MONS Athletics

Cossack Squat

Deep squat out to one side with the bell at your chest. Loads the hip sideways and lengthens the groin under real weight.

The lesson

  1. 01

    Stand wide

    Feet well outside shoulder-width, toes turned out a little. Bell held at your chest by the horns.

  2. 02

    Sit into one hip

    Push your weight over one foot and sit down on that side. The other leg straightens out, heel down if it will reach.

  3. 03

    Chest stays up

    The bell at your chest is what keeps you upright. Let it drop away and you'll fold forward and lose the hip.

  4. 04

    Both feet stay down

    This is not a balance drill. Keep both feet flat and both heels down, and you'll feel it where it belongs — the groin of the straight leg and the hip of the bent one.

  5. 05

    Go as low as your range allows

    First rep is your shallowest. Each one goes a little deeper as the hip opens. Never force the bottom.

  6. 06

    Push back to the middle

    Drive through the bent leg to stand, then shift across to the other side.

  7. 07

    The test

    Heels flat, chest tall, and the straight leg genuinely straight. When any of those goes, that's your depth for today.