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Squat Jerk

Squat Jerk is an expert compound barbell exercise that mainly works your quads, with help from your calves, glutes, hamstrings, shoulders and triceps.

💪 Quads🏋️ Barbell📈 Expert🔗 Compound🎯 3-5 sets of 5-10 reps
Squat Jerk: starting position
Starting position
Squat Jerk: end position
End position

How to do the squat jerk

  1. Standing with the weight racked on the front of the shoulders, begin with the dip. With your feet directly under your hips, flex the knees without moving the hips backward. Go down only slightly, and reverse direction as powerfully as possible. Drive through the heels create as much speed and force as possible, and be sure to move your head out of the way as the bar leaves the shoulders.
  2. At this moment as the feet leave the floor, the feet must be placed into the receiving position as quickly as possible. In the brief moment the feet are not actively driving against the platform, the athlete's effort to push the bar up will drive them down. The feet should move forcefully to just outside the hips, turned out as necessary. Receive the bar with your body in a full squat and the arms fully extended overhead.
  3. Keeping the bar aligned over the front of the heels, your head and chest up, drive throught heels of the feet to move to a standing position. Carefully return the weight to floor.

Muscles worked

Primary: QuadsSecondary: CalvesSecondary: GlutesSecondary: HamstringsSecondary: ShouldersSecondary: Triceps

Sets and reps

For strength, do 3-5 sets of 5-8 reps with 2-3 minutes of rest. For muscle growth, 3-4 sets of 8-12 reps with 90 seconds of rest. Add a little weight when you hit the top of the range on every set.

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Squat Jerk alternatives

Exercises that train the same main muscle, including options with other equipment.

SquatBarbell · BeginnerGoblet SquatDumbbell · BeginnerLeg PressMachine · BeginnerBodyweight SquatBodyweight · BeginnerCable DeadliftsCable · BeginnerWeighted SquatOther · Intermediate

FAQ

What muscles does the squat jerk work?

It mainly works your quads; your calves, glutes, hamstrings, shoulders and triceps assist.

How many sets and reps of squat jerk should I do?

For strength, do 3-5 sets of 5-8 reps with 2-3 minutes of rest. For muscle growth, 3-4 sets of 8-12 reps with 90 seconds of rest. Add a little weight when you hit the top of the range on every set.

Is the squat jerk good for beginners?

It is an advanced movement. Build a base with simpler exercises for the same muscles first, and learn it with light weight or a coach.

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