Weighted Cossack Squat
Also known as: cossack squat
- Secondary muscles
- Quads, Hamstrings, Calves
- Body part
- Upper Legs
- Position
- Standing
- Laterality
- Bilateral (both sides together)
- Category
- Strength
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Shifting your weight sideways onto one bent leg while the other stays straight trains the squat in a plane nothing else in this family touches, and the weight held at your chest helps you sit deeper into the adductor stretch. Keep loads light relative to your squat - depth and control on each side are the currency.
How to do the Weighted Cossack Squat
- Stand with your feet wider than shoulder-width apart and toes pointing slightly outward.
- Hold a weight in front of your chest with both hands.
- Shift your weight to one side and lower your body by bending the knee of the side you shifted towards, while keeping the other leg straight.
- Go as low as you can while maintaining balance and keeping your chest up.
- Push through the heel of the bent leg to return to the starting position.
- Repeat on the other side, alternating between legs.
Tip: Screw the feet into the floor and spread it apart to keep the knees out and the arch of the foot from collapsing.
Muscles worked
Primary
Glutes · Legs
The glutes extend the hip on the way up and take more of the load the deeper you go and the wider your stance.
Secondary
- Quads — The quads extend the knee and drive you out of the bottom, and front squats and close stance variations put more on them.
- Hamstrings
- Calves
Common mistakes
- Knees caving inward — push the knees out over the toes on the way up, especially out of the bottom where they most want to collapse.
- Hips shooting up first — if the hips rise faster than the chest on the way up, you turn the squat into a good morning; drive the chest and hips up together.
- Cutting the depth — get the hip crease below the top of the knee on every rep unless mobility genuinely stops you, in which case work on it.
- Losing the brace — take a big breath into the belly before each rep and hold it through the sticking point, then exhale on the way up.
Sets, reps and where it fits
| Goal | Sets × reps | Rest |
|---|---|---|
| Strength | 4–5 × 3–6 | 2–3 min |
| Muscle growth | 3–4 × 6–12 | 90–120 s |
| Endurance | 2–3 × 12–20 | 60 s |
Squats go first in a lower body session when you are freshest. Follow them with Romanian deadlifts or leg press, or superset lighter sets with pull-ups to use the same rack.
Variations and alternatives
Similar exercises
Without weighted
Frequently asked questions
What muscles does the Weighted Cossack Squat work?
The Weighted Cossack Squat primarily works the glutes. It also involves the quads, hamstrings and calves, which assist the movement and stabilise the joints.
Is the Weighted Cossack Squat good for beginners?
Not as a starting point. The Weighted Cossack Squat is rated advanced because it demands strength, mobility or coordination that takes time to build. Beginners should work up to it through the easier variations listed on this page.
What can I do instead of the Weighted Cossack Squat?
If you cannot do the Weighted Cossack Squat, try the Box Bulgarian Split Squat, the Pistol Squat or the Plate Deficit Squat. Each of them trains the glutes through a similar movement, so you can swap them in without changing the rest of the workout.
How many sets and reps should I do?
It depends on your goal. For the Weighted Cossack Squat, a sensible starting point is strength: 4–5 × 3–6 with 2–3 min rest; muscle growth: 3–4 × 6–12 with 90–120 s rest; endurance: 2–3 × 12–20 with 60 s rest. Put it early in the session while you are fresh, before isolation work for the same muscles.
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