Butt-Ups
A beginner compound strength exercise that works the abs, needing no equipment.
Starting position
End position
How to Do Butt-Ups
- Begin a pushup position but with your elbows on the ground and resting on your forearms. Your arms should be bent at a 90 degree angle.
- Arch your back slightly out rather than keeping your back completely straight.
- Raise your glutes toward the ceiling, squeezing your abs tightly to close the distance between your ribcage and hips. The end result will be that you'll end up in a high bridge position. Exhale as you perform this portion of the movement.
- Lower back down slowly to your starting position as you breathe in. Tip: Don't let your back sag downwards.
- Repeat for the recommended amount of repetitions.
Muscles Worked
Alternatives to Butt-Ups
10 movements that train the same primary muscle, closest substitutes first — same kind of training, then variations of the movement itself, then a similar difficulty.
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1
Weighted Sit-Ups - With Bands
An intermediate isolation strength exercise that works the abs.
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2
Barbell Side Bend
A beginner isolation strength exercise that works the abs, using a barbell.
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3
Bosu Ball Cable Crunch With Side Bends
A beginner isolation strength exercise that works the abs, using a cable machine.
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4
Cable Crunch
A beginner isolation strength exercise that works the abs, using a cable machine.
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5
Cable Judo Flip
A beginner compound strength exercise that works the abs, using a cable machine.
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6
Cable Reverse Crunch
A beginner isolation strength exercise that works the abs, using a cable machine.
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7
Cable Russian Twists
A beginner compound strength exercise that works the abs, using a cable machine.
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8
Cable Seated Crunch
A beginner isolation strength exercise that works the abs, using a cable machine.
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9
Crunches
Crunches are a classic abdominal exercise that isolates the rectus abdominis. When performed correctly, they're an effective way to build core strength and muscular endurance.
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10
Dumbbell Side Bend
A beginner isolation strength exercise that works the abs, using dumbbells.
Frequently Asked Questions
What muscles do butt-ups work?
Butt-Ups primarily works the abs.
What equipment do I need for butt-ups?
None. Butt-Ups is a bodyweight movement you can do anywhere you have floor space.
Butt-Ups: is it suitable for beginners?
Yes. Butt-Ups is rated beginner. Movements you can learn in a session, with a low skill floor and a forgiving failure mode.
What can I do instead of butt-ups?
Weighted Sit-Ups - With Bands, Barbell Side Bend, Bosu Ball Cable Crunch With Side Bends train the same primary muscles and are listed with 7 more alternatives above.
Can Fitnit count my butt-ups reps automatically?
Not automatically yet. Fitnit's AI rep counting covers push-ups, squats, dumbbell curls, crunches and pull-ups today; butt-ups can be logged manually in the app, and tracked movements are added over time.
Photographs and step-by-step instructions from free-exercise-db, a public-domain exercise dataset. Muscle mapping and alternatives by Fitnit.
Track Your Butt-Ups with AI
Fitnit automatically tracks push-ups, crunches, squats, pull-ups, and curls with advanced body tracking technology — and you can manually input any other workout too. Start free — Pro is $8.99/month.