Goblet Squat

A single bell held at the chest as a counterweight, which lets most people squat deeper and cleaner than they can under a bar. The default squat teaching tool for sets of 8-12.

DIFFICULTY
Beginner
EQUIPMENT
Kettlebell
PRIMARY MUSCLES
Quads · Glutes
ALSO WORKS
Adductors · Lower back · Abs
HOW TO DO IT
  1. 01Hold a kettlebell by the horns at chest height with the elbows tucked in.
  2. 02Stand with the feet a little wider than the hips and the toes slightly out.
  3. 03Brace the trunk and lower straight down, letting the elbows track inside the knees.
  4. 04Pause for a beat at the bottom with the chest tall.
  5. 05Stand up by pushing the floor apart, finishing with the hips fully extended.
COACHING CUES
  1. 01Keep the bell glued to the sternum.
  2. 02Spread the floor with your feet.
  3. 03Chest stays up as you sit down.
COMMON MISTAKES
  1. 01Letting the bell drift away from the chest — the load moves forward and the lower back picks up the difference.
  2. 02Bouncing out of the bottom — the rebound skips the exact range the drill is meant to build.
  3. 03Knees collapsing inward — the medial knee absorbs force the glutes should be handling.

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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