Can you Asian squat?

In My Humble Opinion
41

Yep, though I don’t always squat that way, I often do. It depends on the situation.

Like TokyoBayer, I’ve lived in places with squat toilets for a loooong time, though western toilets have become the new norm in most places. Considering that I very rarely use squat toilets any more, it’s not the main reason I can squat that low. In my case, both martial arts and fitness training are important activities for me, so I’ve maintained a higher than average level of mobility. I can squat that low with heavy weights; doing it at body weight is extremely easy.

I consider the ability to do that type of squat a pretty good diagnostic of very basic strength, balance, and lower limb and hip mobility. If you can’t do an “asian” squat, it means there’s something wrong.

Older Japanese almost all spend time sitting on the floor, walking barefoot, walking a decent distance every day, and (sometimes, depending on the household) squatting to eliminate, which are all things that naturally promote at least a modicum of mobility. Now, Western-style furniture is much more common, so I see a lot of younger people who are less physically capable in some ways than their parents or even grandparents. It’s sad that there are so many adults — and I’ve even trained some teens in my after-school fitness program — who can’t do a full ass-to-the-ground squat.

High body weight is not probably much of a factor. It might be a secondary symptom of inactivity, but it’s not a root cause. There are sumô who can probably squat at least as deep, or deeper, than I can and the small guys are at least 1.5x my body weight.

Everyone, yes everyone, could do that when they were kids. I’ve never seen a kid under 5 or 6 who can’t squat. Hell, you could use a photograph of almost any random toddler as a training guide for proper squat form in a gym. You can lose the ability due to disuse, but you had it at some point. Stick a kid in chair behind a desk for 6+ hours a day, cut their PE and recess times, virtually eliminate unstructured outdoor play on uneven surfaces, and you get a bunch of people who can’t move. Go figure.

42

Stuff and nonsense. There is nothing wrong. Your limbs simply did not develop that way. No one, and I mean no one, in West Texas squatted on the flats of their feet, always the balls of the feet on those rare occasions when anyone did squat. I first came to Thailand at the age of 29 and lived for two years with a squat toilet. Simply could not do the flat-feet thing and had to balance precariously. Nothing wrong, I just don’t bend that way.

43

It’s the same position you use when riding a horse. You align your center of gravity shoulder-hip-heels. When galloping fast, you close up your joint angles and end up doing a “squat” on the horse. Even men with huge beer bellies can figure out how to do this so I don’t think it has anything to do with BMI.
It might have a lot to do with western furniture which basically forces people to assume the “chair seat” at all times, where the center of gravity is shoulder-butt, with the feet and legs thrust out forward. People who try to ride horses in a chair seat tend to fall off a lot. I guess after years of chair-seat, people have trouble figuring out any other way to use their body.
It might also something to do with stiff, elevated-heel western shoes, that make people walk funny and keep their heels up off the ground. Eventually the Achilles tendon will shorten.

44

I could when I was younger .

45

Yes, there was something wrong: you had limited mobility from 29 years of not using the full range of motion. Your example actually proves my point.

46

I recently realised I can’t do any kind of squatting anymore. It’s been decades since I had done it, then tried it again a year or two ago and completely failed. It was deathly painful and impossible for me to balance at all. I’m guessing it’s just how my femur fits into my pelvis, or something along those lines, a genetic difference I picked up somewhere in my family tree.

47

Yes, this. When I was young, thin and flexible, sure. Now, I’m middle aged, stiffer-jointed and have a tummy that gets in the way. :mad:

48

You do realize that kids under five (and especially toddlers) have completely different proportions than adults and so are not a valid comparison?

49

I squat on my toes, and can do so quite comfortably for some time.

I just attempted to try an ‘Asian squat’, but I can’t see any way that I could possibly actually try it without ending up flat on my back. There’s just no way that I can shift my center of gravity to make it possible.

50

Try picking up a brick and having another go.

This thread is basically a mirror of the “can you get to your feet without using your hands” one - and, as in that, I’m finding (I just did a little experiment with a bucket of water) that about 10kg or so held at arms length rebalances me nicely so it all becomes easy again

51

I do not see it as having anything “wrong.” It’s perfectly fine not being able to Asian squat.

52

I never squatted before I started to lift weights, and only do so now while lifting. Got to keep the heels on the floor while squatting. Took me awhile to develop the flexibility.

53

Asians do it as they have to keep their foot flat so as to help float on the mud.

They do ward off achilles tears, because they keep it pliable, but they get arthritis of the knee and ankle from working in the rice paddies too much.

54

I was in the hot tub and was squatting very comfortably (it’s not deep enough to soothe my shoulders if I am sitting on the bench) and decided to try this Asian squat.

Nope. Not even with all the water to hold me up, there was no flat footed squatting for me :slight_smile:

I do have some potato mashin’ thighs though. My physiology completely prevents it.

55

I’m looking at it from an orthopedic point of view. Don’t take my word for it, ask a physical therapist or kinesiologist if the inability to do that kind of deep squat can be used as a diagnostic for joint impingements, flexibility problems, balance issues, etc.

It’s “normal” now for many people living largely sedentary lifestyles, but it really shouldn’t be. It’s a very basic position that should not be a challenge for anyone, child or adult. If it is a challenge, it does provide an indication that your mobility is impaired, which I would consider “something wrong.” This isn’t doing the splits, it’s squatting down into a position that literally billions of people in different cultures all over the world consider a resting position, not a grueling test of strength and flexibility.

56

I’m out of shape but I can do it. I don’t like to do it because I don’t like having my crotch all splayed out. I grew up being taught girls/women cross their ankles and not their knees and “keep your legs closed”. So I (when sitting on the ground) will either take a knee or two, if in pants sit knees together in front with my legs either tented or flat, or if in shorts fold my legs to my left. I’ll sit criss cross if I have something to set in my lap whether a blanket, jacket or a small child.

I do have a picture of me Asian Squatting in front of a nice sized fish I had just caught. When I look at it I think “Nice carp, ewww, crotch shot, and I should dye my hair.”

57

Right. So “me holding a brick” (or, as it happens, “me wearing any kind of shoes”) is an example of a perfectly normal appropriately flexible person, and “me with no brick” counts as “joint impingements, flexibility problems, balance issues”. It’s not a ZOMG! Issue!!! to happen to have a center of gravity different from someone else’s center of gravity.

58

Knees and feet shoulder width apart. Are people trying this with knees too close together? I’m chubby, 45, and can do it fine, have always done it this way.

What took me to physical therapy was when it started to hurt to squat. Right knee mostly. I called it my “sit-squat” that I use both at home and work. It was a problem when it started to hurt. Turned out it was muscle weakness from favoring the right knee after an injury. 6 weeks of PT strength training knocked the issue right out and I’m not limping any more, plus I can do my sit-squats with no issue again.

59

Those of you who can’t squat flat-footed, can you stand on your heels with your toes elevated? Balance on a step with your toes on the stairs with your heels dropped down off the step? Stand on one leg with your eyes shut? These are very basic tests of balance and are things everyone should be able to do, like squatting.

60

Yes, I an do all of those except the Asian squat.