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Has anyone heard of the third world squat? It's a joke from weightlifting forums but also has some truthful parts. https://www.google.com/search?q=third+world

Has anyone heard of the third world squat? It's a joke from weightlifting forums but also has some truthful parts. https://www.google.com/search?q=third+world+squat&oq=third+world+s&aqs=chrome.1.69i57j0l5.2466j1j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8 https://www.google.com/search?q=third+world+squat&oq=third+w...

deleted 9y ago
[deleted]
autokad 9y ago
there is a yoga position like it. i have always squatted that way, so its easier for me than most. not sure where it came from, but if i am waiting in line, instead of standing there i drop to the 3rd world squat
digi_owl 9y ago
I oddly ran into a description of something like this from someone that was a prisoner of the Japanese during WW2. Something about how every Japanese soldier, officers included, would squat while doing stationary tasks. That is, if i understood the description correctly.
- teachrdan 9y ago
  My Japanese aunt does this while gardening, and I can confirm that it's much easier on the back--although I barely have the balance to pull it off myself. Photo of the squat below. https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http%3A%2F%2Fjimlipschutz.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F07%2FJapanese-Gardener-Version-4.jpg&imgrefurl=http%3A%2F%2Fjimlipschutz.com%2Fpeople%2F&docid=JORo5hBymP7FjM&tbnid=M9JUcVxliEqyjM%3A&vet=10ahUKEwjM0qbUi8TZAhWmrVQKHcEUDdYQMwi0AihPME8..i&w=3000&h=1847&bih=953&biw=1680&q=japanese%20gardener&ved=0ahUKEwjM0qbUi8TZAhWmrVQKHcEUDdYQMwi0AihPME8&iact=mrc&uact=8 https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http%3A%2F%2Fjimlipschu...
loverofthings 9y ago
I can't do that squat. My hamstrings aren't flexible enough due to too much sitting in the first world.
- droidist2 9y ago
  I can do it, but it's not that comfortable.
  - loverofthings 9y ago
    My lower back arches severely if I do it, which I regard as not a proper squat.
- b0rsuk 9y ago
  I couldn't do that at first either, but I learned to do it. The key is stretching exercises and practicing wall facing squats. You can progress in a few ways, like sitting on a low couch and then trying to get up without supporting yourself with your hands. Hint: place knees wide and move your head forward (but not pas your knees).
- astura 9y ago
  Of course you wouldn't be able to do it on the first try, that's a fairly "advanced" position for someone not used to that sort of movement. It's like everything else in fitness, you have to (very) slowly work your way up to it.
  - pbhjpbhj 9y ago
    As a comparison I've been doing karate for 15 months, I'm over 40. I can now kneel down for long enough to do a seza (kneeling bow) but still can't sit back on my feet; it's still painful for me however, not as much as it was. Mind you, even as a child I was unable to sit cross-legged (without holding my ankles and arching my back) and found floor sitting immensely awkward and uncomfortable. My impression is that amongst the different "races" we have different ranges of body shapes; I am relatively convinced that this makes some actions and positions more difficult. Maybe squatting is such a movement.
droidist2 9y ago
Yeah, but I had heard it called "the Asian squat"
- bengale 9y ago
  I've always heard it called the "slav squat".
  - b0rsuk 9y ago
    I think the least ambiguous name is "wall facing squat". Good for googling more information.
  - twic 9y ago
    Same here. I'm in Europe - i wonder if the name gets attached to whatever the nearest ethnic minority that practices it is? It's even got a subreddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/slavs_squatting/ https://www.reddit.com/r/slavs_squatting/
  - komali2 9y ago
    The "slav squat" isn't heels to ground, though.
b0rsuk 9y ago
A joke ?? The joke's on us! Remember, ancient Romans were masters of the world, but they drank wine from lead cups, used lead for plumbing etc. Just because a culture is kinda dominant at the moment doesn't meant it can learn nothing from other parts of the world.
drblast 9y ago
When I was a kid I'd play with toys (Tinker Toys, erector sets, Construx, etc.) for hours in a squatting position. My parents thought it was really strange that I could do that for so long. I'm not sure I'd be comfortable doing that now, but getting into the "third world squat" position is easy and natural for me still. I guess I should do that more before I can't.
komali2 9y ago
I for the life of me cannot do this squat. I've explored all sorts of stretches, yoga, etc. It's the most limiting factor in my weightlifting. I've gotten to the point where I will hover at the squat rack, spot someone doing an ass to grass, and interrogate them how they got there. Nothing I've learned has worked. I just fall backwards, every time.
- Sharlin 9y ago
  I literally learned only a couple months ago that not being able to squat like that is a thing. (And no, I'm not a third worlder either). Incidentally I also learned a while back that I have somewhat hypermobile joints so maybe that's that.
- simonbarker87 9y ago
  See my comment at the same level as yours, it might help.
- yomly 9y ago
  Your ankle to knee and knee to hip ratio can make this easier/harder due to centre of gravity position. The three areas I've identified to work on for myself are ankle mobility, hip flexibility and hamstring flexibility. I realised that hamstring flexibility impairs my hip mobility, and my hamstrings are good by average standards - I can touch my knuckles on the ground from standing position after warming up.
  - Scalestein 9y ago
    Are you saying the more flexible your hamstrings are the less mobile your hips are or am I reading that wrong? My hamstrings are super tight (can't barely get to my ankles when bending over) so any tips on what you did to increase your hamstring flexibility would be welcome too!
    - yomly 9y ago
      No, the opposite, if your hamstrings are tight then when you are trying to flex your hips you're also having to fight against your hamstrings at the same time. Hamstring stretches are pretty well trodden, yoga or any kicking martial art will have a wealth of material for how to increase your hamstring flexibility.
XR0CSWV3h3kZWg 9y ago
As a westerner I got pretty used to doing this while I lived in Korea. It's really pretty comfortable once you build up the muscles. I really wish that it was doable in skiboots :/
simonbarker87 9y ago
It’s not a joke in the weight lifting world, it might have a funny/vaguely offensive name but as far as any serious weight lifter is concerned, if you cant third world squat and hold it for a while you should really get your a low bar back squat form checked before going to appreciable loads. For those struggling getting in to this position I have two bits of advice: 1. Use a door frame to support yourself initially and really sit back on your heels and hang on the door. It will burn in your adductors so go easy initially. Once you feel comfortable with holding yourself up with the door frame, start to brace and then let go of the door, even for just a second and catch yourself before falling back, to get a feel for balancing yourself. After a few weeks you won’t need the door frame. 2. Stretch your calves, poor dorsiflexion (closing the angle between your shin and the top of your foot) is common and a pain. Everyone should be able to have their toes about 4 inches from a wall and touch the wall with their knee without lifting their heel. Start at one inch and hold it for 30 seconds on each leg once a day, after a week move to 2 inches. I’ve gone from 2 inches to 6 in about a year and has done wonders for my squat. Finally, when you see people in this squat position in Asia etc you will notice that their spine is rarely flat if they are fully down in the squat. This is generally fine so long as the spine is not loaded. The aim of the deep ass to grass third world squat is not to hold it with a perfectly straight back, the point is to stretch out the positerior chain and, in the cases of people actively using it day to day, to give a comfortable position to work on things low down without forcing their spine to take the weight and job of supporting their bent over action, the aim is to transition that load into the glutes. Sources: 2 years of extensive physio therapy to recover for a herniated L5S1 disc caused by a lifelong spinal defect exacerbated by mountain bike crashes and heavy dead lifts. If you have back pain seek the advice of a physio therapist with back knowledge before messing about yourself.
- CodeCube 9y ago
  Thanks for the tips ... now, one thing I commonly hear when people are talking about proper form for barbell squats, is that you shouldn't move your knee past your foot; while this advice suggests the opposite is required. So, coming from a relatively ignorant position with regards to physio therapy ... which is it? :P
toomanybeersies 9y ago
After visiting Vietnam I was inspired to start squatting more rather than sitting down or standing around outside. It was hard at first, your achilles tendons and hamstrings need stretching out from years of disuse, but now I can squat for ages. The key is that you need to stretch out enough that you can squat right down with your feet still flat on the floor and a straight back. It's very comfortable once you get used to it.

deleted 9y ago

[deleted]

autokad 9y ago

there is a yoga position like it. i have always squatted that way, so its easier for me than most. not sure where it came from, but if i am waiting in line, instead of standing there i drop to the 3rd world squat

digi_owl 9y ago

I oddly ran into a description of something like this from someone that was a prisoner of the Japanese during WW2. Something about how every Japanese soldier, officers included, would squat while doing stationary tasks. That is, if i understood the description correctly.

teachrdan 9y ago
My Japanese aunt does this while gardening, and I can confirm that it's much easier on the back--although I barely have the balance to pull it off myself. Photo of the squat below. https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http%3A%2F%2Fjimlipschutz.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F07%2FJapanese-Gardener-Version-4.jpg&imgrefurl=http%3A%2F%2Fjimlipschutz.com%2Fpeople%2F&docid=JORo5hBymP7FjM&tbnid=M9JUcVxliEqyjM%3A&vet=10ahUKEwjM0qbUi8TZAhWmrVQKHcEUDdYQMwi0AihPME8..i&w=3000&h=1847&bih=953&biw=1680&q=japanese%20gardener&ved=0ahUKEwjM0qbUi8TZAhWmrVQKHcEUDdYQMwi0AihPME8&iact=mrc&uact=8 https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http%3A%2F%2Fjimlipschu...

loverofthings 9y ago

I can't do that squat. My hamstrings aren't flexible enough due to too much sitting in the first world.

droidist2 9y ago
I can do it, but it's not that comfortable.
- loverofthings 9y ago
  My lower back arches severely if I do it, which I regard as not a proper squat.
b0rsuk 9y ago
I couldn't do that at first either, but I learned to do it. The key is stretching exercises and practicing wall facing squats. You can progress in a few ways, like sitting on a low couch and then trying to get up without supporting yourself with your hands. Hint: place knees wide and move your head forward (but not pas your knees).
astura 9y ago
Of course you wouldn't be able to do it on the first try, that's a fairly "advanced" position for someone not used to that sort of movement. It's like everything else in fitness, you have to (very) slowly work your way up to it.
- pbhjpbhj 9y ago
  As a comparison I've been doing karate for 15 months, I'm over 40. I can now kneel down for long enough to do a seza (kneeling bow) but still can't sit back on my feet; it's still painful for me however, not as much as it was. Mind you, even as a child I was unable to sit cross-legged (without holding my ankles and arching my back) and found floor sitting immensely awkward and uncomfortable. My impression is that amongst the different "races" we have different ranges of body shapes; I am relatively convinced that this makes some actions and positions more difficult. Maybe squatting is such a movement.

droidist2 9y ago

Yeah, but I had heard it called "the Asian squat"

bengale 9y ago
I've always heard it called the "slav squat".
- b0rsuk 9y ago
  I think the least ambiguous name is "wall facing squat". Good for googling more information.
- twic 9y ago
  Same here. I'm in Europe - i wonder if the name gets attached to whatever the nearest ethnic minority that practices it is? It's even got a subreddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/slavs_squatting/ https://www.reddit.com/r/slavs_squatting/
- komali2 9y ago
  The "slav squat" isn't heels to ground, though.

b0rsuk 9y ago

A joke ?? The joke's on us! Remember, ancient Romans were masters of the world, but they drank wine from lead cups, used lead for plumbing etc. Just because a culture is kinda dominant at the moment doesn't meant it can learn nothing from other parts of the world.

drblast 9y ago

When I was a kid I'd play with toys (Tinker Toys, erector sets, Construx, etc.) for hours in a squatting position. My parents thought it was really strange that I could do that for so long. I'm not sure I'd be comfortable doing that now, but getting into the "third world squat" position is easy and natural for me still. I guess I should do that more before I can't.

komali2 9y ago

I for the life of me cannot do this squat. I've explored all sorts of stretches, yoga, etc. It's the most limiting factor in my weightlifting. I've gotten to the point where I will hover at the squat rack, spot someone doing an ass to grass, and interrogate them how they got there. Nothing I've learned has worked. I just fall backwards, every time.

Sharlin 9y ago
I literally learned only a couple months ago that not being able to squat like that is a thing. (And no, I'm not a third worlder either). Incidentally I also learned a while back that I have somewhat hypermobile joints so maybe that's that.
simonbarker87 9y ago
See my comment at the same level as yours, it might help.
yomly 9y ago
Your ankle to knee and knee to hip ratio can make this easier/harder due to centre of gravity position. The three areas I've identified to work on for myself are ankle mobility, hip flexibility and hamstring flexibility. I realised that hamstring flexibility impairs my hip mobility, and my hamstrings are good by average standards - I can touch my knuckles on the ground from standing position after warming up.
- Scalestein 9y ago
  Are you saying the more flexible your hamstrings are the less mobile your hips are or am I reading that wrong? My hamstrings are super tight (can't barely get to my ankles when bending over) so any tips on what you did to increase your hamstring flexibility would be welcome too!
  - yomly 9y ago
    No, the opposite, if your hamstrings are tight then when you are trying to flex your hips you're also having to fight against your hamstrings at the same time. Hamstring stretches are pretty well trodden, yoga or any kicking martial art will have a wealth of material for how to increase your hamstring flexibility.

XR0CSWV3h3kZWg 9y ago

As a westerner I got pretty used to doing this while I lived in Korea. It's really pretty comfortable once you build up the muscles. I really wish that it was doable in skiboots :/

simonbarker87 9y ago

It’s not a joke in the weight lifting world, it might have a funny/vaguely offensive name but as far as any serious weight lifter is concerned, if you cant third world squat and hold it for a while you should really get your a low bar back squat form checked before going to appreciable loads. For those struggling getting in to this position I have two bits of advice: 1. Use a door frame to support yourself initially and really sit back on your heels and hang on the door. It will burn in your adductors so go easy initially. Once you feel comfortable with holding yourself up with the door frame, start to brace and then let go of the door, even for just a second and catch yourself before falling back, to get a feel for balancing yourself. After a few weeks you won’t need the door frame. 2. Stretch your calves, poor dorsiflexion (closing the angle between your shin and the top of your foot) is common and a pain. Everyone should be able to have their toes about 4 inches from a wall and touch the wall with their knee without lifting their heel. Start at one inch and hold it for 30 seconds on each leg once a day, after a week move to 2 inches. I’ve gone from 2 inches to 6 in about a year and has done wonders for my squat. Finally, when you see people in this squat position in Asia etc you will notice that their spine is rarely flat if they are fully down in the squat. This is generally fine so long as the spine is not loaded. The aim of the deep ass to grass third world squat is not to hold it with a perfectly straight back, the point is to stretch out the positerior chain and, in the cases of people actively using it day to day, to give a comfortable position to work on things low down without forcing their spine to take the weight and job of supporting their bent over action, the aim is to transition that load into the glutes. Sources: 2 years of extensive physio therapy to recover for a herniated L5S1 disc caused by a lifelong spinal defect exacerbated by mountain bike crashes and heavy dead lifts. If you have back pain seek the advice of a physio therapist with back knowledge before messing about yourself.

CodeCube 9y ago
Thanks for the tips ... now, one thing I commonly hear when people are talking about proper form for barbell squats, is that you shouldn't move your knee past your foot; while this advice suggests the opposite is required. So, coming from a relatively ignorant position with regards to physio therapy ... which is it? :P

toomanybeersies 9y ago

After visiting Vietnam I was inspired to start squatting more rather than sitting down or standing around outside. It was hard at first, your achilles tendons and hamstrings need stretching out from years of disuse, but now I can squat for ages. The key is that you need to stretch out enough that you can squat right down with your feet still flat on the floor and a straight back. It's very comfortable once you get used to it.