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Glute Kickback

Glute Kickback is a beginner compound bodyweight exercise that mainly works your glutes, with help from your hamstrings.

💪 Glutes🏋️ Bodyweight📈 Beginner🔗 Compound🎯 3 sets of 8-15 reps
Glute Kickback: starting position
Starting position
Glute Kickback: end position
End position

How to do the glute kickback

  1. Kneel on the floor or an exercise mat and bend at the waist with your arms extended in front of you (perpendicular to the torso) in order to get into a kneeling push-up position but with the arms spaced at shoulder width. Your head should be looking forward and the bend of the knees should create a 90-degree angle between the hamstrings and the calves. This will be your starting position.
  2. As you exhale, lift up your right leg until the hamstrings are in line with the back while maintaining the 90-degree angle bend. Contract the glutes throughout this movement and hold the contraction at the top for a second. Tip: At the end of the movement the upper leg should be parallel to the floor while the calf should be perpendicular to it.
  3. Go back to the initial position as you inhale and now repeat with the left leg.
  4. Continue to alternate legs until all of the recommended repetitions have been performed.

Muscles worked

Primary: GlutesSecondary: Hamstrings

Sets and reps

Do 3 sets of 8-15 controlled reps, stopping 1-2 reps before failure. When you can do 15 easily, slow the tempo or add weight.

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Glute Kickback alternatives

Exercises that train the same main muscle, including options with other equipment.

Flutter KicksBodyweight · BeginnerPull ThroughCable · BeginnerPhysioball Hip BridgeOther · BeginnerHip Extension with BandsBand · BeginnerStep-up with Knee RaiseBodyweight · BeginnerGlute BridgeBodyweight · Beginner

FAQ

What muscles does the glute kickback work?

It mainly works your glutes; your hamstrings assist.

How many sets and reps of glute kickback should I do?

Do 3 sets of 8-15 controlled reps, stopping 1-2 reps before failure. When you can do 15 easily, slow the tempo or add weight.

Is the glute kickback good for beginners?

Yes. It is a beginner-friendly movement: start light and focus on the form steps above.

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