How to Do One Half Locust
Start and end of one clean rep of One Half Locust.
Quick facts
| Primary muscle | Quads |
|---|---|
| Secondary muscles | Core, Biceps, Chest |
| Equipment | Bodyweight |
| Category | Stretching |
How to perform One Half Locust
- Lie facedown on the floor.
- Put your left hand under your left hipbone to pad your hip and pubic bone.
- Bend your right knee so you can hold the foot in your right hand.
- Lift the foot in the air and simultaneously lift your shoulders off the floor. This also stretches the right hip flexor and the chest and shoulders. Switch sides. If it doesn't bother your back, you can try it with both arms and legs at the same time.
Muscles worked
- Quads (primary): extends the knee to drive squats, lunges and jumps.
- Core (secondary): braces the trunk and resists twisting to protect the spine.
- Biceps (secondary): bends the elbow and turns the palm up during pulls and curls.
- Chest (secondary): pushes the arms forward and across the body — your horizontal pressing power.
Sets & reps by goal
| Goal | Sets × reps | Load | Rest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Strength | 3–5 × 3–5 | Heavy (~85%+) | 2–3 min |
| Hypertrophy | 3–4 × 8–12 | Moderate (~65–75%) | 60–90 s |
| Endurance | 2–3 × 15–20 | Lighter (~50–60%) | 30–45 s |
As a mobility drill, hold each position for 20–40 seconds (or move slowly for reps) rather than training it to a heavy load.
Form tips
- Keep the knees tracking in line with the toes and push the whole foot into the floor.
- Own the largest range you can control with clean form before you chase extra reps.
- Ease in until you feel mild tension, never pain, and breathe out as you sink a little deeper.
- Stop a rep or two short of failure on most sets to keep form clean and recover faster.
Common mistakes
- Letting the knees cave inward as you push out of the bottom.
- Cutting the range short to squeeze out extra reps instead of owning each full one.
- Bouncing into the stretch instead of holding it steadily.
Frequently asked questions
What muscles does One Half Locust work?
One Half Locust mainly works the quads, with the core, biceps, chest helping as secondary movers.
What equipment do I need for One Half Locust?
None — One Half Locust is a bodyweight movement, so you only need your bodyweight and a little space.
How many sets and reps should I do for One Half Locust?
It depends on your goal: about 3–5 sets of 3–5 heavy reps for strength, 3–4 sets of 8–12 for muscle growth, or 2–3 sets of 15–20 for endurance. As a mobility drill, hold each position for 20–40 seconds (or move slowly for reps) rather than training it to a heavy load.
Train One Half Locust with a coach in your pocket
Gimmy is your AI gym buddy — it programs One Half Locust into recovery-aware workouts, tracks your sets, and shows one score that tells you if it's working.
Get early access