Dragon Flag Advanced Core Exercise
Credited to Bruce Lee, the Dragon Flag is an Advanced Core Exercise
By Elizabeth Quinn, About.com Guide
Updated August 12, 2012
About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by the Medical Review Board
One of the most advanced core exercises you can do is credited to the martial arts master, Bruce Lee. Called the Dragon Flag, this extremely difficult core exercise is known as one of the more advanced bodyweight exercises Lee used in his physical training.
Why Perform Dragon Flags
This advanced move works the entire torso from head to toe. It's hard to find one exercise that can engage so many muscles at once time. This move works all the core stabilizers, and because it requires a controlled eccentric movement, it builds strength more quickly than isolated core exercises. The longer you hold the dragon flag, and the longer you take to complete each repetition, the more you get out out the exercise.
Safety Tips
The Dragon Flag is an advanced bodyweight exercise that can help build great overall core strength and incredibly strong, defined, six-pack abs. However, because it is not only difficult, but places a lot of strain on your joints, it should only be attempted by more advanced exercisers and athletes with a high level of overall body strength. This move has a high degree of difficulty and has a high risk of injury if performed incorrectly, or by those without appropriate strength and poor technique.
Before attempting the Dragon Flag, make sure you have worked your way up to advanced core training. You should be able to complete the core strength and stability test to completion. You should also be able to do reverse crunches, hip lifts and V-sits with little difficulty.
How to Do the Dragon Flag
Check out this video of the dragon flag for a nice visual reference.
- You need to be able to brace your arms and shoulders with your body flat on a hard surface.
- Get into proper position by locking your arms in a fixed overhead position as shown in the photo.You can do this on a bench, with your hand next to your head and gripping the sides of the bench, or you can grip a stable object overhead. Some people use kettlebells, or a barbell, but using something fixed and stable is a bit more practical, and quite a bit safer.
- Contract your torso and drive your legs up as if you are performing a reverse crunch, but keep your body rigid from your shoulders to toes, and avoid bending the hips.
- Once lifted, you will slowly lower your legs in a controlled motion without letting any part of your body touch the bench other than the upper back and shoulder.
- If you cave in, drop your hips, or arch your back, you don't have the strength yet, and should not continue the exercise.
- Lower your body until it is hovering just over the bench.
- Lower and repeat as possible. Once you break form, you are done.
Tips and Tricks
Make sure you are well-warmed up before doing the Dragon Flag. Make sure you rest completely between sets. Point your toes to help maintain proper body alignment. Use a spotter if you are not quite able to do the movement without sagging, or arching your back.
Progression
If you can't do the dragon flag, there are a couple of helpful tips to work up to it. One of the first is to perform a dragon fly with your torso rigid only from the shoulders to the knees, with the knees bend at 90 degrees and allowing your feet to hang down and reduce some of the weight being lifted. Get into position on a bench with your hands next to your head, gripping the edges of the bench. Bend your knees and bring your thighs to 90 degrees, and then in one full effort, contract and pull your torso up towards the ceiling. You should have a partial dragon flag with your knees bend at 90 degrees. Hold the position for a few seconds and then slowly lower your torso until just slight hovering above the bench.
Once you can do this movement, you can gradually work towards extending your legs until you can do the dragon flag with your legs completely straight.
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