The Superhero Complex: Stretch & Activate Easily for Squats
Greg Everett


Because stretching and the like is so odious for most people, I’m always looking for ways to make it quicker, simpler and more efficient. Those who put in a lot of training hours already or who have limited training time are generally resistant to the idea of adding even a single minute of stretching after their workouts.

Something I use when appropriate I call the superhero complex: a static spiderman lunge followed by a superman hold (or spiderperson lunge and superperson hold for those of you who find the gender bias of the English language offensive). Generally the spiderman lunge is held for 20-30 seconds per leg, immediately followed by a superman hold for 5-10 seconds.

This complex can be done between squat sets both to make your training more efficient, and to continue improving your position in the squat as you go. Do at least 1-2 sets of it before your first set, then do 1 set between each set of squats.

You can increase or reduce the intensity of the superman hold by changing the position of your hands and arms from your sides (easiest) to hands on your head (moderate) to outstretched in front of you (hardest), and by keeping the legs on the floor (easier) or lifting them up (harder). This should not be a maximal, sweating, gritting your teeth effort—the point is not to exhaust your erectors to the point of being unable to support your back arch in your next set of squats, but to train the ability to generate a forceful extension and to let yourself feel what your back should be doing as you squat down.

With the spiderman lunge, keep the front shin vertical and the front foot pointed straight ahead. Push your hips down as far toward the floor as possible rather than just leaning over with the chest. Keep getting lower over the duration of the stretch.

Give it a shot during your next squat workout and let me know how it works for you.

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Ash 2012-04-09
Good stuff! But, what's a superman hold?
Greg Everett 2012-04-09
Lie on your stomach and arch your back to lift your legs and chest off the floor.
Ash 2012-04-09
Thank you sir! Would you recommend a lunge stretch in this mix for tight hip flexors (even if it doesn't keep with the superhero theme)?
Mike Haytack 2012-04-09
For us gangly folks it's a must!
sam aguirre 2012-04-20
I do this between my squat sets and my low back feels fresh when I step up to the bar. Thanks!
Greg Everett 2014-02-23
Ash -

Sure, just shift back into a lunge after the spiderman. Quick and easy.
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