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Q: Can you squat?
Since I've been in China I have been fascinated by the squatting. I'm not talking about toilet squatting but rather the 'rest' squat.
I always thought it seemed extremely uncomfortable and wondered why people did it. Especially when more often than not there are decent seats around to sit on.
I finally gave it a sustained try the other day and lasted about 10 seconds squatting on the balls of my feet before the pain got too much.
I could not even manage two seconds with my feet fully on the floor.
So am I alone or is the Chinese squat a special ability?
I don't think. I used to squat all the time, some times to rest, other times while working on things. One day while opening a small vault that was at floor level I couldn't. I could not bend my knees more than 90*, -- arthritis. My knees only got worse after that.
IrvineWelsh:
Nasty. Sad to hear you glory squat days are over.
But could you ever say squat down for a full 15 minutes, feet full on the floor, top of legs at around a 45 degree angle whilst eating dinner and chattng?
For me it could never be done, even when I was a springy nineteen year old.
TedDBayer:
yes, all the wrenching I used to do on my bikes was in a squat. I still don't have a work bench.
The Chinese squat is an acquired ability, i'm sure it take years to perfect, like break-dancing, and I can do neither, though i've tried both, each time with the same result; on my arse and looking like sh*t.
I cannot squat and when I have tried, the pain is too much to remain like this. 'Squatting' for rest or some other activity is not just a Chinese 'thing' but all Asians can do this. However, even in other places such in South America and Africa people learn to do do this. They all begin this as soon as they are in the toddler stage, whereas
in the Western world, children learn to sit on chairs.
JustinF:
How blatantly and ridiculously innacurate are your statements. I am Asian and I cannot squat. And Italy is well known for having public squat toilets, which are also widely used is Eastern Europe and ex Soviet countries. Please do some research before posting anything.
IrvineWelsh:
Squat toilets are different. Most Chinese do seem to be able to perform masterful squats that others countries could only dream of.
Squatting in Asian countries has resulted in people having a different development of a leg muscle in these countries which over time enables them to do it far more easily than us westerners.
But here's a bit of useless information. Italian concreters and grano workers have that same ability. They squat for ages in their jobs so I assume the same thing has happened to them.
Like mArtiAn I go arse over tit after just a few seconds hence I have limited my use to squat toilets here to just once in 3 years!!!
IrvineWelsh:
The squat toilets are a wholly different beast to master. I always have a big fear of releasing a brown on my jeans/trousers...
Yes I can. I do 8-12 reps at @ 225#. It's not much but I avoid more weight/less reps as I think this is more likely to lead to injury. No one-rep-max for me.
Oh, that? Yes, but I avoid it whenever possible.
bill8899:
Word! TBH 225# is not a lot of weight. I only go just past parallel due to lower back issues, and 225# is about my max for reps. So, yea.
R U jelly? hahahaha
yer jelly!
Hulk:
I've done squats with 400lbs. My legs are pretty strong after years of carrying my fat ass around. Actually, they've always been strong. I don't no why.
Yeah, I'm doing it right now while using my laptop as a cellphone, with the door open while I talk to everyone in the room and let my crap odor waft throughout the room.
The secret in the squat lies within the positioning. You must squat and lean forward young grasshopper..
Just to clarify. I'm not talking about up/down squat reps or using the toilet.
I'm talking about feet full on the floor, squatting right down to rest.
I tried it again this morning, nigh on impossible for me and I'm in regular shape.
I can probably squat for about one minute, but then I might feel lightheaded when getting up again. The half hour rest-squat I just don't get. Chairs where invented more than 5000 years ago.
One thing about being in China for as long as I have is that, for me, whenever I see a picture of a beautiful model squatting in a fashion magazine, I no longer find it sexy...
