• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Breaking Muscle

Breaking Muscle

Breaking Muscle

  • Fitness
  • Workouts
    • Best Shoulder Workouts
    • Best Chest Workouts
    • Best Leg Workouts
    • Best Leg Exercises
    • Best Biceps Exercises
    • Best Kettlebell Exercises
    • Best Back Workouts
    • Best HIIT Workouts
    • Best Triceps Exercises
    • Best Arm Workouts
  • Reviews
    • Supplements
      • Best Pre-Workouts
      • Best Protein Powder
      • Best Whey Protein
      • Best Creatine
      • AG1 Review
    • Equipment
      • Best Adjustable Dumbbells
      • Best Home Gym Machines
    • Certifications
      • ISSA Review
  • News
  • Exercise Guides
    • Legs
      • Back Squat
      • Bulgarian Split Squat
      • Goblet Squat
      • Zercher Squat
      • Standing Calf Raise
      • Hack Squat
    • Chest
      • Bench Press
      • Dumbbell Bench Press
      • Close-Grip Bench Press
      • Incline Bench Press
    • Shoulders
      • Overhead Dumbbell Press
      • Lateral Raise
    • Arms
      • Chin-Up
      • Weighted Pull-Up
      • Triceps Pushdown
    • Back
      • Deadlift
      • Trap Bar Deadlift
      • Lat Pulldown
      • Inverted Row
      • Bent-Over Barbell Row
      • Single-Arm Dumbbell Row
      • Pendlay Row
Workouts

Strength & Conditioning – Al Kavadlo: Week 2, Day 2

If you want to master basic bodyweight movements, don't miss these exclusive workouts designed by calisthenics expert Al Kavadlo.

Written by Al Kavadlo Last updated on April 2, 2013

This four-week program is designed by calisthenics expert and author Al Kavadlo. Three workouts are posted each week and cover a total of eleven bodyweight exercise progressions and tutorials, including everything from pull ups, to pistols, to the infamous human flag. If you’re joining late in the game, feel free to jump right in!

Week 2, Day 2: The Clutch Flag

The human flag is one of my favorite bodyweight feats of strength. It’s also the exercise that I get asked about more than any other. Unfortunately, most people who ask about the human flag aren’t strong enough to actually begin practicing toward it.

The clutch flag is a less difficult variation that’s still visually impressive and just as much fun to practice. Additionally, working on your clutch flag can help you get a feel for the proper body alignment needed to perform a full human flag (aka “press flag”). It can also help you build the strength you’ll need to get there.

The clutch flag is less difficult than the press flag for a few reasons. First and foremost, as your arms are not in an overhead position during a clutch flag, the length of your body becomes substantially shorter than it would be in the full flag (plus your head and shoulders are on the other side of the pole). This change in body positioning gives you better leverage. Additionally, the clutch grip allows you to squeeze the pole with your entire torso, not just your hands. The clutch flag is still not easy, though!

Though the clutch flag and press flag are similar, they work your muscles a bit differently. The press flag heavily stresses the shoulders (particularly on the bottom arm), while the clutch flag puts more emphasis on the biceps. It’s more of a pull than a push as far as the arms are concerned. It’s also common for the skin on your biceps to be sensitive when learning this move, so be prepared for some chafing or bruising on the inner arms.

When you can do a clutch flag for 20 seconds or longer, you might be ready to start training for the full human flag. (Look for a lesson on that move later this month.)

Watch the video below for more:

Clutch Flag Tutorial

For more information on the clutch flag, check out Al’s demonstrations in Convict Conditioning 2.

About Al Kavadlo

Al Kavadlo, CSCS is one of the world's leading experts in bodyweight strength training and calisthenics. The author of three books, including Raising The Bar: The Definitive Guide to Pull-up Bar Calisthenics and Pushing The Limits! - Total Body Strength With No Equipment, Kavadlo is also well known for his work in the popular Convict Conditioning book series.

Al has worked as a personal trainer and fitness instructor for over ten years and has been a practitioner of bodyweight strength training for twice that time. Known for his no-nonsense approach to fitness and unbridled enthusiasm for calisthenics, Al has trained all types of clients including athletes and models, as well as regular Joes.

Al is well known on YouTube, where his popular channel has raked up over 2.5 million views. Besides giving out free advice, Al's famous for smiling while performing some of the most difficult bodyweight exercises imaginable.

View All Articles

Recommended Articles

screenshot2015-05-28at95247pm
An 8-Week Longevity-Based Program for Masters Weightlifters
subversivefitnessboxjump
Subversive Fitness: Day 360 Of 360
subversivefitnessmace360
Subversive Fitness: Day 359 Of 360
subversivefitnesskettlebellclean
Subversive Fitness: Day 358 Of 360

Primary Sidebar

Latest Articles

Chris Bumstead is Building His Own Private Gym

Samantha Eugenie Crushes 122.5-Kilogram (270-Pound) Bench Press PR

Ronnie Coleman Says Derek Lunsford is His Favorite Modern Bodybuilder

Strongman Leon Miroshnik Deadlifts 410 Kilograms (903.9 Pounds), Nearly 4 Times His Body Weight

Latest Reviews

Athletic Greens AG1

Athletic Greens AG1 Review: Is This Greens Powder Worth It?

ISSA Personal Trainer Certification Review

ISSA Personal Trainer Certification Review

Best Whey Proteins for Packing on Muscle, Shredding Down, Meal Replacement, and More

Best Pre-Workouts for Building Muscle, Running, Taste, and More

woman lifting barbell

Be the smartest person in your gym

The Breaking Muscle newsletter is everything you need to know about strength in a 3 minute read.

I WANT IN!

Breaking Muscle is the fitness world’s preeminent destination for timely, high-quality information on exercise, fitness, health, and nutrition. Our audience encompasses the entire spectrum of the fitness community: consumers, aficionados, fitness professionals, and business owners. We seek to inform, educate and advocate for this community.

  • Reviews
  • Healthy Eating
  • Workouts
  • Fitness
  • News

Follow Us

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS Feed

© 2023 · Breaking Muscle · Terms of Use · Privacy Policy · Affiliate Disclaimer · Accessibility · About