{"id":3360,"date":"2018-08-29T10:37:58","date_gmt":"2018-08-29T10:37:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.goldsgym.com\/blog\/leg-progression-power-moves-muscle-growth\/"},"modified":"2025-08-28T18:45:09","modified_gmt":"2025-08-28T18:45:09","slug":"leg-progression-power-moves-muscle-growth","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.goldsgym.com\/blog\/leg-progression-power-moves-muscle-growth\/","title":{"rendered":"Leg Progression: Power Moves for Muscle Growth"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

In the first installment<\/a> of our leg workout series, we talked about building a foundation for strength, stability and range of motion. Once you\u2019ve got the basics down and can perform the beginner exercises with proper form and normal breath, it\u2019s time to step up your routine with this leg strength workout.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Intermediate exercises<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The following leg strength workout, developed by Carlisle Price, national manager of coaching for Gold\u2019s Gym, incorporates explosive movements designed to target and build muscle, improve mobility and boost your body\u2019s ability to recover after physical activity. Price suggests doing this regimen twice a week, with two to three rest days in between.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Leg Strength Workout Warmup<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Perform two sets of the following exercises to get your blood pumping and to help ward off injury by priming your muscles before this leg strength workout.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Walking<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Walking lunges and twists<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stand with hands clasped in front of your body. With a proud (lifted) chest, take a large step forward with your right foot, lowering hips until your left knee is just above the floor. At the bottom of the lunge, rotate your torso to the right and then back to front. Return to standing by driving through the right foot; repeat on the opposite leg.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The goal:<\/strong> Take 10 controlled steps (five on each leg) to open and stretch the hip flexors and activate the quads, glutes and hip abductors\/adductors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Alternating<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Alternating glute bridges<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lie on your back with legs bent and feet flat on the floor, about one foot away from your glutes. Extend arms out, also flat on the floor, with palms up. Raise your right leg, keeping it straight and your knees aligned. Then, drive through the left heel and elevate hips, forming a straight line from shoulder to knee to right foot. Hips should remain parallel with the floor throughout to prevent hyperextending the back. Return glutes to the floor, switch legs and repeat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The goal:<\/strong> Do 10 bridges to promote hip stabilization and warm up<\/a> the glutes and hamstrings before you begin this length strength workout.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Leg Strength Workout<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For this workout, Price recommends doing four to six sets of each superset.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Superset No. 1<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Kettlebell<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Kettlebell goblet squats<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Start this length strength workout standing with feet hip-width apart and slightly angled out. Hold the kettlebell just in front of your chin with both palms, fingers pointing up, as if you\u2019re holding a water goblet. The handle of the weight will be positioned down, between your wrists, and the kettlebell should remain in contact with your upper body throughout the movement. Keeping a proud chest, drop your hips straight down until they are level with your knees, or until compensation occurs (the chest bows, knees buckle, hips roll under or heels lift). Then, drive through your heels to return to the upright position.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The goal:<\/strong> Perform 10\u201312 squats to strengthen quads, glutes and core, and to improve ankle mobility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Maximal<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Maximal<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Maximal vertical jump squats<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Drop into the bottom of the squat position from the movement above, but with your arms reaching behind you. Then, jump as high as you can, driving explosively through the feet, extending the hips and swinging the arms forward all the way to overhead. Be careful not to land with stiff legs; instead, absorb the floor with soft knees and hips.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis type of anaerobic, explosive movement is great for muscle recruitment,\u201d Price says. \u201cThe impact prompts growth.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The goal:<\/strong> Do eight reps to fire up the quads and glutes and spike your heart rate in the process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Superset No. 2<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Speed<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Speed<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Speed skaters<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Keep this length strength workout going by visualizing the movement of a speed skater on the ice. Start in a high lunge position, with your right foot in front. Load all your weight onto the right foot. Then, explode through the right leg, bringing your right arm across the body while jumping wide to the left \u2014 try to jump several feet in that direction. Land with a soft left knee and hip, while your right leg reaches behind you to stabilize in a high lunge. Repeat back and forth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFor less impact, try a curtsey lunge,\u201d Price says. (That\u2019s the same movement modified with controlled steps instead of jumps.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The goal:<\/strong> Perform 20 reps to work the glutes, quads and calves. This develops stability and explosiveness and aids abductor\/adductor mobility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Romanian<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Kettlebell Romanian deadlifts<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stand with feet hip-width apart and the kettlebell between your feet. With flat back, proud shoulders<\/a> and a soft bend in the elbows, deadlift the weight away from the floor, coming to a full upright stance. Next, push your hips back while lowering the weight to just above the floor, keeping it close to the legs and inside the knees. Then, return to standing by squeezing your glutes and extending your hips, making sure to keep your core braced and chest proud. Remember: Technique is more important than weight, so use the heaviest kettlebell you can lift without sacrificing form.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere should be minimal hinging of the knees,\u201d Price says. \u201cYou have reached your depth if you feel a deep stretch in the hamstrings, or if your chest is even with your hips, parallel to the floor.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The goal:<\/strong> Do eight deadlifts to strengthen the posterior chain, especially the hamstrings, glutes and lower back, and to improve mobility in the hamstrings and calves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The cool down<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Run through these stretches twice to help prevent stiffness in the days after your leg strength workout.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Pigeon<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Pigeon<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From a plank, bend your right knee and bring it up between your arms. Place the outside of your calf\/lower leg on the floor, just behind your planted palms. Then, slowly lower your left knee to the floor, keeping your arms straight and chest up. Try to absorb your body weight with the right leg, using your hands and arms to regulate the weight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The goal:<\/strong> Hold for 30 seconds on each leg to stretch the glutes, IT band and lateral thighs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Pigeon<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Runner\u2019s hip stretch<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From standing, step the right foot forward into a large lunge. Softly place your left knee on the floor. Your right shin should be vertical \u2014 knee directly over ankle \u2014 and your torso should be straight with a proud chest. Arms are at your sides. Engage the hips by pushing them forward throughout the movement. For an added stretch in the hip flexors of the rear leg, squeeze your glutes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The goal:<\/strong> Hold for 30 seconds on each leg to open the hip flexors and stretch the top half of the quads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stay tuned for advanced leg exercises and check out more targeted workouts from our fitness experts:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Leg Progression: Build Your Base<\/b><\/a>
\nArms Progression: Beginners, Focus on Form Before Flex<\/b><\/a>
\nBack Progression: Strengthen Stability Muscles<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

<p>In the first installment of our leg workout series, we talked about building a foundation for strength, stability and range of motion. Once you\u2019ve got the basics down and can perform the beginner exercises with proper form and normal breath, it\u2019s time to step up your routine with this leg strength workout. Intermediate exercises The […]<\/p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":47,"featured_media":6301,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_post_subtitle":"Take leg day to the next level by adding explosive exercises to your routine.","footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[130,120,160,79,118,122,213,223,171,124],"class_list":["post-3360","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-workouts","tag-bodyweight-workout","tag-build-muscle","tag-coaching","tag-exercise","tag-guidance","tag-increase-strength","tag-leg-workouts","tag-lunge-workouts","tag-golds-personal-training","tag-squats"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.goldsgym.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3360","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.goldsgym.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.goldsgym.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.goldsgym.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/47"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.goldsgym.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3360"}],"version-history":[{"count":13,"href":"https:\/\/www.goldsgym.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3360\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10109,"href":"https:\/\/www.goldsgym.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3360\/revisions\/10109"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.goldsgym.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6301"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.goldsgym.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3360"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.goldsgym.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3360"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.goldsgym.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3360"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}