All Exercises
Barbell

Barbell Exercises

Browse all barbell exercises for strength training.

Showing 31–60 of 170 exercises

Bent Over Barbell Row

Holding a barbell with a pronated grip (palms facing down), bend your knees slightly and bring your torso forward, by bending at the waist, while keeping the back straight until it is almost parallel to the floor. Tip: Make sure that you keep the head up. The barbell should hang directly in front of you as your arms hang perpendicular to the floor and your torso. This is your starting position.

back
lats
upper back
Beginner

Bent Over One-Arm Long Bar Row

Put weight on one of the ends of an Olympic barbell. Make sure that you either place the other end of the barbell in the corner of two walls; or put a heavy object on the ground so the barbell cannot slide backward.

lats
middle back
rhomboids
Beginner

Bent Over Two-Arm Long Bar Row

Put weight on one of the ends of an Olympic barbell. Make sure that you either place the other end of the barbell in the corner of two walls; or put a heavy object on the ground so the barbell cannot slide backward.

Middle Back
Biceps
Lats
Intermediate

Board Press

Begin by lying on the bench, getting your head beyond the bar if possible. One to five boards, made out of 2x6's, can be screwed together and held in place by a training partner, bands, or just tucked under your shirt.

triceps
chest
Intermediate

Box Squat

The box squat allows you to squat to desired depth and develop explosive strength in the squat movement. Begin in a power rack with a box at the appropriate height behind you. Typically, you would aim for a box height that brings you to a parallel squat, but you can train higher or lower if desired.

quads
glutes
hamstrings
Intermediate

Box Squat with Bands

Begin in a power rack with a box at the appropriate height behind you. Set up the bands on the sleeves, secured to either band pegs, the rack, or dumbbells so that there is appropriate tension. If dumbbells are used, secure them so that they don't move. Also, ensure that the dumbbells you are using are heavy enough for the bands that you are using. Additional plates can be used to hold the dumbbells down. If more tension is needed, you can either widen the base on the floor or choke the bands. T

Quadriceps
Abductors
Adductors
Advanced

Box Squat with Chains

Begin in a power rack with a box at the appropriate height behind you. Typically, you would aim for a box height that brings you to a parallel squat, but you can train higher or lower if desired.

quads
glutes
hamstrings
Advanced

Bradford/Rocky Presses

The Bradford Press, also known as the Rocky Press, is a shoulder strength exercise that combines a standard overhead press with a behind-the-neck press in one fluid motion. It develops shoulder stability, triceps strength, and overhead mobility through a greater range of motion than a standard press.

Shoulders
Triceps
Beginner

Car Drivers

Car Drivers is an isolation exercise that targets shoulder stability and rotational strength by simulating turning a steering wheel. It primarily strengthens the rotator cuff muscles and forearms while challenging core stability to resist torso rotation, making it useful for shoulder health and sports involving rotational force.

Shoulders
Forearms
Beginner

Clean

With a barbell on the floor close to the shins, take an overhand (or hook) grip just outside the legs. Lower your hips with the weight focused on the heels, back straight, head facing forward, chest up, with your shoulders just in front of the bar. This will be your starting position.

Hamstrings
Calves
Forearms
Intermediate

Clean and Jerk

With a barbell on the floor close to the shins, take an overhand or hook grip just outside the legs. Lower your hips with the weight focused on the heels, back straight, head facing forward, chest up, with your shoulders just in front of the bar. This will be your starting position.

Shoulders
Core
Glutes
Advanced

Clean and Press

Assume a shoulder-width stance, with knees inside the arms. Now while keeping the back flat, bend at the knees and hips so that you can grab the bar with the arms fully extended and a pronated grip that is slightly wider than shoulder width. Point the elbows out to sides. The bar should be close to the shins. Position the shoulders over or slightly ahead of the bar. Establish a flat back posture. This will be your starting position.

Shoulders
Core
Calves
Intermediate

Clean Deadlift

Begin standing with a barbell close to your shins. Your feet should be directly under your hips with your feet turned out slightly. Grip the bar with a double overhand grip or hook grip, about shoulder width apart. Squat down to the bar. Your spine should be in full extension, with a back angle that places your shoulders in front of the bar and your back as vertical as possible.

Hamstrings
Forearms
Glutes
Beginner

Clean from Blocks

With a barbell on boxes or stands of the desired height, take an overhand or hook grip just outside the legs. Lower your hips with the weight focused on the heels, back straight, head facing forward, chest up, with your shoulders just in front of the bar. This will be your starting position.

Quadriceps
Calves
Glutes
Intermediate

Clean Pull

With a barbell on the floor close to the shins, take an overhand or hook grip just outside the legs. Lower your hips with the weight focused on the heels, back straight, head facing forward, chest up, with your shoulders just in front of the bar. This will be your starting position.

Quadriceps
Forearms
Glutes
Intermediate

Clean Shrug

Begin with a shoulder width, double overhand or hook grip, with the bar hanging at the mid thigh position. Your back should be straight and inclined slightly forward.

Traps
Forearms
Shoulders
Beginner

Close-Grip Barbell Bench Press

Lie back on a flat bench. Using a close grip (around shoulder width), lift the bar from the rack and hold it straight over you with your arms locked. This will be your starting position.

Triceps
Chest
Shoulders
Beginner

Close-Grip EZ Bar Curl

Stand up with your torso upright while holding an E-Z Curl Bar at the closer inner handle. The palm of your hands should be facing forward and they should be slightly tilted inwards due to the shape of the bar. The elbows should be close to the torso. This will be your starting position.

Biceps
Forearms
Beginner

Close-Grip Standing Barbell Curl

Hold a barbell with both hands, palms up and a few inches apart.

Biceps
Forearms
Beginner

Deadlift with Bands

To deadlift with short bands, simply loop them over the bar before you start, and step into them to set up. For long bands, they will need to be anchored to a secure base, such as heavy dumbbells or a rack.

Lower Back
Forearms
Glutes
Advanced

Deadlift with Chains

You can attach the chains to the sleeves of the bar, or just drape the middle over the bar so there is a greater weight increase as you lift.

Lower Back
Forearms
Glutes
Advanced

Decline Barbell Bench Press

Secure your legs at the end of the decline bench and slowly lay down on the bench.

Chest
Shoulders
Triceps
Beginner

Decline Close-Grip Bench To Skull Crusher

Secure your legs at the end of the decline bench and slowly lay down on the bench.

Triceps
Chest
Shoulders
Intermediate

Decline EZ Bar Triceps Extension

Secure your legs at the end of the decline bench and slowly lay down on the bench.

Triceps
Beginner

Deficit Deadlift

Begin by having a platform or weight plates that you can stand on, usually 1-3 inches in height. Approach the bar so that it is centered over your feet. You feet should be about hip width apart. Bend at the hip to grip the bar at shoulder width, allowing your shoulder blades to protract. Typically, you would use an overhand grip or an over/under grip on heavier sets.

Lower Back
Forearms
Glutes
Intermediate

Drag Curl

Grab a barbell with a supinated grip (palms facing forward) and get your elbows close to your torso and back. This will be your starting position.

Biceps
Forearms
Intermediate

Elevated Back Lunge

Position a bar onto a rack at shoulder height loaded to an appropriate weight. Place a short, raised platform behind you.

Quadriceps
Glutes
Hamstrings
Intermediate

Finger Curls

Hold a barbell with both hands and your palms facing up; hands spaced about shoulder width.

Forearms
Beginner

Floor Press

Adjust the j-hooks so they are at the appropriate height to rack the bar. Begin lying on the floor with your head near the end of a power rack. Keeping your shoulder blades pulled together; pull the bar off of the hooks.

Triceps
Chest
Shoulders
Intermediate

Floor Press with Chains

Adjust the j-hooks so they are at the appropriate height to rack the bar. For this exercise, drape the chains directly over the end of the bar, trying to keep the ends away from the plates.

Triceps
Chest
Shoulders
Intermediate