Hanging Knee Raise

A hanging trunk flexion that trains the abs and hip flexors while the grip and shoulders hold position. Sets of 8-12 with no swing between reps.

DIFFICULTY
Intermediate
EQUIPMENT
Pull-up bar
PRIMARY MUSCLES
Abs · Hip Flexors
ALSO WORKS
Obliques · Forearms & Grip · Lats
HOW TO DO IT
  1. 01Hang from a bar with the hands about shoulder width and the arms straight.
  2. 02Set the shoulders down away from the ears.
  3. 03Brace the trunk and raise the knees toward the chest.
  4. 04Finish the rep by curling the pelvis up slightly at the top.
  5. 05Lower the legs under control until the body is still and straight again.
COACHING CUES
  1. 01Shoulders down, chest tall.
  2. 02Curl the pelvis at the top.
  3. 03Stop the swing before the next rep.
COMMON MISTAKES
  1. 01Kipping the knees up with a body swing — momentum replaces the abs entirely.
  2. 02Hanging passively from the shoulders — the joint takes the load rather than the muscles around it.
  3. 03Only lifting to ninety degrees — without the pelvic curl the hip flexors do nearly all the work.

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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