what is a pistol?

[Clay Warford]

I have heard people talk about this, but what the heck is it?

[Derek Maffett]

It's a type of gun, of course.

Or maybe this - http://www.beastskills.com/pistol.htm wfs

Just remembered I have to look for updates on that site.

[Daniel Gam]

its a 1 legged squat. there are several variations and supplementary exercises that can help you progress to it. it can also be weighted in the rack position like a front squat (often with kettlebells), on the back like a back squat (John Grimek), and overhead (adrian bozman!)

I may be incorrect, but I think the first person to introduce or at least popularize it was Pavel Tsatsouline ("Comrade!").

there are 3 videos under journal previews in the ex/demo section of crossfit that teach you how to do pistols courtesy of adrian

here's some other websites

http://www.beastskills.com/Pistol.htm
http://ditillo2.blogspot.com/2008/02...hn-grimek.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PcvHaRaqJNo (steve cotter doing pistol box jumps!)

[Daniel Gam]

i think the hardest thing for me was balance -
so before i started trying to do it, i made sure i could balance on either foot for 1 minute with my eyes closed.

for some ppl flexibility in the non sqatting leg is an issue

[Derek Maffett]

Originally Posted by Daniel Gam

I may be incorrect, but I think the first person to introduce or at least popularize it was Pavel Tsatsouline ("Comrade!").

Pretty sure Pavel hasn't really introduced "new" exercises, but he's certainly made kettlebells and other real ways to exercise much more popular. Got to give him credit for that.

[Daniel Gam]

introduced to n. america perhaps? not a new exercise - they've probably been doing it in russia for a while. i know that some martial arts in china do something similar too

i think tabata pistols would be pretty painful - i think i might give it a try one of these days.

[Derek Maffett]

Henry Steinborn... the old-timers did some crazy-weird stuff and I'm sure the pistol was far from the craziest. Notice, however, that the weird exercises they did back then tended to involve insanely heavy barbells. Compare that to the weird exercises done now that tend to involve no more than 10lb dumbbells.

[Brian Lawyer]

Is a pistol the hardest progression in the one legged squat series and does anyone know what the progression is?

I have seen one legged squats done by just standing and lifting one of your legs a couple inches off the ground and squatting with the other.

I have also seen where you stand one legged on a bench. You keep the leg not doing the squatting perfectly straight and squat until the heal of the straight leg touches the ground.

[Chris Walls]

Check the demo videos section of the main site. There is a good video there done by Boz (I think) building up to full pistols.

[Daniel Gam]

the one where you do the 1 leg squat on a bench/box is easier - you can get the same depth in the squat, but you don't need to do anything with your free leg.

if you do the 1 leg squat on the floor you have to flex your hip with free leg and be flexible enough to keep your foot off the floor. a lot of ppl have the strength to do the 1 leg squat but can only do it on a box but not the floor