Wide Stance / Sumo Barbell Squats
- Set a barbell on a rack at your shoulder height.
- Step under the bar and rest the back of your shoulders against the bar. Do not put the bar on your neck.
- Hold on to the bar using an overhand grip so that your palms are facing forward.
- Lift the barbell off the rack by pushing up with your legs while straightening your torso.
- Step away from the rack and position your legs in a wider than shoulder width position and with your toes slightly pointed out.
- Keep your head up and look straight ahead at all times, as looking down will put you off balance.
- Ensure your back is straight. This is the start position.
- As you inhale, slowly lower the bar by bending your knees while keeping a straight posture with your head up.
- Continue down until the angle between you upper legs and calves is slightly less than 90-degrees . As a guide, the front of your knees should be in line with your toes. Do not allow your knees to extend out beyond your toes.
- Hold for a count of one.
- As you exhale, raise the bar back to the start position, by pushing through your heels as you straighten your legs.
- Pause for a count of one.
- Repeat.
This is an exercise which carries some risk. If you have back issues, substitute this exercise for the dumbbell squat or leg press instead. Never slouch your back forward as this can cause back injury. This exercise is best performed inside a squat rack for safety purposes.
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Related exercises to discover
Wide stance / sumo barbell squats is a gym work out exercise that targets quadriceps and also involves abs and calves and glutes & hip flexors and hamstrings. Refer to the illustration diagram and instructions above for how to perform this exercise correctly. Water bottle lunges, seated chair leg extensions and seated machine leg extensions are related exercise that target the same muscle groups as wide stance / sumo barbell squats. Visit our free illustrated exercise directory for more exercises to try in your workouts.
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