I am of the opinion that anyone who can squat 400 lb below parallel without a suit or press200 overhead has a strong core. I am of the opinion that when a person increases their squat, theyhave increased their core strength. I am also of the opinion that if a person wants to strengthentheir core, they must make something quantifiably stronger.
Mark RippetoeYour ideal body weight as an ectomorph at 6' 0" will be 214.378 lbs. There. Happy? And if you lose or gain a pound, I will have you killed. It is important to be ideal.
Mark RippetoeA squat cannot be performed on a Smith machine any more than it can be performed in a small closet with a hamster.
Mark RippetoeYou donโt get to mis-define a thing, and then on the basis of that mis-definition, say that that thing is bad โฆ itโs incumbent upon you, if youโre going to make a criticism of something, that you actually have at your command a working definition of the thing you're criticizing
Mark Rippetoe