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Lunge

A single-leg staple that builds the legs and the balance to use them.

v2026.10.13

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3 sets of 6–15 reps, 1–2 min rest, guided

Muscles worked

Front
Back
Equipment
Bodyweight
Level
Beginner
Tempo
Lower 2 s · Lift 1 s

How to do the lunge

  1. 1Stand in a long split stance, front foot flat, back heel raised.
  2. 2Keep the torso upright and lower straight down.
  3. 3Stop when the back knee hovers just above the floor.
  4. 4Push through the front foot to return; switch legs after the set.

When to pick it: Pick it for leg training anywhere; hold dumbbells once bodyweight gets easy.

Form cues

  • Straight down, not forward
  • Front knee over mid-foot
  • Weight on the front heel

Common mistakes

  • Too short a stance, so the knee shoots forward
  • Front knee caving in
  • Slamming the back knee down

Stop if something hurts, and check with a doctor before starting if you have a health condition, are pregnant or are recovering from an injury. Terms

Sets and reps

GoalSetsRepsRest
Strength3–53–62–3 min
Muscle size3–46–151–2 min
Endurance2–315–2530–60 s

Finish each set with one or two good reps left in the tank. When you hit the top of the rep range on every set, add weight next time. Get a full 4–12 week program →

Equipment taken? Swap it for

These train the same muscles with different equipment.

More quads & glutes exercises

All quads exercises →