L-Sit
The gymnast's gold standard — a deceptively simple-looking hold that reveals true core strength, hip flexor power, shoulder stability, and mental toughness
⚡ Quick Reference
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Pattern | Core - Anti-Extension + Hip Flexion |
| Primary Muscles | Core, Rectus Abdominis, Hip Flexors |
| Secondary Muscles | Transverse Abdominis, Obliques |
| Stabilizers | Shoulders, Triceps, Quads, Lats |
| Equipment | Parallettes, Dip Bars, Floor |
| Difficulty | ⭐⭐⭐ Advanced |
| Priority | 🟡 Accessory |
Movement Summary
🎯 Setup
Starting Position
- Equipment placement: Parallettes shoulder-width apart OR hands on floor OR between dip bars
- Hand position: Hands directly under shoulders or slightly behind
- Fingers pointing forward (floor/parallettes)
- Neutral grip (dip bars)
- Seated start: Begin seated between supports, hands pressing down
- Shoulder position: Maximally depress shoulders — push shoulders DOWN away from ears
- This is critical for elevation
- Active shoulder depression throughout
- Core engagement: Brace abs as hard as possible BEFORE lifting
- Body position: Prepare to lift entire body off ground
Equipment Setup
| Equipment | Pros | Cons | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parallettes | Easier clearance, comfortable grip | Requires equipment | Beginners to L-sit |
| Dip Bars | Natural grip, good height | May be too wide | Intermediate |
| Floor | Always available | Hardest (shoulder mobility + compression) | Advanced only |
| Yoga Blocks | Adjustable height, portable | Less stable | Home practice |
"Hands planted, shoulders pushed down as hard as possible, core braced like someone's about to punch you in the stomach"
🔄 Execution
The Movement
- 🚀 Getting Into Position
- ⏸️ The Hold
- 🫁 Breathing Pattern
- 🔽 Exiting the Hold
What's happening: Building the L-sit from the ground up
- Sit on floor between parallettes/supports, hands planted
- Press down HARD into supports — imagine pushing through the floor
- Depress shoulders maximally — create space between ears and shoulders
- Engage core, posterior pelvic tilt (round lower back slightly)
- Press arms straight, lift hips OFF the ground — this is the hardest part
- Once hovering, begin extending legs forward
- Extend both legs straight out to horizontal position
- Point toes, squeeze legs together tight
Tempo: Take 3-5 seconds to build position, no rushing
Feel: Immediate intense shoulder burn, deep core engagement, hip flexors working hard
Common issue: Cannot lift hips off ground → Start with tucked L-sit progression
What's happening: Maintaining perfect L position
- Legs at exactly 90° to torso — horizontal or slightly above
- Arms completely straight, locked out
- Shoulders depressed maximally (never relax this)
- Scapular depression and protraction — shoulders down AND forward
- Core braced maximally — posterior pelvic tilt maintained
- Legs together, toes pointed, quads engaged
- Breathing: Shallow breaths only — can't belly breathe
- Eyes forward, head neutral
Tempo: 10-60 seconds hold depending on level
Feel: Everything burning — shoulders, core, hip flexors, triceps. Trembling is normal.
Visual: Your body forms a perfect "L" shape when viewed from the side
What's happening: Breathing under extreme tension
- Shallow upper chest breaths — cannot take deep breaths
- Never fully release core brace to breathe
- Short inhale (2s), short exhale (2s)
- Breathing will be challenging — this is intentional
- Do NOT hold breath entire hold (blood pressure spike)
Note: If you can breathe deeply and easily, you're not bracing hard enough
What's happening: Safely returning to start
- When form breaks or time reached, bend knees to tucked position
- OR lower legs straight down to hover
- Slowly lower hips back to ground with control
- Rest 90-120 seconds before next set
Don't: Drop suddenly or collapse — control the descent
Key Cues
- "Push the ground away — shoulders down and locked" — shoulder depression is everything
- "Make an L — legs perfectly horizontal" — not 80°, not 100°, exactly 90°
- "Push heels forward, toes to ceiling" — creates length and proper alignment
- "Squeeze everything — glutes, quads, abs, all tight" — total body tension
Hold Duration Guide
| Level | Duration | Sets | Rest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beginner (Tuck) | 10-20s | 3-5 | 90-120s |
| Intermediate (One Leg) | 15-30s | 3-5 | 90-120s |
| Advanced (Full L-Sit) | 20-45s | 3-5 | 120s |
| Expert | 45-60s+ | 4-5 | 120s |
💪 Muscles Worked
Activation Overview
Primary Movers
| Muscle | Action | Activation |
|---|---|---|
| Hip Flexors (Iliopsoas) | Maximum hip flexion to hold legs at 90° | ██████████ 100% |
| Rectus Abdominis | Spinal stability, posterior pelvic tilt | █████████░ 95% |
| Anterior Deltoids | Shoulder flexion and stabilization | █████████░ 90% |
Secondary Muscles
| Muscle | Action | Activation |
|---|---|---|
| Transverse Abdominis | Deep core stability, compression | ████████░░ 85% |
| Triceps | Elbow extension (keep arms locked) | ████████░░ 80% |
| Obliques | Prevent rotation, assist trunk flexion | ███████░░░ 70% |
Stabilizers
| Muscle | Role |
|---|---|
| Quadriceps | Keep legs straight and elevated |
| Latissimus Dorsi | Shoulder stability, depression |
| Serratus Anterior | Scapular protraction and depression |
| Trapezius (Lower) | Scapular depression |
The L-sit requires simultaneous:
- Maximum hip flexor strength — holding legs at 90° against gravity with zero momentum
- Extreme shoulder strength — depressing scapulae to elevate entire body
- Total core tension — maintaining hollow body position while compressed
- Compression strength — closing the angle between torso and legs (hamstring flexibility)
Most people can do ONE of these things. Doing ALL at once is what makes L-sits brutally difficult.
⚠️ Common Mistakes
| Mistake | What Happens | Why It's Bad | Fix |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shoulders shrugged up | Shoulders by ears, not depressed | Can't generate elevation, shoulder strain | Actively push shoulders DOWN constantly |
| Legs below horizontal | Legs at 70-80° instead of 90° | Incomplete L position, easier version | Focus on pushing heels forward, toes up |
| Bent arms | Elbows bent even slightly | Much easier, not true L-sit | Lock elbows completely straight |
| Rounded upper back | Excessive thoracic flexion | Poor position, less challenging | Chest slightly out, shoulders forward but not collapsed |
| Holding breath | No breathing for entire hold | Unsustainable, blood pressure spike | Shallow steady breathing pattern |
| Hips too low | Not fully elevated off ground | Incomplete position | Press down harder, maximum shoulder depression |
Shoulders creeping up toward ears during the hold — the moment this happens, you lose elevation and the position collapses. Shoulder depression must be MAXIMAL and CONSTANT throughout the entire hold.
Self-Check Checklist
- Shoulders maximally depressed (huge space between ears and shoulders)
- Arms completely straight (elbows locked)
- Legs at exactly horizontal or slightly above (90°+)
- Legs straight, together, toes pointed
- Hips fully elevated off ground/support
- Core braced maximally (posterior pelvic tilt)
- Breathing shallowly but steadily
- Position sustainable for target duration
🔀 Variations
By Difficulty (Progression Path)
- Beginner Progressions
- Standard L-Sit
- Advanced Progressions
| Variation | Position | Difficulty | When to Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Foot-Supported L-Sit | Heels on ground, hips elevated | Easiest | Learning shoulder depression and elevation |
| Tucked L-Sit | Knees tucked to chest, hips elevated | Easy | Cannot lift hips with legs extended |
| Single Leg Tucked | One leg tucked, one extended | Moderate | Transition from tuck to full |
| One Leg L-Sit | One leg extended horizontal, one bent | Moderate-Hard | Building strength for full L-sit |
Progression timeline: Spend 2-4 weeks at each stage, building to 30s holds
| Variation | Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Parallette L-Sit | Full L on parallettes | Easiest full L-sit (clearance) |
| Dip Bar L-Sit | Full L on dip bars | Standard difficulty |
| Floor L-Sit | Full L with hands on floor | Hardest (requires extreme shoulder mobility + compression) |
Goal: 30-45s hold with perfect form on chosen implement
| Variation | Change | Difficulty | Prerequisites |
|---|---|---|---|
| Straddle L-Sit | Legs spread wide apart | Slightly easier (compression) | Full L-sit 20s |
| V-Sit | Legs higher than horizontal (110-120°) | Very Hard | Full L-sit 45s |
| L-Sit to Handstand | Press from L to handstand | Extreme | Full L-sit 30s + handstand |
| Manna | Legs behind body | Elite-level | Years of training |
| Weighted L-Sit | Ankle weights | Progressive overload | Full L-sit 60s |
By Equipment
- Parallettes (Easiest)
- Dip Bars
- Floor (Hardest)
- Rings (Unstable)
Why easier:
- Greater clearance for hips and legs
- Comfortable neutral grip
- Stable base
Best for: Learning the movement, building to 60s holds
Why moderate:
- Good height clearance
- Neutral grip
- May require wider shoulder position
Best for: Standard practice, gym training
Why hardest:
- Requires extreme shoulder depression to clear hips
- Demands excellent compression (hamstring flexibility)
- Wrist strain from hand position
- Finger strength required
Best for: Advanced athletes, demonstrating mastery
Prerequisite: 45s parallette L-sit minimum before attempting floor
Why extremely hard:
- Complete instability
- Requires perfect stillness
- Advanced shoulder control
Best for: Gymnasts, ring specialists
Scaling for Success
📊 Programming
Duration Ranges by Goal
| Goal | Sets | Duration | Rest | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Skill Development | 5-8 | 10-20s | 90-120s | Frequent practice, sub-maximal |
| Strength | 3-5 | 20-40s | 120s | Push toward failure |
| Endurance | 3-4 | 40-60s | 90s | Maximum time under tension |
Workout Placement
| Program Type | Placement | Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| Gymnastics/Bodyweight | Early (after warmup) | Skill work when fresh |
| Core-focused | Beginning or middle | High neural demand |
| Upper body day | Middle | After main pressing work |
| Skill practice | Standalone or daily | Can practice daily at sub-maximal intensity |
Frequency
| Training Level | Frequency | Volume Per Session | Variation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beginner (Tuck) | 3-4x/week | 5-6 sets x 10-20s | Tucked L-sit |
| Intermediate | 3-5x/week | 4-5 sets x 20-30s | One-leg or full L-sit |
| Advanced | 4-6x/week | 3-5 sets x 30-60s | Full L-sit or progressions |
Progression Scheme
Progress when you can achieve clean holds:
- Increase duration — add 5s per week to each set
- Add sets — increase from 3 to 5 sets
- Decrease rest — reduce from 120s to 90s between sets
- Harder variation — tuck → one leg → full L → V-sit
- Harder implement — parallettes → dip bars → floor
- Add weight — ankle weights (1-5 lbs)
Never sacrifice form for duration. Perfect 20s > sloppy 40s.
Sample 8-Week Beginner-to-L-Sit Program
| Week | Variation | Target | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-2 | Tucked L-Sit | 5x15s | Focus on shoulder depression |
| 3-4 | Tucked L-Sit | 5x25s | Build endurance |
| 5-6 | One Leg Extended (alt) | 4x20s each | Transition phase |
| 7-8 | Full L-Sit attempts | 3-4x10-15s | May need to alternate with one-leg sets |
🔄 Alternatives & Progressions
Exercise Progression Path
Regressions (Easier)
| Exercise | When to Use | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Hollow Body Hold | Cannot lift hips off ground at all | Link |
| Foot-Supported L-Sit | Learning shoulder depression and elevation | |
| Tucked L-Sit | Can lift hips but not with legs extended | |
| One Leg Extended | Building from tuck to full L |
Progressions (Harder)
| Exercise | When Ready | Link |
|---|---|---|
| V-Sit | 45s+ L-sit hold achieved | |
| Floor L-Sit | 45s+ parallette L-sit | |
| Straddle L-Sit | Working toward V-sit or manna | |
| L-Sit to Handstand Press | Advanced handstand control + 30s L-sit | |
| Manna | Years of L-sit mastery |
Alternatives (Same Goal, Different Movement)
- Core + Hip Flexors
- Gymnastics Skills
- Anywhere Training
| Alternative | Position | Good For |
|---|---|---|
| Hollow Body Hold | Supine | Building hollow position without elevation |
| Hanging Leg Raise | Vertical hang | Hip flexor and core strength |
| V-Up | Floor, dynamic | Dynamic compression strength |
| Compression Work (pike stretches) | Seated | Flexibility component |
| Alternative | Skill Transfer |
|---|---|
| Tuck Planche Hold | Similar shoulder depression and protraction |
| Handstand | Shoulder and core strength carryover |
| Front Lever Tuck | Similar body tension requirements |
| L-Sit Pull-Ups | Combines L-sit with pulling |
| Alternative | Equipment |
|---|---|
| Floor L-Sit | Bodyweight only |
| Parallettes L-Sit | Portable parallettes |
| Chair L-Sit | Two sturdy chairs |
| Yoga Block L-Sit | Two yoga blocks |
🛡️ Safety & Contraindications
Who Should Be Careful
| Condition | Risk | Modification |
|---|---|---|
| Shoulder impingement/pain | Holding body weight in depression can aggravate | Start with foot-supported, build gradually |
| Hip flexor strain | Extreme hip flexor demand | Wait until healed, start with hollow body holds |
| Wrist pain (floor L-sit) | Extreme wrist extension under load | Use parallettes, avoid floor until ready |
| Lower back pain | Posterior pelvic tilt may aggravate in some | Focus on core engagement, may need regression |
| Poor hamstring flexibility | Cannot achieve compression for proper position | Work on pike flexibility simultaneously |
- Sharp shoulder pain (not muscle fatigue)
- Wrist pain that doesn't resolve (especially floor L-sit)
- Hip flexor sharp pain or popping
- Lower back sharp pain
- Shoulders unable to depress (creeping up uncontrollably)
Safe Execution
Best practices for L-sit safety:
- Master progressions first: Don't skip tucked L-sit phase
- Warm up shoulders: Band pull-aparts, scapular depression drills
- Perfect form over duration: 10s perfect >>> 30s terrible
- Use appropriate equipment: Parallettes before floor
- Build gradually: Add 5s per week, not per session
- Address flexibility: Work on pike/hamstring flexibility alongside strength
Shoulder Safety
The L-sit demands extreme shoulder stability:
- Scapular depression is everything — shoulders away from ears constantly
- Never passive hang — active muscle engagement required
- Warmup thoroughly — dead hangs, shoulder CARs, band work
- Build supporting strength — dips, push-ups, pike push-ups
- If shoulders hurt — regress to tucked version or foot-supported
Wrist Considerations (Floor L-Sit)
Floor L-sits are extremely demanding on wrists:
- Requires excellent wrist mobility — minimum 90° extension
- Build wrist strength separately — wrist push-ups, crawling
- Warm up wrists — circles, stretches, loaded holds
- Use parallettes if wrists hurt — perfectly acceptable
- Consider hand position — fingers spread, weight distributed
Hip Flexor Management
L-sits can cause hip flexor overuse:
- Stretch hip flexors regularly — couch stretch, kneeling hip flexor stretch
- Balance with hip extension work — bridges, hip thrusts
- Don't overtrain — 3-5x/week maximum for intense L-sit work
- Watch for hip flexor tendinitis — anterior hip pain, especially with hip flexion
Never hold your breath for the entire hold. Shallow breathing is necessary and expected, but complete breath-holding causes dangerous blood pressure spikes and is unsustainable.
🦴 Joints Involved
| Joint | Action | ROM Required | Stress Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hip | Flexion to 90° (compression strength) | 90°+ hip flexion with straight legs | 🔴 High |
| Shoulder | Flexion + depression + protraction | ~90° flexion, extreme depression | 🔴 High |
| Spine | Stability in posterior pelvic tilt | Slight lumbar flexion | 🟡 Moderate |
| Elbow | Extension (locked out) | Full extension maintained | 🟡 Moderate |
| Wrist | Extension (floor L-sit) | 90° extension under load | 🔴 High (floor only) |
Mobility Requirements
| Joint | Minimum ROM | Test | If Limited |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hip (Pike Flexibility) | 90° hip flexion with straight legs | Seated pike: can touch toes or close | Daily pike stretching, hamstring work |
| Shoulder | 90° flexion + ability to depress scapulae | Overhead reach without arching back | Shoulder mobility drills, scapular depression practice |
| Wrist (floor L-sit) | 90° extension | Back of hands flat on floor, fingers pointing toward knees | Wrist stretches, crawling, use parallettes instead |
Pike/Hamstring flexibility is often the limiting factor for L-sits. You need to be able to fold your torso close to your legs (compression strength) while keeping legs straight. If you can't touch your toes in a pike stretch, you'll struggle with L-sits regardless of strength.
Solution: Train pike flexibility separately 4-5x/week. Seated pike stretches, standing toe touches, compression work against the wall.
Compression Strength
L-sits require "compression strength" — the ability to close the angle between torso and legs:
- Flexibility component: Hamstring flexibility to allow legs to come close to torso
- Strength component: Hip flexor and core strength to actively pull torso and legs together
- Test: Lying on back, pull straight legs toward chest with hands behind thighs — gap between chest and legs should be minimal
❓ Common Questions
I can't even lift my hips off the ground. Where do I start?
Start with foot-supported L-sit:
- Place hands on parallettes or yoga blocks
- Keep heels on the floor
- Press down through hands to elevate hips off ground as much as possible
- Hold this position for 15-30s
- Gradually reduce foot support as you get stronger
Alternate progression: Tucked L-sit with bent knees held to chest. This is much easier than legs extended.
Also build supporting strength:
- Shoulder depression holds (dead hangs, scapular pull-ups)
- Hollow body holds
- Compression drills (seated pike stretches)
My legs won't stay horizontal — they keep dropping. Why?
This indicates weak hip flexors and/or poor hamstring flexibility:
Strength issue:
- Your hip flexors aren't strong enough to hold legs at 90° yet
- Solution: Hanging knee raises → hanging leg raises → L-sit progression
- Pike compression drills against wall
Flexibility issue:
- Tight hamstrings prevent you from achieving the compression needed
- Test: Can you touch your toes in a seated pike?
- Solution: Daily pike stretching, hamstring flexibility work
Form issue:
- Not actively pushing heels forward
- Solution: Cue "push heels forward and away" while pointing toes up
Should I do this on the floor or use parallettes?
Parallettes are HIGHLY recommended especially when learning:
Use parallettes if:
- You're learning L-sits (everyone should start here)
- You want to build to longer holds (45-60s)
- You have limited wrist mobility
- Floor L-sit causes wrist pain
Use floor only if:
- You've mastered 45s+ parallette L-sit
- You have excellent wrist mobility
- You want the ultimate challenge
- You're demonstrating mastery
Floor L-sits are significantly harder and require extreme shoulder depression and wrist strength. They're not necessary for strength building — parallettes work equally well.
How long should I be able to hold a tucked L-sit before moving to full L-sit?
Guideline: 30 seconds of clean tucked L-sit before progressing
Progression path:
- Tucked L-sit: 30s x 4-5 sets
- One leg extended (alternating): 20s each side x 4 sets
- One leg extended: 30s each side x 4 sets
- Full L-sit attempts: 10-15s x 3-4 sets
- Full L-sit: Build from there
Don't rush this progression. Tucked L-sit builds crucial shoulder and core strength that transfers directly to full L-sit.
My shoulders keep creeping up toward my ears during the hold. How do I fix this?
This is the #1 form breakdown in L-sits. Solutions:
Immediate:
- End the set when this happens — you've lost the position
- Think "push the ground AWAY constantly"
- Imagine someone pulling your shoulders down by the armpits
Long-term:
- Build scapular depression strength separately:
- Scapular pull-ups (depression from dead hang)
- Scapular push-ups
- Dead hangs with active shoulder position
- Reduce hold duration until you can maintain depression throughout
- Record yourself from the side to check
Test: If space between ears and shoulders decreases during the hold, you're losing depression. Reset and try shorter holds with perfect form.
Can I practice L-sits every day?
Yes, with caveats:
Safe for daily practice if:
- You're treating it as skill work (not max effort every time)
- You're doing moderate volume (3-5 sets of sub-maximal holds)
- You're not experiencing pain or extreme fatigue
- You're balancing with shoulder mobility and hip flexor stretching
Not recommended daily if:
- You're going to absolute failure every session
- You have shoulder or hip flexor pain that doesn't resolve
- You're combining with very high volume of other shoulder-intensive work (handstands, planche, dips)
Suggested weekly structure:
- 3-4 days: Intense L-sit work (pushing limits)
- 2-3 days: Light skill practice (50-60% max hold time)
- 1-2 days: Complete rest or mobility only
Many gymnasts practice L-sits 5-6 days per week as fundamental skill work.
I feel this mostly in my shoulders and arms, not my core. Is that wrong?
Partially normal — shoulders ARE heavily involved, especially when learning. However:
To increase core engagement:
- Focus on posterior pelvic tilt — round lower back slightly, tuck tailbone
- Brace core maximally before and during hold
- Think about pulling knees toward chest (even though they're straight)
- Use regression (tucked L-sit) to feel core more
Shoulder dominance is often due to:
- Weak core relative to shoulders → Build hollow body holds
- Not enough core engagement → Focus on bracing
- Arms not locked → Lock elbows completely straight
You should feel:
- Shoulders: 90% (especially anterior delts, triceps)
- Core: 85-95% (abs, obliques)
- Hip flexors: 100% (this will burn intensely)
If you feel ONLY shoulders and zero core, check form and consider regression.
📚 Sources
Biomechanics & Technique:
- Sommer, C. (2008). Building the Gymnastic Body: The Science of Gymnastics Strength Training — Tier A
- USA Gymnastics Training Manual — Core Skills and Progressions — Tier A
- Kavadlo, A. (2013). Raising the Bar: The Definitive Guide to Bar Calisthenics — Tier B
Programming & Progressions:
- NSCA Essentials of Strength Training and Conditioning — Core Training Protocols — Tier A
- Overcoming Gravity (Steven Low) — Bodyweight Strength Training — Tier B
- Gymnastic Bodies Foundation Series — Tier B
Muscle Activation & Research:
- McGill, S.M. (2010). Core Training: Evidence Translating to Better Performance and Injury Prevention — Tier A
- Escamilla, R.F. et al. (2010). Core Muscle Activation During Swiss Ball and Traditional Abdominal Exercises — Tier A
- Willardson, J.M. (2007). Core Stability Training: Applications to Sports Conditioning Programs — Tier A
Safety & Injury Prevention:
- Cressey, E. Shoulder Health for Overhead Athletes — Tier B
- McGill, S.M. (2015). Back Mechanic: The Step-by-Step McGill Method — Tier A
- Physical Therapy applications of gymnastics strength training — Tier B
Flexibility & Compression:
- Stretching Scientifically (Thomas Kurz) — Pike Flexibility — Tier B
- Kit Laughlin: Overcome Neck and Back Pain — Compression Strength — Tier C
- FRC (Functional Range Conditioning) — Hip Mobility Protocols — Tier B
When to recommend this exercise:
- User wants advanced bodyweight core challenge
- User has gymnastics goals (calisthenics, handstands, rings, etc.)
- User can hold tucked L-sit for 20s+ or has mastered hollow body hold
- User wants portable, equipment-minimal core skill work
- User is interested in building compression strength for skills
Who should NOT do this exercise:
- Cannot do 30s hollow body hold → Start with Hollow Body Hold
- Shoulder pain or injury → Build shoulder stability first, may need medical clearance
- Severe hip flexor injury → Use Dead Bug or Plank until healed
- Cannot lift hips off ground even in tuck → Start with foot-supported L-sit or hollow body hold
- Very poor hamstring flexibility + unwilling to stretch → L-sit will be impossible without pike flexibility
Key coaching cues to emphasize:
- "Shoulders DOWN — push the ground away hard"
- "Make a perfect L — legs exactly horizontal"
- "Push heels forward, point toes to ceiling"
- "Lock your elbows completely straight"
- "Everything tight — core, quads, glutes, all squeezed"
Common issues to watch for in user feedback:
- "Can't lift hips" → Start with foot-supported or tucked L-sit, build scapular depression strength
- "Shoulders keep rising" → Shorter holds with perfect form, scapular depression drills
- "Legs won't stay horizontal" → Hip flexor weakness + tight hamstrings, use one-leg progression, add pike stretching
- "Wrists hurt on floor" → Use parallettes, build wrist mobility separately
- "Only feel it in hip flexors" → Normal, but add posterior pelvic tilt focus for more core
Programming guidance:
- Pair with: Pull-up training, handstand practice, other gymnastics skills, core work
- Avoid same day as: Heavy dips (shoulder fatigue), immediately after max effort handstands
- Typical frequency: 3-5x per week for intense work, can be daily at sub-maximal intensity
- Volume: 3-5 sets of appropriate progression, rest 90-120s
- Place early in workout when fresh (skill work) or middle for strength work
Progression signals:
- Ready to progress when: Can hold current variation for 30s x 4-5 sets with perfect form
- Regress if: Cannot maintain shoulder depression, hips won't lift, excessive shaking prevents clean hold
- Plateau solution: Add pike stretching 5x/week, work scapular depression strength separately
Alternative recommendations based on feedback:
- "Too hard" → Hollow Body Hold, foot-supported L-sit, tucked L-sit
- "Too easy" → V-sit, floor L-sit, weighted L-sit, L-sit to handstand press
- "Tight hamstrings limiting me" → Daily pike stretching, compression drills, seated toe touches
- "Shoulder pain" → Scapular depression drills, shoulder mobility work, may need regression
- "Wrist pain" → Always use parallettes, wrist mobility work, never force floor L-sit
Special notes:
- L-sit is a BENCHMARK exercise in gymnastics and calisthenics — 30s is respectable, 60s is excellent
- Most people dramatically underestimate difficulty — warn them it's much harder than it looks
- Pike flexibility is often the bottleneck — must be addressed separately
- Perfect form on parallettes is better than sloppy form on floor
- This is one of the best exercises for compression strength (essential for advanced gymnastics)
- Transfers directly to: front lever progressions, handstand press, L-sit pull-ups, V-ups
- Can be practiced as skill work (daily, sub-maximal) or strength work (3-4x/week, max effort)
- Shoulder depression strength is KEY — if shoulders creep up, the hold collapses
Red flags requiring immediate regression:
- Shoulders shrugging up uncontrollably
- Unable to achieve even momentary hip elevation
- Sharp shoulder or hip flexor pain
- Wrist pain that persists despite using parallettes
- Excessive shaking preventing any semblance of stable hold
Last updated: December 2024