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Fire Hydrant
A quadruped hip-abduction drill that lifts the bent knee out to the side to activate the glute medius and open the hips.
LegsBodyweightHip abduction
GoLightWeight mediafire-hydrant
Demonstration coming soon
Primary
Glutes
Secondary
Hip external rotatorsCore
Equipment
Bodyweight
Pattern
Hip abduction
Setup
- 01Start on hands and knees with wrists under shoulders and knees under hips.
- 02Brace the core and set the spine in a neutral line.
- 03Keep the working knee bent at about 90 degrees.
Execution
- 01Lift the bent knee straight out to the side as high as the hip allows without tilting.
- 02Pause briefly at the top and squeeze the outer glute.
- 03Lower the knee back down under control without resting it on the floor.
- 04Complete all reps, then switch sides.
Checkpoints
- -The torso stays level; the supporting hip does not sway away.
- -The knee stays bent at 90 degrees throughout.
- -The lift comes from the hip, not from side-bending the spine.
- -Movement is smooth and controlled in both directions.
Common mistakes
- -Rotating the trunk to fake extra height.
- -Shifting all the weight onto the opposite hand.
- -Swinging the leg with momentum.
- -Letting the lower back sag or arch.
Programming notes
- -Use 2 to 3 sets of 10 to 20 reps per side in warm-ups or glute accessory work.
- -Add a mini band above the knees or ankle weight to progress.
- -Pairs well with donkey kicks for a full quadruped glute circuit.
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