Squats -tips for a tall skinny guy?

Hi Guys,

I've been weight training twice a week for the past 8 weeks or so.

So far I've neglected my legs, mainly doing chest / arms / back / shoulders and abs.

Last night I tried squats for the first time, but found it really tough, resorting to just using the bar with no weight on the sides.... (20kg / 44lbs) to ensure technique.

I'm 6'2" ~ 175lbs.

Any tips for the squat newbie?

I'm just a bit worried as my older brother was doing almost 200% ~ (175 kg / 385 lbs) his body weight at his peak.

read articles about proper form (t-nation.com)

and most importantly don't neglect your legs

you've never done squats before, so obviously you aren't going to be lifting 315 the first time you put the weight on your back

Keep your back straight through the entire movement

Make sure you go down past parallel

Look straight ahead the entire time

Imagine you are thrusting your ass out behind you when you are lowering

i'm fairly tall and skinny and a few things that work well for me:
front squats
back squats with a wider base
using pre-exhaustion HIT techniques.

also:
box jumps & sprints on off days can help get squat numbers up.

my (back) squats went up 40lbs in about a month by doing 2 sets of 10 boxjumps followed by one sprint (on basketball court go end-to-end, then end-to-half and back, then to the freethrow line and back without pause)

i'm fairly tall and skinny and a few things that work well for me:
front squats
back squats with a wider base
using pre-exhaustion HIT techniques.

also:
box jumps & sprints on off days can help get squat numbers up.

my (back) squats went up 40lbs in about a month by doing 2 sets of 10 boxjumps followed by one sprint (on basketball court go end-to-end, then end-to-half and back, then to the freethrow line and back without pause)

What size box for the box-jumps? Or is that an american term for something?

I play 5-a-side soccer with work every wednesday so hopefully that'll start coming in useful!

i did the jumps from the first to the second seat of bleachers. est. a little over 3' high.

if for some reason i couldn't use the bleachers i would just do squat jumps (from base) with a knee tuck at the top. need to land in the squat position though.

Maintain an arch in your lower back at all times.
Stick your ass out.
When it's time to come up, concentrate on raising your hips and the motion should happen naturally.
Don't lean forward like me and fuck up your knees and hip flexors constantly - weight on the heels.

do plyometrics and jump over your pets/wife

If you're doing squat jumps be sure you land with your knees bent and continue the downward motion of landing straight into the next jump. No pausing.

I found that when starting out with squats it helped to use an exercise ball against the wall. That way you're just using your body weight and it was easier to keep an eye on good form. Practice good form early and it will pay out later.