Body Row. How-to, proper form and tips
The Body Row exercise is great for strengthening the back muscles. It serves as a preparation for the pull up.
Video demonstration
(excerpt from 'Body rows'
by rawtraining)
How to and step by step instructions:
- Hold the bar with both hands, palms facing forward, a little more than shoulder-width distance.
- Move your feet forward under the bar, and straighten legs and core.
- Fully extend your arms, hanging in diagonal from the bar. This is the starting position.
- Bend your arms, bringing the chest close to the bar.
- Stay there a few seconds and extend the arms again, lowering yourself to the initial position.
Hints & tips:
- The more horizontal, the hardest is the move.
- Choose a higher bar for an easier variation.
- Put your feet closer to the bar for an easier variation.
Benefits:
- Works all muscles needed for the pull up.
- Strengthen back muscles.
- Very easy to adjust to your fitness level, by adjusting feet position.
Counting & gamification:
- Adjust the feet position to have 10 reps of maximum effort yet proper form.
- Aim for 3 series x10 in a session.
- Use different grips, such as in Mixed Grip Body Row or Supinated Grip Body Row.
Muscles worked and body parts involved:
Primary muscles: Shoulder, Triceps, Upper Back
Secondary muscles: Forearms, Chest
Other names
The exercise can be found with other names. Examples are:
- Body Row
- Inverted Row
- Bodyweight Row
- Horizontal Pull Up
- Pronated Grip Body Row
- Body Row on Parallel Bar
- Australian Pull Up
- Pronated Australian Pull Up
Pull-up progression
3. Body Row
Body Rows progression
3. Body Row
Grip Variations for Body Row
Other Pull Up Preparation exercises
Muscle: Shoulder
Muscle: Triceps
Muscle: Upper back
Collection: Body Row variantions
Category: Bodyweight
Same exercise, different set:
Body Row