How to Hip Hinge Like a Boss
Or, in other words: Learn how to groove the hip hinge and then be able to train like a boss.
Quick question/observation: Have you ever wondered why, among other things – like why women tend to make that funny face when applying make-up – when it comes to American cars, or “Western” cars, the driver’s side is on the left side of the car and not the right (as is the case in the rest of the world)?
It’s something I’ve pondered in the past and up until recently I just kinda shrugged it off as one of those things which had no legitimate rationale other than us Americans are a bunch of pompous a-holes that like to do everything differently than everyone else – analogous to us being the only country not to adopt the metric system of measurement.
As it turns out – there is a reason why the steering wheel is on the left hand side and not the right. And it’s something that makes complete sense.
In the book I’m currently reading, One Summer: America, 1927, author Bill Bryson spends a whole section going into detail about Henry Ford and the Model T car.
Up until the Model T came to fruition every car that was produced in America had the steering wheel on the right hand side so that the driver would have easy access to the side curb, side-walk, or grassy area to easily step out of the car.
Ford then decided that this was a convenience that should be afforded to the “lady of the house,” and thus the Model T was designed to have the steering wheel placed on the left hand side.
So there you go.
Fascinating, right?
Another nugget that blew my mind – albeit in the strength and conditioning realm – was an article I read recently by personal trainer Joy Victoria titled Twerk Your Way to Stronger Lifts, Stronger Abs and Pain-Free Movement in which she offered this train of thought:
“Load is not weight. Load is how your body adapts to carrying the weight. So someone with good alignment can squat 100 lbs and experience an adaptation in their butt and legs, and another person can squat 100lbs and experience an adaptation in their hip flexors and low back muscles (very simplistic example). This is because of how we load our body! You want to load the muscles and joints properly to develop the qualities of strength, power, speed, mobility etc. A lot of pain and what “dysfunctional” movement can be a result of improper loading for your body and structure.”
This summary served as one of a few reasons why I wrote THIS article for T-Nation on why I feel learning to brace and not relying on over-arching or over-extending the lumbar spine (in other words: maintaining ALIGNMENT) is paramount with regards to lifting heavy things. Not only in the context of improved performance in the weight-room, but also as a way to play the house in your favor with relation to long-term health – especially spine health.
Taking this concept a step further, though, and since this is a fitness blog, lets roll with the talking point of alignment and load and delve into something a bit more practical and relevant to just about everyone reading:
The Hip Hinge
For those unfamiliar and stealing some insight from renowned strength coach Dan John – who’s a mega fan of the hip hinge (and rightfully so), we can introduce the hip hinge as follows:
“It’s the hip snap, the hip slam and all of the various inappropriate terms coaches have used to teach young virgin ninth graders to tackle like NFL linebackers. Just learning the move right can open up hamstring flexibility. Doing it slowly with a massive load can impress your friends for generations. Learning to have symmetry in the movement can jumpstart you to an injury-free career.
And, to do it fast? It’s the one-stop shop to fat loss, power and improved athletic ability. Swings, the top of the food chain in hinge movements, are the most under-appreciated move in life, in sport and in the gym.”
In more rudimentary terms the hip hinge involves any flexion/extension originating at the hips that involves a posterior weight shift.
And if we wanted to be super-duper simplistic, and separate ourselves from the notion that a hip hinge is the same thing as a squat pattern – WHICH IT ISN’T! – we can break things down like this:
Hip Hinge = maximal hip bend, minimal knee bend.
Squat = maximal hip bend, maximal knee bend.
*Smoke bomb, smoke bomb, exit stage right*
Moreover, taking the swing out of the equation altogether, I’d argue that nothing has quite as a profound effect on one’s performance in the gym, overall movement quality, addressing pain (especially low back pain), as well as shortening one’s “learning curve” when introducing new exercises than the hip hinge.
About the only thing a properly patterned hip hinge doesn’t help fix is a bad hair day and Justin Bieber’s general level of douchebaggery.
1o points awarded to me for a Biebs burn!
So the question then becomes: How can we go about grooving a proper hip hinge?
More to the point – when working with athletes or clients who either A) have an extensive injury history, have engrained an aberrant motor pattern, and hence like to “squat” everything or B) are otherwise healthy and still like to “squat” everything……how can we groove the hip hinge pattern we’re looking for and start to teach people how to load their body properly?
Well, I’m glad you asked!
At the lowest level two of the easiest (and effective) ways to begin to pattern the hip hinge are:
1. The Wall Tap Hip Hinge
The objective here is pretty self-explanatory. Brace the abs, ensure spinal alignment (move through the hips and NOT the lumbar spine) and then focus on tapping your derriere to the wall.
One cue I like to use is to tell people to chop or “fold” their hips with their hands (you’ll see me do this on like the third or fourth rep).
I’ll start people as close to wall as I need to in order to ensure they’re doing it correctly, and as they become more proficient I’ll move them further and further away.
2. Dowel Rod Hip Hinge
This too is fairly self-explanatory, so I’ll try not to belabor anything. I love this variation because it gives the trainee some kinesthetic feedback on spinal positioning.
In short: there should be three points of contact with the dowel rod – the sacrum, in between the shoulder blades, as well as directly behind the head. If at any point the dowel rod loses contact with any of those points – whether because the chin isn’t staying tucked or they’re squatting with too much knee bend – that should be considered a fault and corrected immediately.
Upping the ante a bit, here are some more drills that I like to implement.
3. Rip Trainer Hip Hinge
Taking the dowel rod hip hinge to the next level is the TRX Rip Trainer Hip Hinge, which very much plays into a lot of Gray Cook’s work on loading the hip hinge.
It’s a subtle load – you don’t need to be too aggressive here – but it’s amazing how much technique cleans up when you cue someone to “pull” themselves into the hinge pattern (here the trainee literally has to pull into the hinge).
Much like with the wall tap drill, I’ll tell people to visualize “folding” their hips and to sit back.
4. Sternum Hip Hinge
Place a kettlebell (you could use a plate or DB here) flush against the sternum and try to visualize driving it through your chest.
I can’t really explain why it works so well – most likely because of the anterior load – but it just does, so just do it! GOSH!
5. Behind the Head Hip Hinge
Pigging back off the sternum hip hinge is the behind the head hip hinge, which places the load posteriorly behind the head. This offers a bit more of a unique challenge in that you have to make sure that you’re bracing your abs HARD so that you don’t compensate and hinge through the lumbar spine.
6. Band Resisted Hip Hinge
Lastly, the band resisted hip hinge drill is great because it teaches people “terminal hip extension,” to the point where they must finish the movement with their glutes in order to finish the drill. Moreover, because the band is pulling them back they really have to be more cognizant of bracing their abs, maintaining alignment, and controlling the movement.
What Now?
If or when those drills are mastered THEN it’s time to add appreciable load. One of my go to exercises is the pull-through. I find that this is a fantastic exercise to introduce people to loaded hip hinging because, well, I said so!
And because it hammers the posterior chain with minimal spinal loading.
Of course deadlifts and squats will come into the picture, but not until I feel confident that the person I’m working with (especially for those with a vast injury history) can hip hinge properly and disperse the load accordingly.
I can usually coach someone up and get them deadlifting and/or squatting with a good hip hinge pattern within a short amount of time – typically in one session – but not without utilizing some of the drills mentioned above.
Comments for This Entry
rich t
Perfect timing for this article, I was just wondering how to figure out if I'm doing this "hip hinge" thing correctly. Thanks!January 3, 2014 at 11:57 am |
TonyGentilcore
Glad it helped Rich!January 4, 2014 at 4:52 pm |
Kellie Davis
Great article. I will share this with GetGlutes. America isn't the only country that drives on the right side. In fact, right-sided driving dates back to Ancient Rome. It's easier to whip a horse or stab someone with a sword with your left hand when your right handed.January 3, 2014 at 12:59 pm |
Surfing1998
I thought it was a Roman thing too!January 3, 2014 at 3:12 pm |
George
As a righty, while on horseback or in a chariot, I've always found it easier to stab people with my right hand. Maybe it's just me.January 4, 2014 at 2:42 am |
TonyGentilcore
Well played, sir. Well played.January 4, 2014 at 4:59 pm |
TonyGentilcore
Thanks Kellie - always appreciate the feedback and sharing.January 4, 2014 at 4:52 pm |
Barath
I wanted to read Joy Victoria's post, but before I could start, my computer combusted in her magnificent hotness.January 3, 2014 at 2:18 pm |
TonyGentilcore
hahaha. Funny story. Joy actually made a cameo appearance at CP last year. I was coaching and once it died down I walked over to her and introduced myself. "Hey there, I'm Tony," I said. She puts out her hand and says, "Oh, I know who you are." Pretty much made my week.January 4, 2014 at 4:54 pm |
Brent
Love these drills, but I'll be honest, I have trouble myself getting out of rib flair even with these drills. One thing I'm playing around with now, is holding the hip hinge and bracing and unbracing the core in this position. I think some clients have difficult knowing what is the wrong way vs the right way, so I will tell them to do it wrong first (simliar to how cat camel exercise teaches neutral spine by exaggerating bad position).January 3, 2014 at 7:39 pm |
TonyGentilcore
Brent - that is a FANTASTIC idea and something I remember reading elsewhere but just forgot about. Makes a lot of sense to do things that way. Thanks for the reminder!January 4, 2014 at 4:57 pm |
Brent
Word yo. I still struggle teaching proper breathing though and spinal stiffness before descending to pick up the weight. Some just want to breath into their belly and concurrently overarch their low back. And then when I tell them to hold their breath, they look like they're gonna have a baby. Breathe in and stiffen up! then they just laugh. The joys of teaching sedentary people how to create spinal stiffness. <--hey look another blog idea for ya. high five to me!January 4, 2014 at 7:09 pm |
Guest
Pretend like your gonna bunch them in the stomach. I've always done that to tighten up my core. Unless they're using a weight belt then just have them push against it hard. Trying "breathing into my pelvis" taught me how to stay tight well when squatting with belt and it also helped with keeping my back from rounding when going really deep. That and I read from Andy Bolton about how to always keep the core tight when lifting by making a tssss sound if you need to breathe but still keep the core tight. But that its better to not breathe out at all or don't do that until you get the the hardest part of the lift, because holding your breathe supports your spine. He also said its best to have 3/4 of your lunges full when staying tight. So your stomachs not to pregnant like lol. I hope those all helped and that you can benefit from them.December 8, 2014 at 4:22 am |
Nick Norton
punch* for some reason it had me as a guestDecember 8, 2014 at 4:37 am
Chezhiyan
Thanks for the brilliant post Mr.G, a couple of questions though 1. One some of these videos, it looks like you lower your chest without any movement at the hip, is there a reason for that? (im only trying to understand and not trying to critique your technique) 2. why did you not include your dowel skills section on the "Dowel Rod Hip Hinge" video? would have been awesome!!January 4, 2014 at 1:25 am |
TonyGentilcore
1. You're probably referencing the band hip hinge. With this one - especially with me - I have to work really hard not to immediately go into extension on these, hence why it looks like I"m not hinging too much. But I am. I promise....;O) 2. Yeah, I was pissed that that was cut out early. it was awesome.January 4, 2014 at 4:59 pm |
Chezhiyan
ha ha...thanks for the reply!January 5, 2014 at 6:19 am |
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Josh
sick donatello bo staff spin at the end of the dowel rod hinge video.January 5, 2014 at 3:52 am |
TonyGentilcore
Too bad it was cut short!January 5, 2014 at 7:33 pm |
Shane Mclean
awesome. Love all these variations.January 5, 2014 at 10:19 am |
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Erick
I LOVE THIS. I have a meeting with my trainers this week on this exact topic. What great timing to post this article and what awesome points you hit Tony. The "Wall Tap" and Dowel Rod hip hinge test were two key practices I was going to touch on, but now I have SIX great practice progressions to go through with them. Great article Tony (again) !January 6, 2014 at 11:44 am |
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Christian Lauer
lol the best part of this was seeing the beginning of you going dark side Anikan on some unfortunate imaginary sand people.January 7, 2014 at 8:56 am |
juan
question: feet screwed into floor, tight legs, ass, and lower back, deep breath and shoulder blades squeezed together. when I begin my hip hinge I feel looseness or slack in my lower back. almost like a transition point before my hamstrings are loaded. am I doing something wrong?January 10, 2014 at 11:17 am |
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Kris Camelio
I love these progressions and I just sent this article to a group that I train so they can learn as well! A 3.5 on the progressions list that I include (but usually I'll have to MacGruber a Rip Trainer out of a dowel and a superband) would be with the rip trainer/cook band hinge variation- so exactly the same as #3. Only difference is the trainer is anchored to the bottom with the athlete facing it -- resisting the movement versus assisting it. Thoughts? Great stuff as always Tony!!!April 7, 2014 at 6:57 am |
TonyGentilcore
Kris - I'd view that as a progression, and a really good one at that. Glad you liked the article.April 9, 2014 at 7:07 am |
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Michelle A. Mayo
Awesome article!!! This was great timing for me as well for I am just beginning to ge more serious with Olympic lifts and I have virtually no hip hinge. I like the separate videos and steps too! Great Job Tony and your team!January 8, 2015 at 9:34 pm |
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Hayley Wilson
Any tips for teaching someone not to lock their knees when going into a hip hinge. As soon as my client focuses on any of the clues above, he locks his knees...May 20, 2015 at 5:21 pm |
TonyGentilcore
Try using the cue "soft knees."May 22, 2015 at 8:54 am |
Bobby
What exactly do you mean by "brace" the abs? Suck in? Push out? Jabberwocky?September 19, 2015 at 1:04 am |
TonyGentilcore
Brace = as if you're going to get punched in the stomach. Not draw in. Definitely not that.September 20, 2015 at 7:35 am |
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Peter
Then what? Bend knees to the bar...March 17, 2016 at 10:21 pm |
Nicola Lait
Thank you for this article Tony! As a trainer pretty new to the industry, I've found that teaching the hip hinge is much more of a challenge than I thought it would be! I will definitely be trying some of these out on my clients next week!April 15, 2016 at 6:00 pm |
TonyGentilcore
Glad it was of some help Nicola. And, best of luck moving forward!April 18, 2016 at 10:53 am |
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