Barbell Box Squat
The barbell box squat is a variation of the squat that emphasizes proper form and depth control.
- Set a box or bench behind you at an appropriate height.
- Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, holding a barbell across your upper back.
- Lower your body by bending your knees and hips, keeping your chest up and back straight.
- Once your thighs are parallel to the ground, sit back onto the box.
- Pause briefly, then push through your heels to return to the starting position.
How to perform the Barbell Box Squat
- Set up. Set up in a stable, balanced starting position appropriate for the Barbell Box Squat using your barbell.
- Brace and execute. Brace your core, control the descent, and move through a full pain-free range of motion while emphasizing your glutes.
- Reset. Reverse the movement under control and reset between repetitions, keeping your form crisp on every rep.
Coaching cues
- Move with intent — every rep should feel deliberate, not rushed.
- Drive force through your glutes rather than momentum.
- Keep your breathing steady: exhale on the hard part, inhale on the reset.
Common mistakes
- Using too much weight and losing positional control.
- Cutting the range of motion short and missing the target muscle.
- Letting your spine round or hyperextend instead of staying neutral.
Detailed cues, common mistakes, and demonstration video are available in the Fitly app.
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