Workout of the Day","url":"/wod"},{"id":93969,"parent":"93968","target":"_self","text":"Explore Workouts","url":"https://www.crossfit.com/workout"},{"id":101892,"parent":"93968","target":"_self","text":"Hero Workouts","url":"https://www.crossfit.com/heroes/"},{"id":93970,"parent":"93968","target":"_self","text":"Movements","url":"https://www.crossfit.com/crossfit-movements"}],"id":93968,"parent":"0","target":"_self","text":"Workouts","url":"https://www.crossfit.com/workout"},{"id":93971,"parent":"0","target":"_self","text":"Learn","url":"/media"},{"id":93972,"parent":"0","target":"_blank","text":"Games","url":"https://games.crossfit.com"},{"id":105467,"parent":"0","target":"_blank","text":"Store","url":"https://store.crossfit.com/?utm_source=owned&utm_medium=nav&utm_campaign=main"},{"id":106137,"parent":"0","target":"_self","text":"Open A Gym","url":"/open-crossfit-gym"}],"mobileLinks":[{"text":"Open a CrossFit Gym"},{"text":"Browse","links":[{"below":[{"id":93961,"parent":"93960","target":"_self","text":"What is CrossFit?","url":"/what-is-crossfit"},{"id":93962,"parent":"93960","target":"_self","text":"Find a Gym","url":"/map"}],"id":93960,"parent":"0","target":"_self","text":"Getting Started","url":"/what-is-crossfit"},{"below":[{"id":93964,"parent":"93963","target":"_self","text":"About","url":"/education/about"},{"id":93966,"parent":"93963","target":"_self","text":"Level 1 Certificate Course","url":"/certificate-courses/level-1"},{"id":93965,"parent":"93963","target":"_self","text":"Explore All Courses","url":"/education/explore-courses"},{"id":109033,"parent":"93963","target":"_self","text":"Private Courses","url":"/private-course/"},{"id":109034,"parent":"93963","target":"_self","text":"Military Resources","url":"/army-ignited"},{"id":93967,"parent":"93963","target":"_self","text":"Coaching Resources","url":"/education/resources"}],"id":93963,"parent":"0","target":"_self","text":"Courses","url":"/education/about"},{"below":[{"id":95951,"parent":"93968","target":"_self","text":"Workout of the Day","url":"/wod"},{"id":93969,"parent":"93968","target":"_self","text":"Explore Workouts","url":"https://www.crossfit.com/workout"},{"id":101892,"parent":"93968","target":"_self","text":"Hero Workouts","url":"https://www.crossfit.com/heroes/"},{"id":93970,"parent":"93968","target":"_self","text":"Movements","url":"https://www.crossfit.com/crossfit-movements"}],"id":93968,"parent":"0","target":"_self","text":"Workouts","url":"https://www.crossfit.com/workout"},{"id":93971,"parent":"0","target":"_self","text":"Learn","url":"/media"},{"id":93972,"parent":"0","target":"_blank","text":"Games","url":"https://games.crossfit.com"},{"id":105467,"parent":"0","target":"_blank","text":"Store","url":"https://store.crossfit.com/?utm_source=owned&utm_medium=nav&utm_campaign=main"},{"id":106137,"parent":"0","target":"_self","text":"Open A Gym","url":"/open-crossfit-gym"}]}],"brandLinks":[{"id":93974,"parent":"0","target":"_self","text":"Open a CrossFit Gym","url":"/open-crossfit-gym"}],"loggedInMenu":[{"id":72863,"parent":"0","target":"_self","text":"Manage Account","url":"https://www.crossfit.com/dashboard"},{"id":72864,"parent":"0","target":"_self","text":"Competition Dashboard","url":"https://games.crossfit.com/manage-competition/athlete"}]},"footer":{"mainLinks":[{"below":[{"id":9764,"parent":"511","target":"_self","text":"What Is CrossFit?","url":"/what-is-crossfit"},{"id":9765,"parent":"511","target":"_self","text":"Get Started","url":"/get-started"},{"id":45861,"parent":"511","target":"_self","text":"Workouts","url":"/workout/"},{"id":45862,"parent":"511","target":"_self","text":"Movements","url":"/essentials/movements"},{"id":1741,"parent":"511","target":"_self","text":"FAQ","url":"/faq"},{"id":90183,"parent":"511","target":"_self","text":"Help Center","url":"https://crossfit.my.site.com/Support/s/"},{"id":45103,"parent":"511","target":"_self","text":"Careers","url":"/careers/"}],"id":511,"parent":"0","target":"_self","text":"About CrossFit","url":"#"},{"below":[{"id":45864,"parent":"45863","target":"_self","text":"Courses Near You","url":"/courses-near-you/"},{"id":45865,"parent":"45863","target":"_self","text":"Certificate Courses","url":"/certificate-courses/"},{"id":45866,"parent":"45863","target":"_self","text":"Certifications","url":"/certifications/"},{"id":45868,"parent":"45863","target":"_self","text":"Online Courses","url":"https://www.crossfit.com/online-courses"}],"id":45863,"parent":"0","target":"_self","text":"Education","url":"#"},{"below":[{"id":45870,"parent":"45871","target":"_self","text":"Open a CrossFit Gym","url":"/open-crossfit-gym"},{"id":45884,"parent":"45871","target":"_self","text":"Field Leaders","url":"/field-leaders"},{"id":90935,"parent":"45871","target":"_self","text":"Global Mentor Program","url":"/global-mentor-program/"},{"id":93982,"parent":"45871","target":"_self","text":"Affiliate Portal","url":"https://affiliate.crossfit.com/tools/"}],"id":45871,"parent":"0","target":"_self","text":"Affiliates","url":"#"},{"below":[{"id":16638,"parent":"45875","target":"_self","text":"Find a Trainer","url":"https://trainerdirectory.crossfit.com/"},{"id":45876,"parent":"45875","target":"_self","text":"Scholarship Program","url":"/scholarship-program-inquiry"},{"id":45877,"parent":"45875","target":"_self","text":"Foundation","url":"/foundation"},{"id":104122,"parent":"45875","target":"_self","text":"CrossFit Medical Society","url":"https://www.crossfitmedicalsociety.com/"}],"id":45875,"parent":"0","target":"_self","text":"Community","url":"#"},{"below":[{"id":45881,"parent":"45879","target":"_self","text":"About the Games","url":"https://games.crossfit.com/"},{"id":45880,"parent":"45879","target":"_self","text":"Leaderboard","url":"https://games.crossfit.com/leaderboard/games/2022?division=2"},{"id":45882,"parent":"45879","target":"_self","text":"Schedule","url":"https://games.crossfit.com/games/schedule?_ga=2.142929340.802559833.1690817966-401013740.1685640771"},{"id":91727,"parent":"45879","target":"_self","text":"Workouts","url":"https://games.crossfit.com/workouts/games/2023"}],"id":45879,"parent":"0","target":"_self","text":"The CrossFit Games","url":"#"}],"brandLinks":[],"socialLinks":[{"id":66715,"parent":"0","target":"_self","text":"facebook","url":"https://www.facebook.com/crossfit"},{"id":66716,"parent":"0","target":"_self","text":"twitter","url":"https://twitter.com/CrossFit"},{"id":66717,"parent":"0","target":"_self","text":"instagram","url":"https://www.instagram.com/crossfit/"},{"id":66718,"parent":"0","target":"_self","text":"youtube","url":"https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtcQ6TPwXAYgZ1Mcl3M1vng"}],"contactLinks":[{"id":531,"target":"_self","text":"Careers","url":"https://www.crossfit.com/jobs"},{"id":532,"target":"_self","text":"Contact Us","url":"https://www.crossfit.com/contact-us"}],"legalLinks":[{"id":533,"parent":"0","target":"_self","text":"Terms & Conditions","url":"https://www.crossfit.com/terms-and-conditions"},{"id":534,"parent":"0","target":"_self","text":"Privacy Policy","url":"https://www.crossfit.com/privacy-policy"},{"id":10717,"parent":"0","target":"_self","text":"Cookie Policy","url":"https://www.crossfit.com/cookie-policy"},{"id":57312,"parent":"0","target":"_self","text":"Disclaimer","url":"https://www.crossfit.com/disclaimer"},{"id":10883,"parent":"0","target":"_self","text":"Contact Us","url":"https://www.crossfit.com/contact-us"},{"id":45883,"parent":"0","target":"_self","text":"Report IP Theft","url":"https://www.crossfit.com/iptheft"}]},"locationPages":{"simpleTiles":{"cards":[{"bodyText":"CrossFit offers a results-based, community-driven approach to functional training that helps you build strength and improve your health—over your lifetime.","headlineText":"Functional Fitness for Everyday Life","icon":{"alt":"Lifting Icon","url":"https://www.crossfit.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/26123658/crossfit-icon-workout-barbell-overhead-press.svg"}},{"bodyText":"Stay motivated with our community of coaches and members, who support your goals through approachable group training classes, helping you stay accountable and excited for each session.","headlineText":"Community Support and Motivation","icon":{"alt":"Heart Icon","url":"https://www.crossfit.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/26123700/crossfit-icon-heart.svg"}},{"bodyText":"Coaches scale class workouts to your fitness level to help you achieve your strength building goals.","headlineText":"Tailored to Your Fitness Levels","icon":{"alt":"Graph Icon","url":"https://www.crossfit.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/26123649/crossfit-icon-levels.svg"}},{"bodyText":"CrossFit coaches are experienced and trained to provide well-rounded and personalized guidance to individuals with varying fitness levels and goals.","headlineText":"Industry Certified Coaches","icon":{"alt":"Certification Icon","url":"https://www.crossfit.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/26123656/crossfit-icon-check-badge.svg"}}],"headlineText":"Build Strength for a Fuller Life"},"gymFinderPromo":{"bodyText":"Contact CrossFit to start your fitness journey. We’ll connect you to the closest gym in your area.","headlineText":"Get Started today","image":{"alt":"Man Lifting Barbell","sizes":{"1536x1536":"https://www.crossfit.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/13135656/aa6daff2983e555e3688654515568d25-1-768x512-1.jpeg","1536x1536Height":512,"1536x1536Width":768,"2048x2048":"https://www.crossfit.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/13135656/aa6daff2983e555e3688654515568d25-1-768x512-1.jpeg","2048x2048Height":512,"2048x2048Width":768,"hero":"https://www.crossfit.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/13135656/aa6daff2983e555e3688654515568d25-1-768x512-1.jpeg","heroHeight":512,"heroWidth":768,"heroLarge":"https://www.crossfit.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/13135656/aa6daff2983e555e3688654515568d25-1-768x512-1.jpeg","heroLargeHeight":512,"heroLargeWidth":768,"large":"https://www.crossfit.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/13135656/aa6daff2983e555e3688654515568d25-1-768x512-1.jpeg","largeHeight":512,"largeWidth":768,"medium":"https://www.crossfit.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/13135656/aa6daff2983e555e3688654515568d25-1-768x512-1.jpeg","mediumHeight":512,"mediumWidth":768,"mediumLarge":"https://www.crossfit.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/13135656/aa6daff2983e555e3688654515568d25-1-768x512-1.jpeg","mediumLargeHeight":512,"mediumLargeWidth":768,"small":"https://www.crossfit.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/13135656/aa6daff2983e555e3688654515568d25-1-768x512-1-300x200.jpeg","smallHeight":200,"smallWidth":300,"thumbnail":"https://www.crossfit.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/13135656/aa6daff2983e555e3688654515568d25-1-768x512-1-150x150.jpeg","thumbnailHeight":150,"thumbnailWidth":150}},"links":[{"link":{"priority":"primary","text":"Find a Gym","url":"/map"}},{"link":{"priority":"secondary","text":"What Is CrossFit?","url":"/what-is-crossfit"}}]},"locationCourseCards":{"courseLinkText":"Register Now","findCourseLink":{"text":"Find More Courses","url":"https://www.crossfit.com/courses-near-you"},"headerText":"Courses Near You","seminarType":["level-one","level-two"]},"socialSharing":{"facebook":{"description":"Jump into CrossFit in [City Name]! Our certified coach led group training and fitness classes feature strength, conditioning, and functional workouts.","title":"CrossFit Gyms in [State] | Functional Fitness Classes & Group Training"}}}},"user":{},"coachCertifications":{}}
The squat is essential to your well-being. Squatting develops mobility around your ankles, knees, and hips, keeping these joints healthy and functioning for a lifetime. If you have knee, hip, or lower back pain, you must squat more, not less, and always with excellent technique.
Squats are a fundamental movement pattern you use daily whether you have the capacity or not. A squat is required when you get on and off a chair, get in and out of the car, get on and off the toilet, and get down and back up off the ground. Regarding your athleticism, your squat impacts your capacity to extend your hips, which is critical for running fast, jumping high, and throwing and punching hard. Squatting is an essential part of CrossFit.
Out of all the squat variations used in CrossFit, no movement is more foundational than the air squat. For most people joining CrossFit, the first experience is learning to air squat. We believe if you can’t squat correctly, you are functioning at a fraction of your capacity and are limiting your ability to live independently. The more difficulty you have performing this movement, the more we insist you continue to practice and refine it, as your difficulty exactly describes your need to squat.
Technique
Proper technique is essential to achieve all the listed benefits of squatting. Fortunately, learning to squat safely is relatively easy. A proper squat looks like this:
Start with your heels at approximately shoulder width and your toes turned out slightly. This foot position works well for most athletes, but you can alter it as needed based on your success in executing a squat. Ultimately, the foot position that allows you to perform your best squat is the one you should use.
In the top position, your legs and hips should be fully extended to their natural end range of motion. Keep your spine neutral by engaging your abdominals and looking straight ahead.
To initiate the movement, push your hips back and down until the crease of your hips is lower than the tops of your knees. This is the bottom position. From here, drive through your heels, squeeze your glutes and hamstrings, and return to the start position.
Throughout the movement, maintain your lumbar curve, keep pressure on your heels, and ensure your knees track your toes.
To help you learn, refine, and master the air squat, the CrossFit Journal article “Squat Clinic” is indispensable. Read over the common faults in the squat. If you have any of these, practice the corrective drills listed. Another great teaching method for the squat taught at the CrossFit Level 1 Certificate Course is Squat Therapy.
Squat Therapy is a diagnostic and corrective tool for any athlete, regardless of capacity or skill, looking to refine any part of their squat. The drill goes like this:
The athlete sets up facing a wall with a medicine ball placed behind them as a depth target. The athlete should be close enough to the wall that it will be challenging for them to keep from touching it as they descend, but not so close they have no room to descend. Similarly, the bottom position should be slightly challenging to achieve, but not so much that technique is sacrificed to reach the ball.
The athlete performs a slow, controlled rep, and their musculature is engaged to maintain proper form. At any point along the rep, if technique deteriorates, the coach pauses the athlete, fixes the issue, and the rep continues toward the bottom target. If the problem cannot be fixed, the setup is too challenging for the athlete, and they need to back away from the wall slightly or raise the bottom position.
Once sound mechanics are comfortably maintained with the current set-up, the coach nudges the athlete closer to the wall, lowers the bottom target slightly, and repeats the process. The coach must always remain vigilant for faults, such as the knees caving in or the athlete collapsing in the bottom position, that will creep in as the athlete gets challenged more and more.
Moving closer to the wall and reducing the target’s height continues until the athlete’s mechanics break down, or they demonstrate all of the technique elements required while standing very close to the wall and squatting to the proper depth. Over time, Squat Therapy will help an athlete develop a virtuous squat.
As the ability to do air squats increases, do not rush training the front, back, and overhead squats. Any small, seemingly insignificant fault in the air squat will be dramatically magnified in the weighted versions. If you possess any degree of the most common faults: surrendering the lumbar curve at the bottom, not breaking parallel with the thighs in the bottom position, dropping the chest on the descent, or lifting the heels, it’s too early to move on to weighted squats. Master your air squat first.
Even once you have moved on to training weighted squats, do not relegate the air squat to a quick warm-up set or the met-con. Dedicated, deliberate air squat practice such as Squat Therapy is required weekly, if not several times a week, to continually develop capacity and improve this infinitely refinable movement pattern. Mastery in the air squat will serve you well with all your fitness and health goals throughout your life, so make sure to put your time in.
About the Author
Stephane Rochet is a Senior Content Writer for CrossFit. He has worked as a Flowmaster on the CrossFit Seminar Staff and has over 15 years of experience as a collegiate/tactical strength and conditioning coach. He is a Certified CrossFit Trainer (CF-L3) and enjoys training athletes in his garage gym.
The Essential Air Squat