Forward Lunge
oec:forward-lunge
A dynamic lower-body exercise where you step forward into a split stance, lowering the hips until both knees are bent, then push back to standing.
Generated by gemini-3.8-flash from the sources below. No person has checked this record. Don't rely on it for safety.
Also called: bodyweight forward lunge, alternating forward lunge, lunge, lunges, front lunge
How to do it
Setup
- Stand tall with your feet hip-width apart and your hands on your hips or clasped at your chest.
- Engage your core and keep your chest lifted with shoulders back.
Movement
- Take a controlled, generous step forward with one leg, landing heel first.
- Lower your body under control until both knees are bent to approximately ninety degrees, with the back knee hovering just above the floor.
- Ensure the front knee stays aligned over the front ankle and does not collapse inward.
- Drive firmly through the midfoot and heel of the front foot to push yourself smoothly back to the starting position.
- Repeat the movement by stepping forward with the opposite leg.
Breathing
Inhale as you step forward and lower down; exhale forcefully as you drive back to the standing position.
Cues
- Step on train tracks, not a tightrope
- Chest up, torso tall
- Drive through the front heel
Common faults
- Stepping with feet directly in line, creating instability and balance loss.
- Maintain hip-width spacing between your feet as you step forward.
- Front knee caving inward (valgus collapse) during the descent or drive.
- Actively track the front knee in line with your second and third toes.
- Slamming the rear knee violently into the floor.
- Control the descent and hover the back knee an inch above the ground.
Safety
- Perform on a flat, non-slip surface.
- Use an exercise mat under the back knee if you have patellar sensitivity.
Muscles
Joints
- Hip: Flexion, Extension
- Knee: Flexion, Extension
- Ankle: Dorsiflexion, Plantarflexion
Details
- Movement
- Lunge
- Modality
- Calisthenics, Strength
- Mechanics
- compound
- Force
- push
- Laterality
- alternating
- Kinetic chain
- closed
- Level
- beginner
- Equipment
- None
- Record
- Repetitions
- Load
- bodyweight, not applicable
Related
- progression of Bodyweight Split Squat
- progression of Reverse Lunge
- substitute for Reverse Lunge
- substitute for Step-Up
- regression of Barbell Forward Lunge
Sources
- wger: Lunges (CC-BY-SA-4.0)
This record: CC-BY-SA-4.0.