Years Before the Invention of Squat Racks, Bodybuilders Devised This Incredibly Difficult Technique to Build Their Quads

Bodybuilding and its training regimes have grown over the years. The athletes have tried and invented a lot of exercises to enhance their muscles, build core strength, and have perfectly shaped physiques. The inventor and the all-time champion, George Hackenschmidt, also known as The Russian Lion. He was known for his expertise in wrestling and strongman competitions.

George gained popularity in the years from 1900 to 1910. The first-ever World Heavyweight Champion in professional wrestling won over 3000 matches. He invented an exercise that helped improve the quad muscles. His exercise is famous even today, and a lot of athletes have tried to.

George Hackenschmidt, the inventor of Hack Squats!

He was a person who constantly looked out for challenges and enjoyed performing weightlifting exercises. In 1901, George made history by setting a new world record by lifting 187 pounds behind his back with bent knees. This exercise has become popular and practiced even today.

In a recent video uploaded by an Instagram user named Shane Green, His caption starts with, “The Hackenschmidt lift”, In this video post he included a bunch of people trying to attempt this technique.

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He further added to his post, “Another lift by the prolific George Hackenschmidt. The Hackenschmidt lift is a variation of a deep knee bend that absolutely torches the quads.”As he continued, he said that this lift comes from a time before the squat rack, when lifters had to put in extra effort to build their quad muscles.

How to perform the hardest exercise?

Furthermore, Green also mentioned that in The Russian Lion’s book ‘The Way to Live’, he illustrated how to perform it. “Hold a barbell from 10lb to 20lb weight behind the back with arms crossed, heels together, toes pointed outwards. Now make a deep knee bend, rising on your toes, parting your knees, until almost squatting on your heels. Rise again to the first position.” They named the technique after Hackenschmidt. Since then, it has been called the hack squat.

According to Fitness Volt, George accomplished an impressive feat by holding 89 lbs in his left hand and 90 lbs in his right hand, with both arms fully extended, breaking the iron cross record. After retiring from professional wrestling in 1911, he became an author and also gave lectures on fitness. He prefers 30-minute intense training sessions and also emphasizes while taking a break between the reps, one must not sit down or relax, they should try a walk in the gym as it will help in blood circulation. However, he also said that people need to train according to their physicality. The world champion died in 1968 at the age of 90, in England.

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