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.
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Related exercises to discover
Wide stance / sumo barbell squats is a gym exercise that targets quadriceps and also works abs and calves and glutes & hip flexors and hamstrings. Use the illustration and instructions above to learn how to perform this exercise with proper form. Related exercises that work similar muscle groups include Dumbbell squat thrusters / squat to overhead press, cardio - assault bike and seal jacks. Browse our free illustrated exercise directory for more exercises.
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Follow ready-made home and gym plans with visual demos and timers – or create custom workouts from exercises like this.
Build illustrated workout plans for your clients in minutes – then share them as branded PDFs or interactive workouts.
Our illustrated Yoga Cards deck is the perfect way to start practicing at home – no class, no studio, no experience needed. 100,000+ sold.
