Landmine Squat: A Great Exercise For Squat Depth & Hip Mobility

let’s talk Landmine Squats. Landmine refers to any exercise where you are using a barbell either wedged into a corner, in a landmine “socket” attachment, or sometimes just on it’s side. The Landmine Squat is a great variation to try mix up your squat, but in particular it really helps work on increasing your squat depth and mobility. Why? Because In this variation your center of mass is in front of you, take some load off your lower back, both of which allow you to keep a more upright torso and get into a deeper squat. If your squat depth needs work, try mixing in a landmine squat 1-2x per week and work on getting as low as you can while maintaining a neutral pelvis = no porn star butt, and no butt-wink (for those that know what these visuals mean); when you can do that, then start adding weight to this exercise. Doing the landmine squat will help you increase your depth and technique on other squat variations, like the barbell back squat for example.

How to do this exercise: Prop a barbell into a corner, between two plates, or a landmine attachment – a device that is often attached as part of a power rack, or some weights on it’s own and looks like a heavy baseball base. Raise the bar into position for you to start the squat. Hold the barbell in either: 1) one hand under the other, like a pseudo baseball bat grip (just ensure your elbows are underneath you), or 2) “wu-tang” grip with one thumb overlapping the other and the fingers going around the bar. Assume your normal squat stance, or possibly wider if you’d prefer, but give yourself enough room from barbell so that you can have a slight forward angle to the squat. You might need to play around with this distance at first, you don’t want the sensation that you might fall backwards. Start the squat by having the and of the bar nice and close to your chest, and then descend into the squat. Go to a comfortable depth, preferably slightly below parallel (hips below knees) and then push into the floor on the way up. Repeat for required amount of reps.

A few things to pay attention to:

  • You want to be under the bar while squatting, you should feel your shoulders taking over to hold the weight as you get lower. Adjust your stance as necessary.
  • Play around with your stance and find something that feels comfortable.
  • Brace your core throughout.
  • Ensure your knee’s track in the same direction your toes are pointing (2n’d and 3rd toe)

For other squat techniques that would be helpful to apply to the Landmine Squat, read this.

Other great Landmine exercises:

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