Why Mastering the Pistol Squat Should Be Your Next Fitness Goal

Also called the single-leg or one-leg squat, this elite strength move is basically a gym party trick. Here's why it's worth your time and attention.

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Updated on August 6, 2022

Squats get all the fame and glory, and for good reason, since they're one of the best functional strength moves out there. But they're all too often limited to the two-footed variety. That's right: You can do a squat on one leg — and it's just as hard as you're imagining.

The one-leg squat (aka the pistol squat or single-leg squat, demonstrated here by NYC-based trainer Rachel Mariotti) is an elite strength move that requires balance, mobility, and crazy coordination. But the satisfaction and feeling of all-around badassery when you finally nail it? Totally worth the hours.

Below, everything you need to know about this one-leg squat variation.

Pistol Squat Variations and Benefits

What makes the pistol squat (or one-leg squat) so impressive is that it's not about pure strength. (If that's what you're after, you can load up a barbell and go at some back squats.) "This move requires a ton of hip, knee, and ankle mobility," says Mariotti. It demands core stability and balance while "building unilateral strength in the hips, glutes, quads, and hamstrings, which makes it more acrobatic than any other standard single-leg exercise," she adds.

Plus, it'll be a wake-up call for any strength or mobility asymmetries you have, adds Mariotti. Give them a whirl, and you'll probably realize one leg is way stronger than the other. You'll probably also realize that one-leg squats are freaking hard. (See also: What Is Unilateral Training and Why Is It Important?)

The good news is that there are tons of exercises you can do to progress safely into a pistol squat. You can perform them while holding onto TRX straps or a pole for support. You can squat down onto a bench or box. Or you can actually add weight to make it easier (hold a dumbbell horizontally at chest height with arms extended and it'll help counterbalance the weight of your torso). Before you try any of these, also work on your forward lunges, reverse lunges, and side lunges to build up strength and stability in each leg individually. (One-leg squat sound too easy? Don't worry, there's another challenge for you: Try the shrimp squat next.)