Why Matt K says no to knee wraps.

[kite]

The knee wrap question, lol!!! I have been asked this many times so here goes. Yes, knee wraps would add pounds to my squat probably at least 50 or more. So that begs the question that what kind of moron would give away that advantage?

Here's why: For me the loss in the amount of weight squatted is offset by the decreased stress of messing with the wraps. Squats tend to be the most stressful of the three lifts since they are the most technical, they lead off the meet, they are the lift most frequently red lighted and timing the wrapping of your knees only adds to this. So if there is a misload, someone dumps the bar, the scoring table needs time, there is an injury on the platform or some other reason my attempt is delayed I am unaffected. Also for me coming up with the weight is usually not the issue. In fact in thinking back over my meets for the last several years I can't recall not coming up with a squat since the GNC Show of Strength/WPO Semis back in '03. And besides that knee wraps are for pussies. How's that for a tough guy answer? lol!!

Matt Kroczaleski

[T-Man007]

Re: Why Matt K says no to knee wraps.

Well, I don't know about the ***** part, but I personally don't use them or belts or anything due to fact I don't want to support the joint externally. Supporting a joint externally only compromises the integrity of the joint. With that said, there has to be a factor of common sense too. If I was going to see what I could squat max for the hell of it, you can bet I would protect my knees. I don't do one rep maxes anymore so my joints would not be able to handle that kind of stress, so logically I would wrap. But, when I'm doing anything reps over 6 I don't wrap anything. I listen to my body, if my joints hurt, I back down a little. But, with PWing, that's a whole different story, I think common sense would state that you should wrap everything involved with one rep maxes because of the intense work load. IMO.