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BJJ Strength Training

Build the raw power for takedowns, guard passing, and controlling opponents. These compound and isolation exercises develop the muscle strength that translates directly to dominance on the mat.

45 Exercises
18 Equipment Types

By Difficulty

★☆☆☆☆
13
Level 1
★★☆☆☆
15
Level 2
★★★☆☆
12
Level 3
★★★★☆
5
Level 4
★★★★★
0
Level 5

All Strength Training Exercises sorted by difficulty

Goblet Squat

The goblet squat is a beginner-friendly squatting variation that teaches proper squat mechanics whil...

★☆☆☆☆ 3-4 sets / 10-15 reps
kettlebell

Dumbbell Row

The single-arm dumbbell row builds unilateral pulling strength that addresses muscle imbalances betw...

★☆☆☆☆ 3-4 sets / 8-12 reps per arm
dumbbellbench

Push-Up

The push-up is a fundamental bodyweight pressing exercise that builds pressing endurance and shoulde...

★☆☆☆☆ 3-4 sets / 15-25 reps
none

Lat Pulldown

The lat pulldown is a machine-based pulling exercise that builds lat width and pulling strength with...

★☆☆☆☆ 3-4 sets / 10-15 reps
cable machine

Glute Bridge

The glute bridge is a foundational hip extension exercise that activates and strengthens the glutes ...

★☆☆☆☆ 3 sets / 15-20 reps
none

Back Extension

The back extension strengthens the spinal erectors, glutes, and hamstrings using a hyperextension be...

★☆☆☆☆ 3-4 sets / 12-15 reps
hyperextension bench

Sumo Squat

The sumo squat uses a wide stance with toes pointed outward, heavily targeting the inner thighs and ...

★☆☆☆☆ 3-4 sets / 10-15 reps
dumbbell

Inverted Row

The inverted row is a bodyweight pulling exercise performed hanging under a bar with feet on the gro...

★☆☆☆☆ 3-4 sets / 10-15 reps
barbellsquat rack

Face Pull

The face pull is a rear deltoid and rotator cuff exercise performed with a cable or resistance band....

★☆☆☆☆ 3-4 sets / 15-20 reps
cable machinerope attachment

Farmer Carry

The farmer carry is a loaded walking exercise that builds total body strength, grip endurance, and c...

★☆☆☆☆ 3-4 sets / 40-60 meters or 30-45 seconds
dumbbells

Cable Row

The seated cable row provides constant tension through the entire pulling range of motion, building ...

★☆☆☆☆ 3-4 sets / 10-15 reps
cable machine

Reverse Fly

The reverse fly isolates the rear deltoids and upper back muscles that are critical for shoulder hea...

★☆☆☆☆ 3-4 sets / 12-15 reps
dumbbells

Lateral Raise

The lateral raise isolates the medial deltoids, building the shoulder width and pressing endurance n...

★☆☆☆☆ 3-4 sets / 12-15 reps
dumbbells

Romanian Deadlift

The Romanian deadlift isolates the hamstrings and glutes through a controlled hip hinge with minimal...

★★☆☆☆ 3-4 sets / 8-12 reps
barbell Warm-up needed

Barbell Row

The barbell row is a fundamental pulling exercise that develops the back thickness and rowing streng...

★★☆☆☆ 4 sets / 8-12 reps
barbell Warm-up needed

Chin-Up

The chin-up uses a supinated grip that recruits more biceps involvement than the standard pull-up. T...

★★☆☆☆ 3-4 sets / 6-12 reps
pull-up bar Warm-up needed

Dumbbell Overhead Press

The dumbbell overhead press adds instability that forces each arm to work independently, building ba...

★★☆☆☆ 3-4 sets / 8-12 reps
dumbbells Warm-up needed

Bench Press

The bench press develops horizontal pressing strength that translates to framing and pushing opponen...

★★☆☆☆ 4 sets / 6-10 reps
barbellbench Warm-up needed

Floor Press

The floor press is a partial range bench press performed lying on the floor, limiting the range of m...

★★☆☆☆ 3-4 sets / 6-10 reps
barbell Warm-up needed

Landmine Press

The landmine press is a shoulder-friendly pressing variation using a barbell anchored at one end. Th...

★★☆☆☆ 3-4 sets / 8-12 reps per arm
barbelllandmine attachment

Seal Row

The seal row is performed lying face down on an elevated bench, completely eliminating momentum and ...

★★☆☆☆ 3-4 sets / 8-12 reps
barbellbench

Hip Thrust

The barbell hip thrust isolates the glutes through a full range of hip extension, building the explo...

★★☆☆☆ 3-4 sets / 8-12 reps
barbellbench

Walking Lunge

Walking lunges build functional single-leg strength while training balance and coordination through ...

★★☆☆☆ 3 sets / 10-12 steps per leg
dumbbells Warm-up needed

Trap Bar Deadlift

The trap bar deadlift uses a hexagonal bar that allows a neutral grip and more upright torso positio...

★★☆☆☆ 3-5 sets / 5-8 reps
trap bar Warm-up needed

Kettlebell Swing

The kettlebell swing is a ballistic hip hinge that develops explosive hip extension power and cardio...

★★☆☆☆ 3-5 sets / 15-20 reps
kettlebell Warm-up needed

Barbell Hip Bridge

The barbell hip bridge is performed flat on the floor with a loaded barbell across the hips, targeti...

★★☆☆☆ 3-4 sets / 10-12 reps
barbellbarbell pad

Suitcase Carry

The suitcase carry is a single-arm loaded carry that challenges anti-lateral flexion of the core. Ca...

★★☆☆☆ 3 sets / 30-40 meters per side
dumbbell

Deficit Push-Up

The deficit push-up is performed with hands elevated on blocks or plates, allowing a deeper range of...

★★☆☆☆ 3-4 sets / 10-15 reps
push-up handles Warm-up needed

Barbell Back Squat

The barbell back squat is a foundational lower body exercise that builds the powerful leg drive need...

★★★☆☆ 4-5 sets / 5-8 reps
barbellsquat rack Warm-up needed

Front Squat

The front squat places the barbell across the front deltoids, demanding greater core engagement and ...

★★★☆☆ 3-4 sets / 6-8 reps
barbellsquat rack Warm-up needed

Bulgarian Split Squat

The Bulgarian split squat is a unilateral lower body exercise that builds single-leg strength and ba...

★★★☆☆ 3-4 sets / 8-10 reps per leg
dumbbellsbench Warm-up needed

Pull-Up

The pull-up is the gold standard upper body pulling exercise, building the lat and grip strength ess...

★★★☆☆ 3-5 sets / 5-12 reps
pull-up bar Warm-up needed

Overhead Press

The standing overhead press builds shoulder strength and stability critical for framing and posting ...

★★★☆☆ 3-4 sets / 5-8 reps
barbellsquat rack Warm-up needed

Weighted Dip

The weighted dip is a powerful upper body pressing exercise that targets the chest and triceps with ...

★★★☆☆ 3-4 sets / 6-10 reps
dip barsweight belt Warm-up needed

Good Morning

The good morning is a hip hinge exercise with the barbell on the back that heavily targets the hamst...

★★★☆☆ 3 sets / 8-10 reps
barbell Warm-up needed

Single-Leg Romanian Deadlift

The single-leg Romanian deadlift combines hip hinge strength with balance and proprioception on one ...

★★★☆☆ 3 sets / 8-10 reps per leg
dumbbell Warm-up needed

Pendlay Row

The Pendlay row is a strict barbell row variation where each rep starts from a dead stop on the floo...

★★★☆☆ 4 sets / 5-8 reps
barbell Warm-up needed

Cossack Squat

The Cossack squat is a deep lateral lunge that builds single-leg strength with extreme hip and ankle...

★★★☆☆ 3 sets / 6-8 reps per side
none Warm-up needed

Kettlebell Clean

The kettlebell clean is an explosive hip-driven movement that brings the kettlebell from the floor t...

★★★☆☆ 3-4 sets / 6-8 reps per arm
kettlebell Warm-up needed

Rack Pull

The rack pull is a partial deadlift performed from elevated pins in a squat rack, allowing heavier l...

★★★☆☆ 3-4 sets / 3-5 reps
barbellsquat rack Warm-up needed

Conventional Deadlift

The conventional deadlift is the ultimate posterior chain builder, developing the hip hinge pattern ...

★★★★☆ 3-5 sets / 3-6 reps
barbell Warm-up needed

Sumo Deadlift

The sumo deadlift uses a wide stance that closely mimics BJJ sprawl and guard passing positions. It ...

★★★★☆ 3-5 sets / 3-6 reps
barbell Warm-up needed

Zercher Squat

The Zercher squat holds the barbell in the crooks of the elbows, forcing an extremely upright postur...

★★★★☆ 3-4 sets / 6-8 reps
barbellsquat rack Warm-up needed

Turkish Get-Up

The Turkish get-up is a full-body movement that takes you from lying on the ground to standing while...

★★★★☆ 3 sets / 3-5 reps per side
kettlebell Warm-up needed

Windmill

The kettlebell windmill is a shoulder stability and hip mobility exercise performed by reaching towa...

★★★★☆ 3 sets / 5-6 reps per side
kettlebell Warm-up needed

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