Hanging Knee Raise

Bar

Hanging trunk flexion with bent knees, building grip and the posterior pelvic tilt that makes straight-leg raises possible. Three sets of twelve without swing before you straighten the legs.

DIFFICULTY
Beginner
EQUIPMENT
Bodyweight · Pull-up bar
PRIMARY MUSCLES
Abs · Hip Flexors
ALSO WORKS
Obliques · Forearms & Grip · Lats
HOW TO DO IT
  1. 01Hang from the bar with an overhand grip and the shoulders lightly engaged.
  2. 02Set the ribs down so the body stops swinging.
  3. 03Draw the knees up toward the chest, curling the pelvis under at the top.
  4. 04Pause briefly at the top rather than bouncing out of it.
  5. 05Lower the legs under control back to a still hang.
COACHING CUES
  1. 01Curl the tailbone toward the ribs at the top.
  2. 02No swing, start every rep from still.
  3. 03Shoulders active, do not hang like a rag.
COMMON MISTAKES
  1. 01Swinging to generate the lift, which trains the hang and momentum instead of the trunk.
  2. 02Stopping at ninety degrees without tilting the pelvis, which makes it a pure hip flexor rep.
  3. 03Dropping the legs fast, which throws the body into extension and puts a snap through the low back.

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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