31/08/2026
When Maddi first came to me, she could not squat 50 kg without back pain.
More weight was not the answer. We needed to look at what was happening under the bar first.
She was losing tension at the bottom, dropping into the rep, and hitting different depths from set to set. She had not been taught what bracing was or should feel like, and her high-bar setup was not giving her the best position for her shorter torso and long femurs.
So we changed the starting point. We moved her into a low-bar setup, taught her how to brace, slowed the descent, and added a box so she had a clear depth target while she learned to stay tight at the bottom.
I understand that taking weight off the bar to rebuild a movement can feel like a step backwards. It can be the right step when it helps you build a position you can trust.
Control the position first. Then build the strength.
This is Maddiās first 90 kg squat. No box. A 1RM. No soreness after.
The goal was never just 90 kg. It was to make 90 kg feel like hers and I couldnāt be proud of her!! Madds
