Beast-to-Crab Transition

Rotate from a bear position through a single-arm support into a crab and back, training rotational control on the hands. Three sets of six transitions per side smoothly before you add speed.

DIFFICULTY
Intermediate
EQUIPMENT
Bodyweight · Mat
PRIMARY MUSCLES
Obliques · Deltoids
ALSO WORKS
Glutes · Triceps · Abs · Posterior Deltoid
HOW TO DO IT
  1. 01Start in a bear position with the knees hovering under the hips.
  2. 02Lift one hand and the opposite foot and begin to rotate the hips toward the ceiling.
  3. 03Pass through a single-arm side support, keeping the supporting shoulder packed.
  4. 04Land in a crab with both hands and both feet down and the hips pressed up.
  5. 05Reverse the same path back to the bear position and alternate sides.
COACHING CUES
  1. 01Hips lead, the hands follow.
  2. 02Keep the hips off the floor the entire transition.
  3. 03Slow through the middle, that is the part that counts.
COMMON MISTAKES
  1. 01Sitting down mid-turn, which breaks the transition into two separate positions and skips the rotational control.
  2. 02Collapsing into the supporting shoulder as you pass through, which loads the joint rather than the muscle.
  3. 03Rushing for speed before the path is smooth, which usually ends with a wrist taking the weight at a bad angle.

Note: Reference material, not a prescription. Load, volume and whether this movement suits you at all depends on your assessment — if something hurts, stop and get it looked at.

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