Daily Mobility Exercises by Dr. Kelly Starrett › Forums › Foot/Ankle › Progressing to Pistols › Re: Progressing to Pistols

03/21/2014 at 8:39 pm #74360
AvatarNathan Richer
Participant

The pistol’s lowest position may not be achievable by everyone.  If your femurs run up against your pelvis as you get to the lowest position when your legs are together, then depending on the dimensions/mechanics of your legs, your back may begin to arch in a big way and it can mean that you cannot get your weight balanced forward enough before you fall back.

When you deep squat normally, do you have to keep you feet slightly wider than shoulder width? That would be the first clue.  
But if this is not the case, then there probably is some mobility issue that will have to be addressed. 
Gymnasticswod has some great content on pistol progressions. Study those and see if they help:

These discuss one legged pistols, but they are relevant to the pistol squat as well.