Lateral Ape Jump

Squat low, plant both hands to the side, and swing the hips across to land in a squat. Three sets of eight controlled crossings landing quietly before you widen the distance travelled.

DIFFICULTY
Intermediate
EQUIPMENT
Bodyweight
PRIMARY MUSCLES
Glutes · Deltoids
ALSO WORKS
Quads · Obliques · Adductors · Triceps
HOW TO DO IT
  1. 01Start in a deep squat with the feet flat and the hands ready at your sides.
  2. 02Reach both hands to the floor a stride to one side and take weight through them.
  3. 03Push the floor away with the feet and swing the hips across toward the hands.
  4. 04Land both feet flat in the same deep squat on the far side.
  5. 05Release the hands and repeat immediately back the other way.
COACHING CUES
  1. 01Hands land first, then the hips follow.
  2. 02Land in a squat, not on straight legs.
  3. 03Quiet feet, absorb it through the hips.
COMMON MISTAKES
  1. 01Landing on the toes with the knees straight, which sends the impact into the knees rather than the hips.
  2. 02Reaching too far too early, which leaves the shoulders holding a load they cannot support and drops the chest.
  3. 03Standing up between reps, which loses the low position that makes this a hip drill rather than a hop.

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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