Exercise guide
Landmine Sissy Squat
- Advanced
- Compound
- Rep-based
- Lower legs
- Upper legs
- Waist
The Landmine Sissy Squat is a quad-dominant variation that uses the barbell's arc to facilitate a deep knee-flexion stretch while maintaining an upright torso. It specifically targets the rectus femoris and vastus muscles by emphasizing knee extension over hip flexion.
Reviewed by the Crucible team · Updated June 2026
Muscles worked
Setup
- Secure one end of the barbell in a landmine attachment and stand facing away from the anchor point.
- Hold the end of the barbell at chest height with both hands in a goblet grip, keeping your elbows tucked.
- Position your feet shoulder-width apart, slightly in front of your hips to accommodate the backward lean.
- Brace your core and squeeze your glutes to create a rigid line from your knees to your shoulders.
How to do it
- Inhale and lower your body by pushing your knees forward and leaning your torso back, maintaining a straight line through your hips.
- Allow your heels to rise naturally as you descend to maximize the range of motion and quad stretch.
- Lower until your knees are just above the floor or until you feel a maximum stretch in the quadriceps.
- Exhale and drive through the balls of your feet to return to the starting position, focusing on 'pushing' the floor away.
Form checklist
- Do not hinge at the hips; keep your glutes squeezed to maintain hip extension.
- Keep the barbell tucked tightly against your chest to prevent the weight from pulling you forward.
- Maintain a neutral spine and avoid arching the lower back during the backward lean.
- Ensure your knees track in line with your toes throughout the movement.
Pro tips
- Focus on the mind-muscle connection with the rectus femoris by emphasizing the stretch at the bottom of the rep.
- Use a slow, controlled eccentric (3-4 seconds) to increase time under tension and improve knee stability.
- Keep your weight centered over the balls of your feet to keep the tension strictly on the quadriceps.
Make it harder
- Add a 2-second pause at the bottom of the movement to eliminate momentum.
- Perform 1.5 reps by going all the way down, coming halfway up, going back down, and then standing fully.
Frequently asked
- What muscles does the landmine sissy squat work?
- The landmine sissy squat primarily targets the glutes and quadriceps, and also works the hip flexors as secondary muscles.
- What equipment do you need for the landmine sissy squat?
- The landmine sissy squat uses landmine.
- Is the landmine sissy squat good for beginners?
- The landmine sissy squat is rated advanced. Build a base with simpler variations first, then progress to it with light load and strict form.