How To Do the Asian Squat

Are you one of those Westerners who have mastered the Asian squat? In other words, who know how to squat Asian-style? If you've ever been to Asia, you'll know what I mean... Most foreigners can't sit on their heels without losing their balance!

Video: How to do the Asian Squat

I just rediscovered this video: How To Do the Asian Squat. A funny little parody movie that compares the two ways to crouch.

The video is signed by an American author of Asian origin, Daniel Hsia. Some of you may already know it, because it has been running for a long time: it dates from 2002! I found it again, while cleaning my bookmarks.

(Update: as a reminder, this post was first posted back in... 2008! Since then, a host of similar asian squat videos have proliferated on YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, etc.)

A comfortable position

In Asia, people like to squat. Sometimes just to have a snack, to chat or to watch the street show. People sit on their heels, without putting their buttocks on the ground, firmly planted on their feet.

It's comfortable and stable, not tiring to hold, unlike the position most Westerners take, who perch on their toes.

Below, some scenes from everyday life, brought back from my trip to Vietnam in 2001.

Little anecdote

For my part, I master theAsian squat. It is a posture that I adopt easily and naturally, not only when I am in Asia, in the local fashion, but also in my daily life in France...

One day, in Rennes, while I was sitting on my heels like this, chatting outside in the street with colleagues on break, an old lady suddenly stood in front of me on the sidewalk. Without saying hello or anything, a bit aggressive, she asks me if I have Vietnamese origins. I answer her that I don't, but she insists, saying that I am like the Vietnamese and that I must have lived in Vietnam.

Not really, I tell her. I've been to Vietnam several times, but only on vacation. I've done a lot of traveling in Southeast Asia, and I just picked up the habit there. She then begins to tell me about her life. She used to live in Saigon, a long time ago. Then she also starts making remarks that I find unpleasant, "old-fashioned" and colonialist. Annoyed, I end the conversation...

I don't know what memory I awakened that day in this old lady, who obviously remained in her head at the time of Indochina and the French colonization... As for me, I remain an unconditional supporter of theAsian squat !

😛