I don't know if anyone here read the interview with Dave Tate, on T Nation.. I'll post a section I thought was really interesting, and perhaps debatable..
I personally am dedicated to squats, but mostly because I was told to be. Now hearing someone go against that is making me second guess. Would time off of squats actually be beneficial? After all the information I got about the GTO I look foward to this topic. Any input would be great..

mreik, i posted the exact quote on another forum last week, i think , i plan on giving the book squat or powerlift squat a go in the next few months just to test Tate's idea, frankly it makes sense to me.

I also will be taking the bar off my back every 3 or 4 months like he suggests and probably do some stepups, lunges, hack squats etc for a few weeks.

Still groggy dude whats GTO?

Thats interesting.
Not that I squat heavy anyway.
Thats going right in my book

Common Periodization usually is just changing sets and reps, BUT if you change the exercise, it's a whole other stress... That's where I never have my clients do the same exercises more than 4 weeks out...

Yeah I usually change exersises every 6 weeks anyway, but I didnt think about taking the weight off you back for a while and the reasons why.

Even such a power exercise like squats? I perform a push/pull/legs split, most of the time I have one or two main exercises for each lift, and then just supplement as desired at the time. On my leg day, my main lift is squats, and I'm not exactly sure what I could replace that with.

EDIT** Oh and newf, GTO - Golgi Tendon Organ, it's very interesting.. I'll see if I can dig up the thread..
EDIT2**Here's the link GTO

Yup, even power lifts I'll have my clients take a break from, it keeps things interesting for them, then the new exercises are a new stress to the body, so then when I have them do that for awhile, and then go back to the squats, deadlifts, etc... the body 'remembers' a little bit on it, but it's a new stress compared to before, so then once again, it has to adapt, even though it's done it before...

I hadn't seen this article yet but interestingly the typical Westside set up is
3 weeks back squat
3 weeks good mornings
3 weeks deadlift (generally speaking)

Mreik, you can do as Tate suggested and do GHRs, RDLs, and bb step ups. If you ever get a chance to see Tate and Wendler at a seminar, it's def worth the trip.

wouldnt lunges still be a bar on the back? and what exactly is a belt squat?:S

Sounds like you just strap a belt on and there is weight or resistance attached or connected to it.

Yeah but I don't have one of these..


I think I'm overtraining my lower back as it is, so I need to drop squats or deads.. I think I'm gonna drop squats and probably replace them with bb step ups, and perhaps pistols..