Knee/Hip Raise On Parallel Bars

What it is

This movement is a foundational core exercise that strengthens your abdominal muscles. You perform it using parallel bars or a captain's chair, focusing on raising your legs towards your chest. It effectively isolates your abdominals and builds stability in your midsection.

Technique tips

• Avoid swinging your legs; use controlled abdominal strength.
• Exhale as you lift your legs, then inhale slowly on the descent.
• Keep your torso stable and pressed against the back pad.
• Briefly hold the top position to maximize muscle engagement.
• Maintain straight legs to increase the resistance and challenge.

How to track your progress

Log the weight and reps of each set. Straddly turns every set into an estimated one-rep max, so a heavier single and a strong set of eight both count as progress, and it flags a personal record the moment you beat your best.