Tuck Front Lever with gym rings
The tuck front lever is an effective exercise for strengthening the back, core, and triceps muscles, and it serves as an ideal preparation for the full front lever. In this exercise, the knees are pulled towards the chest, and the body is held parallel to the ground while gripping a bar or rings. Due to the tucked legs, this exercise is easier than the regular front lever because the weight remains closer to the body’s center of gravity. The tuck front lever is perfect for beginners to build body tension and prepare for the advanced straight-leg variation.
Necessary equipment
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Tuck Front Lever with gym rings - the correct execution
- Begin in an inverted hang with your arms straight
- Actively retract your shoulder blades downwards and backwards to stabilize your shoulders
- Pull your knees to your chest and bend your legs to achieve a tucked position
- Lower your body forward in a controlled manner into a horizontal position
- Maintain maximum tension in your core and glutes throughout the movement to keep your body line stable and straight
- Ensure that your hips do not sag and your upper body remains parallel to the ground
- Hold this position for the set duration or as long as possible
The exercise Tuck Front Lever is intended to be used as a hypertrophy, technique exercise.
Which muscles are trained by Tuck Front Lever?
Primary trained muscles for Tuck Front Lever
Latissimus - The latissimus dorsi is a large muscle in your back that helps you pull your arm down and back. It also supports breathing and stabilizes the spine.
Triceps - The triceps brachii muscle is located at the back of your upper arm. It extends your arm at the elbow and also helps move the arm backward.
Upper Back - The muscles in the upper back, including the trapezius and rhomboid muscles, help move and stabilize your shoulders. They pull the shoulder blades together and support posture.
Secondary trained muscles for Tuck Front Lever
Abs - The rectus abdominis, also known as the "abs," runs vertically along the front of the abdomen. It is responsible for bending the torso forward, such as during sit-ups, and lifting the pelvis. This muscle stabilizes the torso, supports the spine, and helps maintain good posture.
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Similar exercises to Tuck Front Lever
Straddle Front Lever
The Straddle Front Lever on the gymnastic rings is a challenging full-body exercise that primarily engages the core and back muscles. In this position, the body is held parallel to the ground while the legs are spread apart. This reduces the leverage compared to the fully extended version, making balance easier, but it still requires significant body tension and core strength.
An easier alternative is the Tuck Front Lever, where the legs are bent. This variation is especially suitable for beginners, as it shortens the leverage further and reduces the strain.
For advanced athletes, the Full Front Lever presents the greatest challenge. In this version, the body remains fully extended, demanding maximum strength and stability in the core and back.
Negative Tuck Front Lever with gym rings
The Negative Tuck Front Lever is a variation of Front Lever Pulls, where you pull from a dead hang into an inverted hang on the rings and then slowly lower back to the hang in the Tuck Front Lever position. This exercise takes advantage of the fact that muscles are stronger in the eccentric phase than in the concentric phase, as explained here: Eccentric Muscle Training.
It allows you to train the Front Lever position even if you don’t yet have the strength to hold it statically. The Negative Tuck Front Lever is an excellent preparatory exercise for the Front Lever Pull.
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