Hanging Straight Leg Raise

A challenging hanging abdominal exercise performed with straight legs to maximize core resistance, building exceptional abdominal and hip flexor strength.

Instructions

1. Hang from a pull-up bar with both arms fully extended at arm’s length, feet together, and legs completely straight.
2. Engage your core and raise your straight legs up toward the bar by flexing at the hips, exhaling as you perform the movement.
3. Bring your feet to near the level of the bar or until your body forms approximately a 90-degree angle.
4. Hold the top position for a moment while squeezing your core muscles.
5. Slowly and with control, lower your straight legs back to the starting position while breathing in.
6. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions without swinging or using momentum.

Tips

• Keep your core engaged throughout to maintain control with straight legs
• Avoid swinging momentum—control is more important than speed
• Maintain a strong grip and engage your shoulders to stabilize
• Keep your legs as straight as possible throughout the entire range of motion
• If this is too challenging, start with bent knees and progressively straighten over time