Develop great legs without a single squat
Sometimes when you read about leg training or different leg workout routines you get the impression that it is all about the squat. It may seem as you either squat - often and hard, every time you train your legs - or you will never develop any leg muscle whatsoever.
This is, of course, not true. It is not true at all.
There is no king of exercises. You don't need the squat. If you don't like this exercise (or any other for that matter) it can always be changed in favour of something else.
Here are a few examples of great leg exercises that will surely let you develop great legs without having to squat for them. In fact, these 3 exercises will let you develop legs without even using weights - provided, of course, that you perform them with the outmost intensity, frequency and full engagement.
Lunges.
A fantastic exercise. An absolute favourite of mine. You don't even need to use weights to make it effective. This is an exercise that will not only let you develop explosive muscle and athletic ability, but also balance and coordination.
Sisyphus squats, using body weight only.
A great exercise for the muscles above your knees. Just make sure to be properly warmed up before the first set of this exercise. note that even though the word "squat" appears in the name of this exercise it is a completely different animal than the ordinary squat.
Intense sprinting.
The world of sports is filled with examples of people with great legs that they didn´t develop through tons of heavy squatting, but instead by performing sprints and other athletic exercises. Sprinting has been proven, in numerous studies, to actually build muscle, as well as improving cardiovascular health and burning fat.
I have nothing against the classical barbell squat as such, but it is important to realise that there are often many different ways to reach a certain target. Legs doesn´t require squatting. If you don´t like a certain exercise there is no need to stick to it.
/Daniel Schou
