The Pistol

The single leg squat or "the pistol" as it is called is one of those exercises that most people struggle to perform including yours truly.  It is a true test of balance, strength, and flexibility.  If you are weak in any of those areas - I am sure I fall short in all three - your muscles will immediately give you the vote of no confidence and you will find yourself on your back or your butt crawling off the floor.

I have tried a few methods but never committed to a daily routine to actually master the pistol.  In the articles and demos that I have tried no method seemed to have a logical daily progression that would work for me until today when I found this article in John Sifferman's blog.

What I like best about John's method is that I am starting where he started.  His post includes a video and and he writes how he progressed with daily practice from where I am today - I can lower myself on one leg to a certain point and then I collapse down to my butt and onto my back -  to twelve days later where he can now perform the pistol - and more than just one repetition!  I am going to give this a my best effort every day and track my progress here in my blog.  It should be fun.  I will be away during Thanksgiving and since this only requires my body and no extra equipment I can practice this anywhere anytime.