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Pistol Squat

Stand on one leg with the other leg extended straight out in front of you and arms reaching forward for balance. Slowly bend the standing knee and sit your hips down and back until your glute nearly touches your heel, keeping the free leg off the ground. Drive through the full foot to stand back up without letting the heel lift or the knee cave inward. Maintain an upright chest and control the descent for full depth.

QUADRICEPS · LOWER BODY

Pistol Squat: how the movement is executed

How it is executed

  1. Stand on one leg with the other leg extended straight out in front of you and arms reaching forward for balance.
  2. Slowly bend the standing knee and sit your hips down and back until your glute nearly touches your heel, keeping the free leg off the ground.
  3. Drive through the full foot to stand back up without letting the heel lift or the knee cave inward.
  4. Maintain an upright chest and control the descent for full depth.
Muscles worked
Quadriceps
Primary muscle
Quadriceps
Equipment
Bodyweight
Movement pattern
Lower body
Difficulty
Advanced
What it is for
StrengthHypertrophy

Variations and substitutions

Program your clients' routines from these exercises, without the spreadsheet.