The lateral lunge to curtsy lunge is a frontal-plane flow that builds hip mobility, stronger glutes and adductors, and more athletic side-to-side movement with little or no equipment. Learn how to perform it step by step, why frontal-plane training matters, and three ways to program it — as a dynamic warm-up, a loaded strength exercise, or a bodyweight conditioning finisher.
The in-place lateral lunge with plate reach is a beginner-friendly hip mobility exercise that builds frontal-plane strength, lengthens the adductors, and teaches you how to load each hip with confidence. Learn the proper stance, the plate-reach counterbalance technique, the most common mistakes to avoid, and how to program this drill as a teaching tool or pre-training warm-up. It’s a foundational lateral lunge variation for wrestlers, combat athletes, powerlifters, and anyone who wants healthier, more mobile hips.
The Hatfield front foot elevated reverse lunge is one of the most effective single-leg exercises for building lower body strength and size, combining hand-assisted stability with an increased range of motion to load the glutes, quads, and hamstrings heavier than a traditional reverse lunge ever could. In this exercise index breakdown, I walk through setup, technique, programming recommendations, and exactly when to use this variation. It’s also one of my go-to single-leg movements for lifters dealing with low back issues who still want to train hard.
The Hatfield front foot elevated split squat is one of the most effective single-leg exercises you can add to your training, combining safety squat bar loading with stability support to take balance out of the equation and let you push heavier weights for strength and hypertrophy. In this exercise index breakdown, Brandon Smitley of THIRST Gym walks you through the setup, technique, programming recommendations, and the biomechanical reasons this variation builds bigger glutes, stronger legs, and better mobility. Learn how to add this powerful split squat variation to your powerlifting accessory work or athletic development program today.
The deficit lateral lunge is an advanced frontal plane exercise that builds explosive lateral movement and change of direction power by incorporating an elevated box to increase range of motion and force production demands. This variation enhances the stretch-shortening cycle in the glutes and hamstrings, making it ideal for athletes in basketball, soccer, tennis, and other sports requiring rapid directional changes. Learn proper technique, programming strategies, and how to progress this powerful lateral movement exercise for maximum athletic development.
The tall kneeling hip thrust with resistance band is the ultimate teaching tool for mastering the hip hinge pattern while building powerful glutes and hamstrings. This beginner-friendly exercise uses band tension to provide instant feedback on proper hinge mechanics, making it perfect for those struggling to learn the movement pattern, while also serving as an effective posterior chain finisher for intermediate and advanced athletes. Discover how this minimal-equipment exercise solves one of strength training’s most frustrating coaching challenges.
Dealing with persistent hip pain during squats, deadlifts, or everyday movements often stems from pelvic rotation and hip capsule restriction rather than the hip joint itself. This comprehensive guide reveals a proven four-exercise protocol that addresses posterior hip tightness, weak internal rotators, restricted adductors, and undertrained hip flexors to eliminate chronic one-sided hip pain and restore pain-free movement. Learn the exact sequence used by strength athletes and powerlifters to fix nagging hip issues that traditional stretching and foam rolling cannot resolve.
The front foot elevated split stance cable row builds exceptional single-arm upper back strength while solving common problems that plague traditional rowing variations, including low back discomfort and limited hip mobility. This cable machine variation uses a strategically elevated front foot position to keep your torso vertical and pelvis properly stacked, allowing you to access greater ranges of motion during pulling movements without compensatory patterns that typically cause issues. Perfect for athletes seeking positional strength development and lifters dealing with mobility limitations, this exercise delivers comprehensive upper body training with full-body integration and postural control benefits.
The in-place kettlebell lateral lunge combines frontal plane strength training with dynamic hip mobility work, making it an essential exercise for athletes and fitness enthusiasts who want to improve lateral movement capabilities and address common hip restrictions. By using a contralateral loading pattern where the kettlebell opposes your lunge direction, this lateral lunge variation challenges your core stability while opening up your hips in ways that traditional forward-and-backward movements simply cannot match. Whether you’re looking to enhance sports performance, correct movement limitations, or build functional lower body strength, this single-kettlebell exercise delivers results that translate directly to better side-to-side movement quality.
Master the front rack box squat to build exceptional lower body strength while perfecting your front squat technique. This powerful anterior loaded variation helps you control squat depth, fix forward lean issues, and develop the upright torso positioning that translates to better squatting patterns across the board. Whether you’re teaching youth athletes their first barbell movements or breaking through strength plateaus, this box squat progression delivers results for lifters at every level.Retry