Barbell Side Split Squat

Stand with feet shoulder-width apart. Position a barbell across your upper back and shoulders. Take a big step to the side with one foot, keeping toes pointed forward. Slowly lower your body by bending the knees and hips, until your front thigh is parallel to the ground. Push through the heel of the front foot, straightening the leg and returning to the starting position. Repeat on the opposite side.

How to perform the Barbell Side Split Squat

  1. Set up. Set up in a stable, balanced starting position appropriate for the Barbell Side Split Squat using your barbell.
  2. Brace and execute. Brace your core, control the descent, and move through a full pain-free range of motion while emphasizing your quadriceps.
  3. Reset. Reverse the movement under control and reset between repetitions, keeping your form crisp on every rep.

Coaching cues

  • Move with intent — every rep should feel deliberate, not rushed.
  • Drive force through your quadriceps rather than momentum.
  • Keep your breathing steady: exhale on the hard part, inhale on the reset.

Common mistakes

  • Using too much weight and losing positional control.
  • Cutting the range of motion short and missing the target muscle.
  • Letting your spine round or hyperextend instead of staying neutral.

Detailed cues, common mistakes, and demonstration video are available in the Fitly app.

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