The Basic Guide to 10 Landmine Exercises

Simple yet highly effective, the landmine attachment is an excellent tool for diversifying your barbell workouts. Connect it and experience a new dimension in your training routine.

Landmine Exercises

Often overlooked in the gym, the landmine attachment is a versatile piece of equipment that offers numerous benefits for those familiar with its potential. Essentially, it serves as a fixed base for your barbell, anchoring one end to the ground while allowing the other end to move freely. This setup facilitates rotational movements and various modifications of your standard lifts.

Many gym enthusiasts neglect rotational training, which is crucial for enhancing core strength through side-to-side twisting motions—similar to those used when swinging a tennis racket, throwing a punch, or rowing a boat.

If your gym lacks a landmine attachment, you can create a makeshift version by wrapping a towel around one end of a barbell and placing it in a corner. Incorporate some of these 10 exercises into your next workout session and watch your progress soar.

1. Half-Kneeling Press

Struggling with overhead presses? This exercise might be the solution. Lift the weighted end of the bar to your shoulder and step back into a lunge with the same-side foot forward (A). Press the bar away from your shoulder (B) without twisting your body. Lower the bar, reset, and repeat.

2. Meadows Row

Target your lats and improve your grip strength with this move. Stand beside the loaded end of the bar, bend at the hips, and grip the bar with an overhand grip (A). Pull your elbow back behind your body, lifting the bar toward your hips (B). Slowly lower the bar and repeat.

3. Kneeling Pass Over

Kneel in front of the weighted end of the bar. Roll the bar to your side and hold it with both hands (A). Keeping your torso upright, move the bar to the center of your chest and then back to the other side in a smooth arc (B). Breathe deeply and continue the motion.

4. T-Bar Row

Use a pair of rings by passing one strap through both and adjusting them close together. Loop the strap under the bar near the plates and grip a ring in each hand, positioning them on either side of the bar. Bend your torso forward (A) and pull your elbows back (B). Pause briefly before lowering the bar slowly.

5. Reverse Lunge

Utilize the bar as a stable push-off point to increase the load on your front leg. Hold the bar at chest level (A) and step back into a lunge. When your back knee nearly touches the floor (B), quickly rise to the starting position. Alternate legs with each repetition.

6. Y Press

This shoulder exercise is perfect for rehabilitation, warm-ups, or as a finisher, especially when using light or no weights. Sit down and grip the bar with your palms facing outward. Lift the bar to shoulder height (A) and press it upward and outward (B). Pause before lowering the bar. Switch sides after completing your set.

7. Single-Leg RDL

Perfect for those who struggle with balance, this exercise involves lifting the bar to waist height with a suitcase grip (A). Raise the opposite leg and hinge at the hips, allowing the bar to touch the floor (B). Reverse the movement to stand up. Switch legs after completing the set.

8. Hack Squat

Lift the bar to your shoulder, then turn around so your back faces the weighted end (A). Step forward until your body aligns with the angle of the bar. Descend into a deep squat (B), pressing your back against the plate as you stand up. Alternate shoulders after each set.

9. Clean and Press

Stand sideways to the bar and hinge forward to grip it (A). Explosively pull the bar upward, rotating your body to face the weight. As the bar reaches chest level, switch your grip and press it away (B). Reverse the motion and switch sides after each set.

10. Delt Fly

This exercise targets the back and shoulder muscles, essential for maintaining good posture. Hold an empty bar at thigh height (A). Keeping your arm straight, lift the bar in an arc until your arm is extended behind your head (B). Slowly lower the bar along the same path.

Incorporating these landmine exercises into your fitness routine can significantly enhance your strength, stability, and overall performance. Give them a try and experience the explosive benefits for yourself!