When doing squats, what does 'don't let your knees past your toes mean'?

Question

Every time I see it, the guy always has his kneecap or more beyond the point where his toes are, at least by a little bit.

Like
B T K
where B is the rest of your body, T is your toes and K is your knee sticking out a bit

Answer 1

From a standing position, looking down, when you squat you should go only as low as your knees over your toes. Any further doesn't have any further benefits and also could cause harm to the knee and the ligaments. Basically, you are squating not sitting on your heels.

Answer 2

The rule is merely an easy way to remember not to make the angle of your lower leg to your upper leg--the angle through your knees--go past 90 degrees. If you do that regularly, you stand a good chance of injuring your knee, which means either the cartilege or teh famous anterior cruciate ligament, the one that tears or breaks when someone "blows out" his knee.

If you don't let your knees go past a 90 degree bend, you'll be much safer and healthier.

Answer 3

It means don't let your knees move further out than your toes are sticking out.

Answer 4

basically, you should be able to do squats with your toes touching a wall, that way your knees CANNOT go further than your toes.

Answer 5

Yeah you're not suppose to squat past your knees...because it's bad for your knees. Plus, it's how you keep good form.

Answer 6

Do try to get your knees past your toes. Dont squat down so far you hurt yourself. Dont strain yourself. Please vote me best answer.

Answer 7

If you go down to far you risk flipping over and kissing your own behind. No a pretty thought - is it ?