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Direction-of-travel diagram for the squat pattern. Photography for the Skater Squat is not shot yet.
CalisthenicsIn review

Skater Squat

A one-leg squat with the free leg bent behind you, lowered until its knee touches a mat.

This page is a working draft. A coach has not reviewed it, so read it as a starting point, not as checked instruction.

Pattern
Squat
Modality
Calisthenics
Difficulty
Intermediate
Mechanic
Unknown
Force
Unknown
Laterality
Unilateral
Impact
Low
Trains where
Gym, Home
At home
Yes

How to do it

Set up

  1. Stand on one leg and bend the other knee so the foot lifts just off the floor behind you.
  2. Reach the arms forward for balance.

Do the rep

  1. Lean the chest forward and bend the standing leg.
  2. Lower until the back knee touches the mat lightly, without resting on it.
  3. Push through the whole standing foot and stand up tall.

What counts as a rep

A rep counts when the back knee touches the mat lightly and you return to a full stand without the back foot touching the floor.

One rep starts standing on one leg with the other foot just off the floor behind you, lowers until the back knee touches the mat, and ends at a full stand; count each side.

Breathing

Breathe in as you lower; exhale as you stand.

Cues

  • Chest forward, arms forward.
  • Touch the knee down softly.
  • Keep the front heel down.

Common mistakes

  • Dropping onto the back knee

    What you seeThe back knee hits the mat hard or rests on it at the bottom.

    FixLower more slowly and touch the mat lightly.

    A soft touch protects the knee and keeps the front leg working.

  • Pushing off the back foot

    What you seeThe back foot touches the floor to help you stand.

    FixLower less deep, or use more help, until you can stand on one leg.

    Standing up on one leg is the point of the exercise.

Stop the set if

  • Stop if you feel sharp pain in either knee.
  • Stop if you lose balance.
  • End the set when you cannot stand up without the back foot touching the floor.

General educational content, not individual coaching or medical advice.

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