Advantages of not using a belt.

[Justin Stratton]

I was talking to my couch for football to see why he makes us wear those stupid belts. He said that they help you not strain your back and that i have to for certain insurance reasons. Should i wear a belt when im squating/cleaning/deadlifting? Does it effect my core strength if i dont use one? cuz i see all you insane powerlifters never wearing a belt, thats why i thought of this question. Thanks once again guys!! :mag:


Justin Stratton

[Tony Moses]

Well, for developing functional strength, it is important to have a strong core, you can't take your body's strength and apply it to real life and use the body as one unit without drawing on your core.

For olympic and front squats and cleans and snatches, the belt really just gets in the way and is not necessary. In fact, some people feel it holds them back. If your core is strong enough you can actually activate it more without a belt and get more out of the lift (especially in oly lifting shoes where none of your force is wasted).

If it really makes you feel better on heavy sets, there are a lot worse things you can do than use a belt, and a lot of seriously strong guys use them, but I feel that functionally you'll help yourself by not using one.

Whatever you do, don't become dependant on a belt and don't let it inhibit your confidence in your core strength...AND WHATEVER you do, don't ever become one of those dudes who belts up to go from the locker room to the water fountain, lol.

[Eric Johnson]

Ask your coach if he is going to make you wear the belt in games! If you are not going to play with a belt on (and it would be stupid to play with a belt on) then why wear one in training, it just leaves your core weak and more likely to get hurt in a game.

Just my $0.02, I could be wrong, has happened before and will happen again.

[Kevin Cronin]

Guys, we're talking to a kid who's either in high school or college. If he asks his coach a smartass question like 'am i going to wear the belt in games' - and even tho its a valid point, it's a rhetorical question, so it WILL come off as smartass - only bad things will happen.

I'm not saying you should never question authority, indeed, I feel quite the opposite. But recognize that it comes with a price. Is it worth getting on the coach's bad side so that you can squat without a belt? On the other hand, if you're already in the dog house, then screw it, do what you want.

Considering that it wont kill you to wear the belt, you may just want to wear it, but leave it a notch or two loose

[Ryan Rhodes]

Eric hit the nail on the head. Unless I'm doing a max overhead or a wicked heavy conans/yoke/ and sometimes farmers, I rarely wear a belt. It does affect your core strength devlopment. I think that most everybody here can agree that most football coaches don't know jack about lifting. But your coach is still your coach. I'd lift the way he tells you to when your at school, and do your own thing at home. Start training strongman to supplement your weightlifting. That will build up your core quick and give you a lot of functional football strength.

[chrisklavette]

I was talking to my couch for football to see why he makes us wear those stupid belts.

First thing I thought was "this guy talks to his couch?" :T:
Seriously though, these guys are right on. Ask your coach nicely if you can lift without a belt. If he asks why try you politest to point out the facts about core muscles. Perhaps if you let him know you have been studying up on the issue of training he might be happy with you for going the extra mile. Who knows.

[Corey DuCharme]

Like Eric said, you're not wearing a belt in the game, so don't wear one when you train. If you don't want to make a stink about it with your coach, just fasten the belt very loosely. Your core will do the work and the coach will be happy.

[Eric Johnson]

You know I didn't mean to come off as a smart a$$ sometimes I can't help it is a natural thing, and yes it does get me in trouble. There was some good advice here, be polite and nice about it with your coach, not arrogant and if he still insists then wearing it a little loose and doing some core work on your own away from school is a good idea. Good luck. (I know I never saw eye to eye with my football coach.)

[Justin Stratton]

im going to talk to me COACH :FF: and see if i cant. i will tell him that i was talking to many strongmen who compete or have competed in a pro league and that they said if i want to be a strongman (which is my main dream in life) i should not lift without a belt unless im doing my maxes. I did make my belt today about 3 holes to loose and everything felt so natural. thank you guys very much! you guys are the stuff!!

:KD: :YR:

Justin Stratton

[James Whisman]

If he insists on wearing one do what he says but don't buckle it very tight. If it is not tight it will not support your core and your muscles will have to do the work.

[Rus Mandery]

WHo is your coach and which school do you go to?

[Mike Frost]

There are advantages of usuing a belt. I think alot of it is psychological, also the safety factor it provides while deadlifting or squatting.. I have mine on even for power cleans and benching.

[Justin Stratton]

I go to Black Hills High School. My coach's name is Jack Zilla. I think ill just leave it loose. ill ask him just to make sure he doesnt get in trouble if i just wear the belt but keep it loose unless im maxing. should i not use it on my first and second set of squats/deads/cleans? and only use the belt on my last set? Because i REALLY want my core strong.

[jonboy]

Hey Justin, the only time i throw on the belt is when im in my working sets, so for your first few sets i would not wear one.. this is from my last squat workout:

barx10
135x10
225x8
315x5
365x3
405x3
445x3 - first set with belt
475x3
505x2

I wore the belt from 445x3 and on - Also I only wear a belt on sets of 5 or less now..anything higher than that i dont even bother. I recently cut back my squatting from 2x to Once a week since were running fairly intense 2-4 times a week now, but when i was squatting 2x a week i never wore the belt on my light/moderate day. Also im not a huge fan of wearing the belt on cleans, I feel like it gets in the way for me, but thats just me. Hope this helps - Jon

[Barry Perkins]

i always used to wear a belt..then I started seeing alot of guys not using one...and doing some pretty heavy lifts without one..

so I started ..little by little...eliminating the belt..from deads and squats...when I started getting a little heavier...I'd put it on...but now...except for real heavy overheads or heavy deads...I don't wear one...

I think it's a good system like said before..to only use if for the singles and doubles (reps)...

as Eric would say....just my .02 worth...

[Mike Frost]

Me and my training partners NEVER take off our belts. Why would you even post this :LOL: ? It's like asking ummmm would it be safer if your home had several working fire detectors :EL: I'll let you figure that one out.

[Jason Poulos]

If you're worried about having a weak core...

do more Abs/lower back movements (hypers, reverse hypers, situps, etc .)

Wear a belt for your last, heaviest sets (i.e. above 90% of your 1rm)

[ron max]

i always forget mine in the car and im like 'fork it' and push out some 1rms :)