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Kettlebell Turkish Get Up

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A complex full-body exercise transitioning from supine to standing with a kettlebell overhead, targeting the shoulders, core, and glutes to enhance stability and coordination.

About Exercise

Equipment

Kettlebell

Difficulty

5/5 • Advanced

Primary Muscle Groups

Shoulders, Abs

Secondary Muscles

Quads, Hamstrings

Popularity Score

7

Goals

Strength
Stability
Mobility
Conditioning

Training Style

Functional Training
CrossFit

Setup Requirements

Requires Rack

No

Requires Bench

No

Requires Spotter

No

Space Needed

Medium

Noise Level

Low

Muscle Breakdown

Shoulders

9/10

Anterior Delts

Abs

8/10

Rectus Abdominis, Transverse Abdominis

Obliques

7/10

External Obliques

Glutes

7/10

Glute Max

Lower Back

6/10

Erector Spinae

Quads

5/10

Rectus Femoris

Hamstrings

5/10

Biceps Femoris

Programming

Typical Rep Range

1-5 reps

Rest Between Sets

90-120 seconds

How to Perform

Lie on your back with a kettlebell pressed overhead in one hand, the same-side knee bent with foot flat, and the opposite arm and leg extended at 45 degrees.

  1. Roll onto your opposite elbow while keeping the weight locked overhead.
  2. Press up to your hand, lifting your chest high.
  3. Lift your hips and sweep the straight leg back to a kneeling position.
  4. Hinge your hips to an upright kneeling posture.
  5. Stand up tall by driving through the front foot.
  6. Reverse the movement slowly to return to the starting position.

Coaching Tips

Form Cues

  • Eyes on the bell
  • Keep arm vertical
  • Stack the shoulders
  • Move deliberately
  • Brace the core

Breathing

Inhale before starting, exhale as you roll up, breathe naturally during transitions, and brace firmly.

Tempo

3-1-3

Range of Motion

Move from a fully supine position to a full standing lockout and back down under control.

Safety

Safety Notes

  • Master without weight first
  • Keep wrist straight
  • Stop if shoulder pain occurs
  • Ensure adequate space

Spotting

Not recommended; use a weight you can safely dump if necessary.

Common Mistakes

  • Bending the elbow
  • Rushing the movement
  • Heel lifting off floor
  • Losing core tension
  • Looking away from weight

When to Avoid

  • Shoulder instability
  • Acute back pain
  • Hip impingement

Flexibility Needed

  • Full shoulder flexion
  • Adequate hip mobility
  • Thoracic rotation

Build Up First

  • Core stability competency
  • Overhead lockout ability
  • Basic kettlebell handling

Also known as

Turkish Getup, TGU, Kettlebell Get-Up

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