The prone IYTW complex is a no-equipment shoulder health exercise you can do anywhere to strengthen your upper back, improve scapular stability, and bulletproof your shoulders. Learn how to perform all four positions correctly, the most common mistakes to avoid, and how strength coach Brandon Smitley of THIRST Gym programs this warm-up drill for powerlifters, combat athletes, and youth athletes alike.
Standing rack-supported hip CARs are a simple, effective hip mobility drill that uses controlled articular rotations to unlock your hip’s full range of motion — flexion, extension, and rotation. Learn how to perform this versatile mobility exercise, the common mistakes to avoid, and how to program it as a warm-up or mobility filler for squats, deadlifts, wrestling, and athletic performance.
The band resisted cable straight arm lat pulldown is a simple upgrade to a classic back exercise that dramatically increases lat activation while teaching you how to set your upper back for a stronger, more stable bench press. Learn the exact setup, coaching cues, biomechanics, common mistakes, and programming recommendations — whether you’re using it as a bench press primer or a dedicated accessory.
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 lateral lunge with plate reach is one of the best teaching exercises for building frontal-plane movement, hip control, and clean lateral mechanics. Learn how the plate counterbalance unlocks proper depth, why a light 5–10 lb plate beats going heavy, and how to coach foot position, knee tracking, and programming for athletes and general fitness clients alike. A simple, low-cost drill that lays the foundation for goblet and sandbag lateral lunge progressions.
The split stance cable lift builds rotational power, core stability, and hip mobility in a single athletic movement, making it one of the most versatile exercises for developing change of direction strength. Brandon Smitley breaks down the setup, the “into the cut” versus “out of the cut” variations, and programming recommendations for athletes, combat sports competitors, and general fitness clients alike.
The crossbody cable kickstand RDL is one of the most effective loaded mobility exercises you can add to your training for improving posterior hip capsule mobility and glute strength at the same time. Using a low cable and a kickstand stance, this exercise uses a cross-body pull to drive hip rotation through the hinge pattern, making it ideal for athletes and lifters who struggle with hip stiffness or limited range of motion. Whether you use it as a pre-training warm-up, an accessory movement, or a recovery day drill, this variation delivers real results for your hips and your posterior chain.
The band resisted hip airplane uses a light to moderate resistance band to drive the hip into a deep posterior hip capsule stretch, helping athletes and lifters access greater range of motion than bodyweight alone allows. Learn how to set up and perform this hip mobility drill to improve glute activation, open up tight hips, and build a more effective warm-up before squats, deadlifts, and athletic training. This exercise is a staple in mobility and corrective programming at THIRST Gym for anyone looking to move and feel better in the gym and on the field.
The single leg hip flexor plank with hamstring feedback is a powerful isometric exercise that simultaneously strengthens the hip flexors and hamstrings while correcting pelvic alignment and improving overall hip mobility. By leveraging the functional relationship between the hamstrings and pelvis, this movement addresses anterior pelvic tilt, builds deep hip stability, and integrates core activation in a single drill. Add it to your warm-up before squats or deadlifts, use it on recovery days, or plug it in as a filler between heavy sets to maximize hip health and athletic performance.