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Single-Leg Burpee

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A unilateral bodyweight plyometric exercise on one leg that targets quads, glutes, core, and upper body to build power, conditioning, and balance; scale by omitting push-up or adding tuck jump.

About Exercise

Equipment

Body Weight

Difficulty

4/5 • Advanced

Primary Muscle Groups

Quads, Abs, Glutes

Secondary Muscles

Calves

Popularity Score

5

Goals

Power
Conditioning
Stability

Training Style

Calisthenics
HIIT
CrossFit

Setup Requirements

Requires Rack

No

Requires Bench

No

Requires Spotter

No

Space Needed

Medium

Noise Level

Moderate

Muscle Breakdown

Quads

9/10

Rectus Femoris, Vastus Lateralis, Vastus Medialis

Abs

9/10

Rectus Abdominis, Transverse Abdominis

Glutes

8/10

Glute Max

Hamstrings

7/10

Biceps Femoris, Semitendinosus

Chest

7/10

Mid Chest

Triceps

6/10

Lateral Head

Shoulders

6/10

Anterior Delts

Lower Back

6/10

Erector Spinae

Calves

5/10

Gastrocnemius

Programming

Typical Rep Range

6-12 reps

Rest Between Sets

30-60 seconds • Shorter for conditioning sets

How to Perform

Stand tall on one foot with the other knee bent and elevated behind you, arms at sides for balance.

  1. Squat down on standing leg, place hands on floor in front.
  2. Kick standing foot back to single-leg plank, keep non-standing leg elevated.
  3. Lower chest to floor for push-up if including, then press up.
  4. Hop standing foot forward to hands in squat position.
  5. Drive through standing foot to stand and explode into vertical jump, arms overhead.
  6. Land softly on standing foot with bent knee, reset position.
  7. Switch legs after reps per side.

Coaching Tips

Form Cues

  • Core tight throughout
  • Knees track over toes
  • Land soft on standing foot
  • Body straight in plank
  • Explode from hips
  • Elevate non-working leg high

Breathing

Inhale during squat and plank descent, exhale forcefully during jump and push-up.

Tempo

1-0-1

Range of Motion

Squat until thigh parallel to floor, plank straight from head to heel, full arm extension in push-up and jump height to full extension.

Safety

Safety Notes

  • Master standard burpees first
  • Avoid if balance issues or joint pain
  • Use soft surface for impact
  • Stop if sharp pain occurs
  • Warm up ankles and hips
  • Clear space to prevent trips

Spotting

Not required; self-spot with control and focus on form.

Common Mistakes

  • Arching back in plank
  • Sagging hips
  • Rushing without control
  • Uneven weight distribution
  • Hard landing on joints
  • Dropping non-standing leg

When to Avoid

  • Acute ankle or knee injuries
  • Balance disorders
  • Recent lower back strain
  • Shoulder impingement
  • High blood pressure without clearance

Flexibility Needed

  • Ankle dorsiflexion for squat depth
  • Hip mobility for single-leg balance
  • Shoulder flexion for plank

Build Up First

  • Proficient standard burpee
  • Single-leg squat competency
  • Core stability in plank

Also known as

One-Legged Burpee, Single Leg Burpee

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