Dumbbell Cossack Squats (VERSION 2)

QuadricepsDumbbellIntermediate

The Dumbbell Cossack Squat targets the lower body, improving flexibility and strength.

  1. Stand with feet wider than shoulder-width apart, holding a dumbbell in both hands.
  2. Shift your weight to one side, bending that knee while keeping the other leg straight.
  3. Lower your hips towards the ground, maintaining an upright torso.
  4. Push through the bent leg to return to the starting position and repeat on the other side.

How to perform the Dumbbell Cossack Squats (VERSION 2)

  1. Set up. Set up in a stable, balanced starting position appropriate for the Dumbbell Cossack Squats (VERSION 2) using your dumbbell.
  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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