Fitness Exercise Tips 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. By Lauren Mazzo Lauren Mazzo Facebook Instagram Twitter Website Lauren Mazzo has been working as a health and fitness writer and editor since 2015 — including six years at Shape, where she was formerly the senior editor. She's certified as a personal trainer and fitness nutrition specialist through the American Council on Exercise, and is currently working on her health coach certification. In 2015, she graduated from Ithaca College with a B.A. in Journalism and minors in Writing and Honors, and while there, she also studied Sex, Gender, and Desire and The Science and Philosophy of Sex and Love. Prior to Shape, she worked for the digital team at Self Magazine and interned at Marie Claire. Her passion for all things health and fitness began as a teenager, when she first started learning about nutrition and training as a competitive cheerleader. Since then, she's explored a variety of workouts, from weightlifting, running, and cycling to yoga, and continued cheering on the nonprofit team Cheer New York in New York City. While she's currently traveling the world as a nomad, you can catch her learning about the psychology of dating, attempting new adventure sports, and embracing the Blue Zone way of life. Shape's editorial guidelines Updated on August 6, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email 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.) How to Do a Pistol Squat A. Stand on left leg with the entire left foot rooted firmly into the floor, right leg lifted slightly forward to start. B. Bend left knee and send hips backward, reaching arms forward while extending right leg forward, lowering body until hips are below parallel. C. Squeeze glutes and hamstring to stop the descent, then imagine pushing the standing leg through the floor to press back up to standing. Try 5 reps on each side. Pistol Squat Form Tips Try not to let the front leg touch the ground.Keep the spine long and back flat (meaning, don't round forward or arch back).Keep core engaged throughout the movement.Sit hips back versus pushing the knee forward. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit