Jay Cutler became known as the “Quad Stomper” because his legs were the driving force four amazing Mr. Olympia wins. And for those looking to build their quads, Cutler says leg pressure was the key to his success. Here’s how to master this exercise.
Cutler took to Instagram to reveal the details of his 5.8 million Instagram followers. “I had some of the best legs at the Olympics,” he said proudly. “The details, the size, the shape, and one of the exercises I did most often was the leg press.” Of course, most budding bodybuilders know that the leg press is great for legs, but what people often get wrong is leg shape and placement.
How Jay Cutler’s Leg Press Technique Made Bodybuilding’s Best Quads
“To build frontal quads, you want to place the bottom leg on the platform,” he says of connecting the legs. Olympia’s drawing noted that feet should be about shoulder width apart, noting that wider feet put more emphasis on the hips. On the contrary, a narrower stance helps target the outer quads instead of liver. “But focusing on the quads, you really want to place the bottom leg on the platform,” he said, doubling down on an important point.
Lower leg placement is believed to hit the quads harder because this position creates a deeper knee flexion. But when you try, make sure you don’t fully straighten your leg at the end of the press. Do not let the knee drop below the toe line.
To follow in Jay Cutler’s heavy leg, the bodybuilding legend says you need to get twelve reps. “Now remember, you have to go down far enough to get a full contraction,” Cutler said. So, while muscles are built by lifting heavy, you should never sacrifice form. Instead, experiment with a weight that challenges you for twelve full repetitions, but doesn’t affect the quality of your repetitions. “Strike the deepest fibers,” he concluded with inspiration.
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