Weight-Plate Cossack Squat
Build strength & mobility. This squat variation targets legs & core, improving balance & flexibility. Plate adds intensity!
The Weight-Plate Cossack Squat is a compound exercise that mainly works the glutes & hips and quads, with help from the hamstrings and core. You'll need: weight plates.
Required Equipment

Weight-Plate Cossack Squat Muscles Worked
Primary
Glutes (gluteus maximus); Quads (quadriceps femoris)
Secondary
Hamstrings; Obliques
Weight-Plate Cossack Squat Variations and Alternatives
How to do the Weight-Plate Cossack Squat
Stand with your feet wider than shoulder-width apart, toes pointing slightly outward.
Hold a weight plate with both hands in front of your chest. Keep your back straight and core engaged throughout the movement.
Shift your weight onto your right leg, bending the knee and pushing your hips back as you lower into a deep lateral squat. Your left leg should remain straight with your foot firmly planted on the floor or your toes pointing up, depending on flexibility.
Keep the weight plate stable in front of your chest and ensure your bent knee does not extend past your toes.
Lower down as far as you can without compromising form. The right thigh should be parallel or close to parallel with the floor.
Pause briefly at the bottom of the movement.
Push through the right heel to raise yourself back to the starting wide-stance position.
Repeat the squat on the other side, shifting your weight onto your left leg, and alternate sides for each repetition.
Perform the desired number of repetitions and sets, ensuring proper form is maintained throughout.
Remember to initiate the movement by pushing your hips back, which helps to engage the correct muscle groups and maintain balance. Keep your movements controlled and avoid using momentum to lift the weight. Adjust the distance between your feet as needed for comfort and stability, and only squat as low as you can while maintaining good form.
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Weight-Plate Cossack Squat FAQs
What muscles does the Weight-Plate Cossack Squat work?
The Weight-Plate Cossack Squat mainly works the glutes & hips and quads, with help from the hamstrings and core. The main muscles are the gluteus maximus and quadriceps femoris.
What equipment do you need for the Weight-Plate Cossack Squat?
Weight plates.
Is the Weight-Plate Cossack Squat a compound exercise?
Yes. It's a compound movement, meaning it trains several muscle groups at once rather than isolating one.
What workout day should the Weight-Plate Cossack Squat go on?
It belongs on leg day in a push/pull/legs routine.
What are some Weight-Plate Cossack Squat variations and alternatives?
Similar exercises include the Barbell Cossack Squat, Cossack Squat, Dumbbell Cossack Squat and Kettlebell Cossack Squat.
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