Image: Kirk “Captain Kirk” Karwoski
The Squat is the toughest weight lifting exercise, both physically and mentally. You’ll sometimes lack motivation to go to the gym because you know a heavy Squat session is waiting for you there.
Time to cut the crap. What you Squat is ridiculous compared with what others lift. “Somewhere out there, a little Chinese girl is warming up with your max”. These are the 10 most impressive Squats of all time.
1. 1000lbs. Lee Moran was the 1st man to Squat 1000lbs. On his 1st attempt the bar flipped over his head and knocked him out. On the 2nd attempt 1 collar came off and the bar flipped over again. This was his 3rd attempt: 1003lbs.
Why impressive? His 2 failed attempts didn’t affect him.
2. 1000lbs x 2. Kirk Karwoski did raw Squats with 755lbs for 7 reps. 10 years after quiting competition he could still do 845lbs raw. He built this physique through powerlifting. Here’s “Captain Kirk” squatting 1000lbs for 2 reps.
Why impressive? “I want to hold it”
3. 1000lbs at 45. Dr. Fred Hatfield, aka Dr. Squat, won the World Powerlifting Championships 3 times. At age 45 he did a competitive Squat with 1014lbs at 255lbs body-weight. Video:
Why impressive? He did this age 45.
4. 1000lbs from Pins. Expect to Squat less weight when doing a Pin or Box Squat. You can’t use the stretch reflex when you start from a dead stop. Bud Jeffries doesn’t mind it: 1000lbs Squat from pins.
Why impressive? It’s a pin Squat.
5. No-No-No Squats. In 1993, 3 days before winning the World Weightlifting Championship, Ivan Chakarov was spotted in the training halls doing high bar, ass to grass Squats with 265kg for 2 reps at 91kg body-weight.
Why impressive? No wraps, no belts, no spotters.
6. 400lbs x 20. Take your 10 rep max Squat and do 20 reps with it. Breathe between reps until you got all 20 reps, no matter what. Breathing Squats will test your mental endurance. Jesse Marunde:
Why impressive? He did these after heavy Power Cleans and Pull-ups.
7. 920lbs at 50. Louie Simmons of Westside Barbell club is the only man over 50 years old who can Squat 920lbs. He’s the proof that whatever your age is, you can Squat if you want to.
Why impressive? 920lbs at age 50.
8. 310 kg x 2. I first put Idalberto Arranda here with his 290kg high bar, ass to grass Squat for a double. But then I remembered Eduardo Guadamud doing Squats with 310kg for 2 reps. Video:
Why impressive? Beyoncé playing in the background doesn’t affect him.
9. 815lbs at 181lbs BW. Wade Hooper took the 1st place in the 2008 USAPL Men’s Nationals with a 370kg Squat at 82,5kg body-weight. All using a single ply, walking out and squatting below parallel.
Why impressive? 4.5x body-weight Squat.
10. Female 843Lbs Squats. Becca Swanson is often referred to as the world’s strongest woman. She holds world records in the Squat & Deadlift. This video shows Swanson Squatting 843lbs.
Why impressive? I bet she Squats more than you do.
Ha Mehdi your irreplaceable (in the words of beyonce)
4.5Xbw is sick I would be happy with 3XBw before I die
the guy doing the no-no-no squats makes it look to easy. like his lifting hollow plates. maddness
nice post. 10 most impressive deadlifts next?
Chakarov’s squats are just flawless. great stuff
WOW. I am simultaneously motivated and a little ashamed!
Seriously, already looking forward to squat day (tomorrow!).
That’s impressive. I totally can’t squat to Beyonce.
Yeah, I am definitely ashamed at my weights now! You are dead on when you say that “somewhere out there, there is a little Chinese girl warming up with your max”. One thing that I love about weight lifting is that there are so many “normal” people out there who can lift these amazing amounts of weight that there is always someone you can turn to for inspiration.
Thanks for sharing these examples with us.
james
Siiiiiiick videos. These people are ridiculously strong.
Where’s Vlad Alhazov?
Is it just me or does video #2 give ‘We’re sorry, this video is no longer available’?
Still working my way up, nearly at 100lbs.
Regardless, the front squat is definitely my favourite exercise since I took up Stronglifts 5×5. Can’t wait until my first stall
I love seeing the ~91kg guys go A2G olympic style squats with heavy weight. Here is another one I like:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XkK9-mnDAy4
Dabaya front squatting 200kg (~440lbs) for 5 reps at 69kg (~151lbs) bodyweight with awesome form. So 2.9x BW deep front squat for 5 reps, I am impressed.
I totally agree with #1 and #2, Lee Moran’s 1000 lb squat is legendary, and Kirk is just a madman.
Great post — very inspirational. Made me feel like a wuss doing front squats for 5 x 5 with 245 lbs in my workout today.
All very nice Mehdi but I don’t see my name up there
Very inspiring couldn’t ask for more but maybe next time lifting accidents?
Ivan Chakarov i like the most he did them rly deep.
Powerlifting - strongest sport in the world.
Great post. I love Karwoski’s “I want to hold it” squat. I saw it a while back and have always found it inspirational.
And what about Boevski squatting 250kg at 69kg bodyweight?
http://youtube.com/watch?v=nLNzd_FcThs (last lift in the video)
I also saw a vid of Idalberto Arranda doing a double with 300 kg @ 77 kg with light speed, to bad it isn’t on here anymore. I believe Chakarov had a ridiculous max of 350 kg as 91 kg lifter.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DjtVvYk1HWw&feature=related
Tom Platz 500lb x 23 reps with Dr. Squat in the back