The strict hanging leg raise is one of the best anterior core exercises you can do. It is a stable of gymnastics and any strength athlete can benefit from working them into their program.

Most commonly, you’ll simply hang from a bar and, keeping your legs straight, bring your toes up to the bar then back down under control. Like any exercise, after you’ve been doing that for a while it’s fun to switch it up and do some slight variations.

For example you can do leg raises while hanging from a rope (instead of a bar) or from the top position of a pullup (holding chin over bar).

I love picking a difficult variation and doing 10 sets of 2 reps; all reps fast and explosive to drill the pattern and reinforce good technique.

Post technique videos to Instagram and tags us!

Enjoy!

-Doug (@douglaselarson)