Beginner
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Frog Stand
Beginner
Not tried
Entry-level balance skill on hands
Not tried
- Hands shoulder-width — lean forward until feet lift off
- Knees rest on upper arms for support
- Weight in lower palm; press fingers into floor
- Spread fingers for better balance and force control
Goal
Build balance through repetition — improve comfort and stability over timeBeginner
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1:05
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Hanging L-Sit
Beginner
Not tried
Core, hip flexors & grip endurance
Not tried
- Progress: knee raises → L raises → hold for time
- Train grip early — it often fails before muscles do
- Shaking reduces as stability improves over time
- Floor L-sit is harder — master the hang version first
Floor Variation
Press into bars, softly round upper back. Start with bent legs then gradually extendIntermediate
Click to watch · 1:52
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Skin the Cat
Intermediate
Not tried
Shoulder mobility, body awareness & injury prevention
Not tried
- Hang → knees to chest → pass legs through arms
- Cross legs to make the rotation easier at first
- Extend body fully, then reverse — pull back up
- Foundation for the back lever (same entry movement)
Learning Tip
Let go and land on feet if needed while learning — build confidence graduallyIntermediate
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Pullover
Intermediate
Not tried
First milestone for getting up and over the bar
Not tried
- Combines body row + toes-to-bar leg raise
- Quickly raise legs with momentum into a body row at top
- Swing legs over and around the bar, land on hips
- Alternative: separate leg raise, then controlled row
Learning Tip
Use a low bar or jump assist to feel the rotation before attempting from a full hangAdvanced
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Pistol Squat
Advanced
Not tried
Leg-focused: strength, balance & mobility
Not tried
- Start with deep step-ups as a foundation
- Practice elevated pistols with support to remove mobility limits
- Gradually reduce elevation as mobility improves
- Work toward full freestanding pistol squat
Advanced
Click to watch · 4:30
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Handstand
Advanced
Not tried
Most important balance skill — foundation for many movements
Not tried
- Same hand setup as frog stand — kick up using momentum
- Practice safe exits first — lean to side and step away
- Low strength demand allows frequent daily practice
- Expect sporadic holds — progress is uneven at first
Reality Check
Consistency takes time. You can work on other skills while still learning this one in parallelAdvanced
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Kipping Muscle-Up
Advanced
Not tried
Explosive pulling strength & momentum control
Not tried
- Train diagonal pull-ups — start with resistance band
- Jump to bar, swing forward to generate momentum
- As swing reverses, raise knees to chest for height
- Quick hip drive forward carries body over the bar
Expert
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Frog Stand → Handstand
Expert
Not tried
Combines frog stand and handstand in one movement
Not tried
- From frog stand, lower head while hips rise up
- More vertical hips = better launch position
- Quickly extend legs while pressing firmly into floor
- Incline push-ups are the main supporting exercise
Key Balance Point
Faster leg extension = harder control. Find your rhythm between strength and momentumExpert
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Tuck Planche
Expert
Not tried
Introduction to straight-arm strength — foundation for static skills
Not tried
- Begin with planche leans to build strength and find arm position
- Bring knees close, slightly lift feet off the floor
- Actively press down and protract shoulders
- Softly round upper back throughout the hold
⚠ Warning
Can strain biceps even as a pushing exercise — manage volume carefully and progress slowlyExpert
Click to watch · 7:50
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Handstand Push-Up
Expert
Not tried
Vertical Push
Not tried
Full vertical pressing power. From a handstand, lower until the head nears the floor, then press back up — pure overhead strength.
Expert
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Strict Muscle-Up
Expert
Not tried
Diagonal Pull
Not tried
The king of pulling movements. Get over the bar using controlled strength alone — no kipping, no momentum, pure power.
Expert
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Front Lever
Expert
Not tried
Horizontal Pull
Not tried
The ultimate core and lat challenge. Hold the body perfectly horizontal while hanging from a bar, face toward the ceiling.
Intermediate
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Elbow Lever
Intermediate
Not tried
Easy to learn, looks extremely impressive
Not tried
- Place elbows under body, lean onto bones for support
- Find and hold the balance point â very learnable
- Does not build into main progression skills
- Great beginner trick â achievable in a single session
Beginner
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0:04
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Hollow Body Hang
Beginner
Not tried
Active hanging for grip, shoulder control, and full-body tension
Not tried
- Start in a dead hang, then pull the shoulders down and back into an active hang
- Squeeze the core and thighs together to keep the body still
- Use a resistance band to deload and lower assistance over time
Coach's tip:
Treat this as your first lesson in straight-arm tension. Stay long, quiet, and controlled.Beginner
Click to watch · 2:08
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2:08
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Hollow Body Hold
Beginner
Not tried
Foundational anti-extension core position for calisthenics
Not tried
- Press the lower back firmly into the floor and let the shoulders rise naturally
- Lift and extend the legs while keeping pelvic tilt
- Regress with bent legs, one-leg holds, or straddle holds and build to 45 seconds
Coach's tip:
Lower back contact is the rep. If it lifts, make the position easier and keep the shape honest.Beginner
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Pseudo Planche Lean
Beginner
Not tried
Straight-arm front delt and scapular strength for planche prep
Not tried
- Protract the scapula and keep the shoulders away from the ears
- Turn the hands slightly outward if needed for wrist comfort
- Lean forward with straight arms, tight core, glutes, and thighs
Coach's tip:
Measure lean against a wall or block so you can steadily push the position forward over time.Intermediate
Click to watch · 3:40
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Pseudo Planche Push-Up
Intermediate
Not tried
Pressing strength with a forward lean for advanced push progressions
Not tried
- Add a push-up to the pseudo planche lean while maintaining forward lean
- If needed, lean forward on the way down and push back toward a regular push-up on the way up
- Over time, keep the lean through the full rep
Coach's tip:
Do not chase reps at the expense of the lean. The lean is what makes this transferable.Intermediate
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Tuck Front Lever
Intermediate
Not tried
Straight-arm pulling strength and bodyline control under the bar
Not tried
- Pull the knees toward the chest while keeping the arms straight
- Lift until the ankles touch the bar, then lean back toward horizontal
- Avoid bending the arms or shaking through the lift
Coach's tip:
Think lift, lean back, and pause. The straight-arm shape matters more than how high you can yank yourself.Intermediate
Click to watch · 5:24
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5:24
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German Hang
Intermediate
Not tried
Shoulder extension mobility and tolerance through a loaded stretch
Not tried
- Use a block or bench under the feet when first entering the position
- Lower as safely as possible and gradually reduce support over time
- Work toward a freestanding hold as tolerance improves
Coach's tip:
Respect the stretch. This is a mobility builder, not a test of how reckless you can be.Intermediate
Click to watch · 5:51
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5:51
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Butcher Block
Intermediate
Not tried
A shoulder opening drill for straighter handstand lines
Not tried
- Keep the elbows tucked rather than flaring out
- Start on the knees to learn the shape and feel the shoulders open
- Build to 30-second holds, then add a small external load if needed
Coach's tip:
Actively sink the hips and brace the core. This is mobility plus strength, not just a stretch.Intermediate
Click to watch · 7:14
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Tuck Back Lever
Intermediate
Not tried
Backside straight-arm strength and control behind the bar
Not tried
- Move past the bar from a German hang style setup and stop just short
- Lift the chest and hold a horizontal tuck without extending the legs
- Train it like the front lever with straight-arm lifts into position
Coach's tip:
If the German hang feels sketchy, this skill is not ready yet. Build the shoulder tolerance first.Intermediate
Click to watch · 7:45
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Compact Leg Lift
Intermediate
Not tried
Core compression and hip mobility for future L-sit progressions
Not tried
- Place the hands around knee or low-thigh level and push down and out with the back
- Keep the legs straight and lift them as high as possible
- Regress to single-leg lifts or use an object target to build range
Coach's tip:
Use a wall behind the upper back for leverage if needed, but keep chasing straighter legs and cleaner lifts.Intermediate
Click to watch · 9:02
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Pike Push-Up
Intermediate
Not tried
Overhead pushing strength with an inverted pressing angle
Not tried
- Lower so the head travels above the hands on the descent
- Keep the elbows tucked rather than flared out
- Push up and out through the shoulders, not just straight up
Coach's tip:
Lengthen or shorten the pike to scale difficulty, but keep the head path honest and the elbows clean.Intermediate
Click to watch · 9:53
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L-Sit
Intermediate
Not tried
Full-body compression and scapular depression in a support hold
Not tried
- Depress the scapula by pushing down with straight arms
- Lift the hips slightly back as you push into the floor or bars
- Use single-leg alternating L-sits as a bridge from compact leg lifts
Coach's tip:
Think push down, lift hips, then lift legs. If compression is weak, go back and own the compact leg lift.Intermediate
Click to watch · 10:20
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10:20
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Archer Push-Up
Intermediate
Not tried
Unilateral pressing strength and one-arm push-up preparation
Not tried
- At the bottom, one arm bends while the other stays much straighter
- Use bent-arm archers first instead of forcing a straight support arm too soon
- Build both strength and mobility by gradually opening the working position
Coach's tip:
Do both sides with equal discipline. This is as much an imbalance fixer as it is a strength builder.Intermediate
Click to watch · 11:23
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11:23
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Reverse Nordic
Intermediate
Not tried
A bodyweight quad strengthener that also opens the front of the body
Not tried
- Set the knees about shoulder width and keep the feet flat behind you
- Squeeze the glutes and descend in one straight line without bouncing
- Use elevation under the feet or bands for assistance if needed
Coach's tip:
Stay rigid from knees to shoulders. This works because the body moves as one piece.Advanced
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Incline One-Arm Push-Up
Advanced
Not tried
Build unilateral pressing strength and stability toward a full one-arm push-up
Not tried
- Use an incline that is challenging but still lets you control the rep
- Treat the movement as single-arm pressing with balance and trunk tension
- Lower the incline over time as strength and control improve
Coach's tip:
Do not force the floor version too early. Own the incline first, then gradually reduce assistance.Elite
Click to watch · 5:53
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5:53
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One-Arm Push-Up
Elite
Not tried
Build unilateral pressing strength, trunk stability, and balance in a true one-arm floor push-up
Not tried
- Start from a solid push-up foundation and use a wide tripod base with the feet for balance
- Lean toward the working side and keep the body rigid as you descend and press
- Build it through elevated and assisted one-arm push-ups, then use one rep every minute on the minute to grow volume
Coach's tip:
Do not rush the floor version. Own the incline and assisted progressions first, then keep the feet wide and the torso tight so the rep stays controlled.Advanced
Click to watch · 12:09
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12:09
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Straddle Sit
Advanced
Not tried
An advanced seated support hold with mobility-heavy compression
Not tried
- Turn the hands slightly outward or even more to the side if needed
- Enter from a squat at first rather than forcing a clean ground entry
- Build it with straddle leg lifts and patience around flexibility
Coach's tip:
This is not just an L-sit with the legs apart. The hip opening and entry mechanics matter.Intermediate
Click to watch · 12:46
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12:46
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Shoulder Stand
Intermediate
Not tried
Wall-assisted shoulder strength for future handstand pressing
Not tried
- Train on a wall from a frog stand style setup
- Start with one leg up before moving to both legs in position
- Use the wall to lower into the full position and own the breathing
Coach's tip:
Do not rush the shape. This is about shoulder tolerance and end-range control, not ego reps.Advanced
Click to watch · 13:05
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13:05
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Muscle-Up
Advanced
Not tried
A dynamic pull-to-transition skill built on timing as much as strength
Not tried
- Use a hollow pull shape rather than an arched pull-up
- Practice the swing path, then add an aggressive knee drive at the right moment
- Use a resistance band to learn the line and reduce help over time
Coach's tip:
Many people have enough strength but poor timing. Drill the knee drive before you chase cleaner reps.