Bodyweight exercises: choose by purpose.

Use body mass as resistance for pushes, pulls, squats, hinges and trunk work. Compare practical options and choose movements by purpose, equipment and progression.

DIRECT ANSWER

Bodyweight exercises are movements used to use body mass as resistance for pushes, pulls, squats, hinges and trunk work. Exercise choice should fit the athlete, equipment and weekly programme rather than a universal ranking.

What belongs in this group

Use body mass as resistance for pushes, pulls, squats, hinges and trunk work.

Common options

These examples cover distinct setups rather than a ranked list.

  • Push-up
  • Pull-up
  • Split squat
  • Hanging knee raise

How to choose

Progress range, leverage, repetitions or external load while keeping the movement comparable.

Keep the chosen movement stable long enough to compare performance, unless pain, equipment or programme fit requires a change.

Catalogue quality

Bulk Coach's exercise catalogue contains names, instructions, muscles, equipment, movement patterns and substitutions. Individual exercise URLs remain outside the sitemap until their instructions and added programming guidance receive a recorded founder review.

Sources and further reading

  1. Free Exercise DB public-domain source
Updated 7 August 2026Reviewed by James Wood, founder