Maybe somebody can help me with this: I am incorporating now step ups into my program. Today I used a 14" box to step onto. I am not sure if this is optimal though. I felt it could be higher.
Is there a rule of thumb as to how high a box should be for the step up in relation to a lifters height? What are your experience with the step up movement?

Thanks in advance for any advice!

Is there a rule of thumb as to how high a box should be for the step up in relation to a lifters height?

I usually look at the angle of the thighs and try to get the box high enough to approximate legal squat depth. Like you, I'm quite a newbie on the movement and some reps tend to look quite ugly as I struggle to keep the balance. The fairly high stack of boxes is probably a contributing factor, getting the box lower would probably help in that regard.

I have a hate-love relationship with the step-up: I hate the low weights I can handle, but love what it ought to do for my weak quads. I've also done my share of lunges, but find the step-up much more controllable. I spent my youth doing martial arts, but you couldn't tell from seeing me do these... 

Looking forward to seeing more suggestions.

Thanks for the tip.

Has anybody got a YouTube video link which could act as an instruction?

Measure your inseam. From your crotch to the floor. I found 80% of your inseam length is about the maximum height that can be handled. Anybody that can do between 70-80% of their inseam has a pretty good set of legs.
If you drive with the heel you can really target the hamstrings and glutes.
Don't push off the bottom leg. That's cheating.

TNT

Thanks.

Read this, then spend some time doing the single leg program:

http://www.t-nation.com/free_o...gies_for_quick_results&cr=

I did the single leg stuff for 16 weeks.  Since I could not do a pistol at the time (now I could do one), I did a lot of reps of just the lowering portion of a pistol to a below parallel step.  After all that, I was able to squat ass to grass for the first time, hold it, then squat it up.  I had more control and pop, too.  I now do assisted pistols for high reps with a green band (5 sets of 10) but will soon switch to doing them with a purple band for lower reps.

Good luck.

Thanks for the tip. Your results are encouraging. I should try to incorporate some of the elements in my next program cycle.