JFIFC    $ &%# #"(-90(*6+"#2D26;=@@@&0FKE>J9?@=C  =)#)==================================================b" }!1AQa"q2#BR$3br %&'()*456789:CDEFGHIJSTUVWXYZcdefghijstuvwxyz w!1AQaq"2B #3Rbr $4%&'()*56789:CDEFGHIJSTUVWXYZcdefghijstuvwxyz ?HMr!P3q*8o/&HZ9 #20G5xTgAZ_gS+-ܿm޸9(Kl2q89_-?''s$~\]6/ku6 O}+xwMͧڶqJttcYfEFM=֟~څe8۞Za:tΖPʹLJwCʶVQdr \ҙפ:)@1\y?HYKe2 _v>owbskvV) 2{k-ཞ%ӭbgjkA4Ɔ^^y,vFF)o`RչQ~kxm_1Q 65IX&BJἹpz;Zy^%.9(  ֕ľI.rVg^ig)#d<;үjHllF8Jp(# _nep]p~NρnE$Hd=.^dPiypS'3ӌ-@2܈weo5H"y吰P~g{nT3+KIӽ5q!rrmf(t8uqu?R t4'piȍ"ǸMWPi#Wq,vE !éaSgW4QaQ3тX}+o\wnkk^o6ߵ#OazQ{Z3|%62'|}&6ҹU2?z淡^ivrýrv \]jNJK#3Ӓk89_SZLk +T)`J/n42\E<, 3޽In!Z0v95y4Zw$L ڝ? IX#y__n. *4%G`ao~QT;eO`Wҭ'q)GOM7s]φDu(rχ]c̶Ua[Uދu8ϥ9e`NIe6s'hcwEgUnt7^'.SֽWHx;W |lc4Cޑm.2Z+ӈNMUyytf%&}@nW0U[ybd!=(OK49?+\Ezeͭ\+l *1{qY:gSktdݔ8kofrW SP c{s]?nlȧdrrfGHGC7 2ܼD.ݪhKB[:%9Z&U W1Vc2 'Yʊy~2y1Ƭb XMo"!L01O/jXrfoZmW6N7FKu$qsoKKKh#W ;RkBƑ8MҸ&Vt;uK>m#%,}ā5i<-X궍{Rt+ifs`k>OEŭF8QOXwFjcÓ_[y-z7_p fqa1@5->2<@.L+rd x^Xj\O%3=z\*YpOA(ݛw׶ urҿ*QpkoDlH#}ʳ !M:hehG搹E9]H!WKew5ƭk,X;ʕΚ :Ok>$nR|հj7=W)ʲdB# V%mcj({HrMM jKC6ӼXE[u!w9 ӠyhMA-Ąn^zqk3ŠsA 6xj": H"NBҾG4un8D?UPsX/yYLX Sv=+zMc+[1[=>cV_l U΢RIŽ:ݒN=GZҹbıIW-i(#EP#d and the knees are back which is good but this athlete has three major problems: First, squatting too low, second the lower back is not locked-in; and third, the upper body has too much forward lean.</P> <P>Figure 6 shows the perfect low power position.&nbsp; The athlete has his feet&nbsp;close to the Squatting Stand. His feet and heels are firmly planted on the floor.&nbsp; His knees are back and not extended past the toes.&nbsp; The athlete is at a perfect parallel position.&nbsp; His eyes are focused on a point which helps the lower back and upper body position.&nbsp; If you said one of the major problems in figure 2 and 3 was the head position, I wouldn't argue.&nbsp; Notice the difference in the chin position of figure 2 and figure 6.&nbsp; The athlete pictured is my son, Matt, while he was in the 8th grade.&nbsp; At this time, he weighed 125 and Parallel Squatted 225 pounds. </P> <P align=center><STRONG>PRE-SQUAT TECHNIQUE</STRONG></P> <P align=left><STRONG>A. Grip:</STRONG> There are two technique guidelines to consider when establishing a proper grip on the squat.&nbsp; First is thumb position.&nbsp; Should you have your thumb around the bar or in back of the bar as illustrated in figure 7?&nbsp; About 60% of power lifters have the thumb in back while 40% of power-lifters prefer their thumbs around the bar.&nbsp; Both styles are acceptable, but I prefer to coach my athletes with their thumbs in back of the bar.&nbsp; I feel this style is superior as it tends to prevent slippage of the bar.&nbsp; Sometimes athletes will have a problem in keeping the bar on the shoulders.&nbsp; Sometimes the bar will actually slip off the shoulders and slip down the back.&nbsp; The bar seems to be more secure with the thumbs in back; but if an athlete, after trying both styles, really prefers to have his thumbs around, I don't object.</P> <P align=left>The second grip guideline to consider is the width of the athlete's grip.&nbsp; This is another one of those secrets which can give you an edge.&nbsp; At clinics, I ask everyone to pretend they have a bar on their shoulders and to get a "very narrow grip".&nbsp; Then, I ask everyone to sit tall, spread their chest and lock-in their lower back.&nbsp; Next, they are asked to take a wide grip and lock-in their lower backs.&nbsp; Now I ask, "Which grip makes it easier to lock-i