What is the belt squat?
The belt squat is a variation of the squat in which the weight is anchored to the waist via a belt, rather than a standard loading method. This may be beneficial for some lifters as it removes the spine from the equation, and may enable you to put more loading on the legs/quads directly. However, I believe that this also has some drawbacks, and may not be a universal benefit.
The Squat Isn't For Everyone
Squats are generally seen as the must-do exercise for lower body development, and it’s often ignored by fitness professionals that some people do not enjoy or cannot perform them. Spine, hip, knee, and calve conditions/injuries commonly effect someone’s ability to squat. There are plenty of other exercises that develop the lower body that work better for these situations. Workout programs need to be built on exercises the individual wants to do and is safely capable of doing, even if it means that a popular or effective exercise like the squat isn’t included.
The One Way To Improve Your Bench Press
At the end of the day, there’s only one way to improve your bench press (or any lift for that matter). If you don’t know what it is, you’re probably wasting a lot of time.
No, Squatting Alone Isn't The Best Leg Developer
"Just squat" is a common prescription for building mass and strength in the legs, but this recommendation isn't a very good one.