Arms · Bodyweight
Bodyweight Skullcrusher
How to do the bodyweight skullcrusher, the muscles it works, and the mistakes to avoid. Pulled straight from the Kovo app's exercise library.
- Equipment
- Bodyweight
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
- Logged as
- Reps
- Movement
- Extension
- Mechanic
- Isolation
How to do it
Set up under a sturdy bar or table edge at about waist height and grip it with hands shoulder-width apart, body angled and straight. Keeping your upper arms fixed, bend at the elbows to lower your head toward the bar, then extend your arms to press back up.
- 1Feel your triceps lengthen and then drive you back up
- 2Keep your upper arms locked in place so only your elbows move
- 3Hold a straight line from head to heels through the whole rep
Common mistakes
- Do not let your hips sag or pike to make it easier
- Avoid moving your shoulders; keep the motion at the elbow
- Do not flare your elbows out wide as you lower
Muscles worked
The bodyweight skullcrusher mainly works the triceps, with the forearms, upper abs, and lower abs assisting.
- TricepsPrimary
- ForearmsSupport
- Upper AbsSupport
- Lower AbsSupport
- Mid ChestMinor
- Lower BackMinor
- ObliquesMinor
- GlutesMinor
- Front DeltsMinor
Kovo programs the bodyweight skullcrusher for you and tracks it every session.
We build your whole program, drop the right lifts into each workout, and adjust your weights as you get stronger. Free on iOS and Android.
More triceps exercises
- How to do the bent-over tricep extension
- How to do the crossbody tricep extension
- How to do the cable katana tricep extension
- How to do the cable single arm tricep extension
- How to do the kickback
- How to do the lying tricep extension
Last reviewed June 2026.