Exercise guide
Ring One Arm Biceps Curl
- Intermediate
- Isolation
- Rep-based
- Upper arms
This unilateral isolation exercise leverages body weight and ring instability to maximize bicep peak contraction and forearm supination. It heavily challenges core stability while allowing for a greater range of motion and joint comfort compared to fixed-bar variations.
Reviewed by the Crucible team · Updated June 2026
Muscles worked
Setup
- Set one ring to approximately waist height and grasp it with a firm underhand (supinated) grip.
- Lean back until the strap is taut, extending your arm fully in front of you at shoulder height.
- Position your feet in a staggered stance for stability or parallel for a greater core challenge.
- Keep your non-working arm at your side or across your chest to maintain balance and prevent torso rotation.
How to do it
- Exhale and curl your hand toward your forehead by flexing the elbow, keeping the upper arm parallel to the floor throughout the movement.
- Squeeze your bicep forcefully at the top of the movement for a one-second pause.
- Inhale and slowly lower your body back to the starting position using a controlled 3-second eccentric tempo.
- Complete the desired number of repetitions on one arm before switching to the other side.
Form checklist
- Keep your elbow high and fixed in space; do not let it drop toward your ribs during the curl.
- Maintain a straight line from your head to your heels, avoiding any sagging or arching at the hips.
- Ensure the movement occurs strictly at the elbow joint without using momentum from the shoulders or torso.
- Keep your wrist neutral or slightly flexed to focus the tension on the biceps rather than the forearm.
Pro tips
- Actively rotate your pinky finger toward your shoulder at the peak of the contraction to maximize bicep supination.
- Focus on pulling your forehead toward the ring rather than pulling the ring to your face to maintain better mechanical tension.
Make it harder
- Move your feet closer to the anchor point to increase the body angle and the percentage of body weight being lifted.
- Perform the exercise while standing on the leg opposite to the working arm to significantly increase the demand on your cross-body stabilizers.
Frequently asked
- What muscles does the ring one arm biceps curl work?
- The ring one arm biceps curl primarily targets the biceps, and also works the forearms as secondary muscles.
- What equipment do you need for the ring one arm biceps curl?
- The ring one arm biceps curl uses suspension trainer.
- Is the ring one arm biceps curl good for beginners?
- The ring one arm biceps curl is rated intermediate. Build a base with simpler variations first, then progress to it with light load and strict form.