> until I spent a few weeks practicing asian squats
Is that a specific type of squat, or just a normal squatting position without any weight?
Is that a specific type of squat, or just a normal squatting position without any weight?
A crucial difference from how many westerners squat is that the weight is carried back on the heels. Westerners tend to squat with weight forward on the toes, which is highly fatiguing.
There's a vintage video on the topic:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y76UbfBr5vo
(This was linked in the article, but it's since gone walkabout).
When people unused to squatting squat down, they often end up barely reaching parallel.
In contrast to the western "catcher's squat" (from baseball) where the heels are off the ground and the weight is on the balls of your feet.