Exercise guide · Advanced · Compound

Straddle Maltese: How to Do It & Muscles Worked

The straddle maltese is an advanced bodyweight exercise performed on rings, targeting the abs with significant involvement of the shoulders and chest. It requires exceptional core strength, shoulder stability, and body control, making it a challenging movement for experienced athletes.

Primary muscles
Abs
Secondary muscles
Chest , Shoulders
Equipment
Body Weight
Level · type
Advanced · Compound
Demonstration of the straddle maltese
Front view: muscles worked by the straddle maltese. Primary: abs. Secondary: chest and shoulders.
Back view: muscles worked by the straddle maltese. Primary: abs. Secondary: chest and shoulders.
Primary Secondary

How to do the straddle maltese

  1. Step 1: Start by hanging from a pair of rings with your arms fully extended and your body in a straight line.
  2. Step 2: Spread your legs wide apart, forming a straddle position.
  3. Step 3: Engage your core and slowly lower your body until your arms are parallel to the ground.
  4. Step 4: Hold this position for a few seconds, then push yourself back up to the starting position.
  5. Step 5: Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.

Sets, reps and programming

Suggested sets, reps and rest for the straddle maltese by training goal
Goal Sets Reps Rest Effort
Strength 3–5 3–6 3–5 min 1–3 reps in reserve
Muscle growth 3–4 6–12 2–3 min 1–2 reps in reserve
Muscular endurance 2–3 12–20 1–2 min 1–3 reps in reserve

Ranges follow the ACSM position stand on progression in resistance training. Muscle grows across a wide range of loads when sets end close to failure (Schoenfeld et al., 2017), longer rests between heavy sets support strength and size (Schoenfeld et al., 2016), and stopping a rep or two short of failure works about as well as training to failure (Grgic et al., 2022). Estimate your working weights with the strength calculators.

Straddle Maltese alternatives

More exercises that train the abs as their main target:

More abs exercises

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Sources

  1. American College of Sports Medicine. Progression models in resistance training for healthy adults. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2009;41(3):687-708.
  2. Schoenfeld BJ, Grgic J, Ogborn D, Krieger JW. Strength and hypertrophy adaptations between low- vs. high-load resistance training. J Strength Cond Res. 2017;31(12):3508-3523.
  3. Schoenfeld BJ, Pope ZK, Benik FM, et al. Longer interset rest periods enhance muscle strength and hypertrophy in resistance-trained men. J Strength Cond Res. 2016;30(7):1805-1812.
  4. Grgic J, Schoenfeld BJ, Orazem J, Sabol F. Effects of resistance training performed to repetition failure or non-failure on muscular strength and hypertrophy: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Sport Health Sci. 2022;11(2):202-211.

Step-by-step instructions and demonstration media are from the ExerciseDB exercise dataset.

This guide is general fitness information, not medical advice. Stop if an exercise causes pain and speak to a doctor or physiotherapist about injuries or health conditions before starting a new programme.