Crab Flip

A dynamic bodyweight drill that transitions from a reverse tabletop to a rotational reach, training shoulder mobility, thoracic rotation, and posterior chain strength.

HOW TO DO IT

  1. Sit with knees bent and hands placed behind hips, fingers pointing back.
  2. Press through heels and palms to lift hips into a reverse tabletop position.
  3. Drive through one heel and the opposite hand to extend hips upward.
  4. Sweep the free arm up and over diagonally across the body.
  5. Rotate the ribcage while keeping eyes on the grounded hand.
  6. Reverse the motion under control to return to the starting hover.

COMMON MISTAKES

  • Letting the supporting shoulder collapse toward the ears.
  • Hyperextending the lumbar spine instead of extending the hips.
  • Dumping weight onto passive wrists without finger engagement.
  • Jerking through the rotation instead of maintaining tension.

TIPS

  • Drive the movement aggressively from the glutes rather than the lower back.
  • Screw the base hand into the floor to stabilize the shoulder joint.
  • Keep the neck aligned by tracking the grounded hand with your eyes.

SAFETY

  • Warm up wrists and shoulders thoroughly before attempting dynamic rotations.
  • Angle hands outward if straight-back finger placement causes wrist pain.
  • Stop immediately if sharp pain occurs in the anterior shoulder or hip.

VARIATIONS

  • Static Crab Reach
  • Crab-to-Beast Flip
  • Elevated Hands Crab Reach

DETAILS

Muscles
GlutesShouldersTriceps
Equipment
Bodyweight
Type
Ployometric
Difficulty
Intermediate
Tracked as
Reps only

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