19/08/2026
Most people think they need more exercises to build a great physique.
More machines.
More isolation exercises.
More complicated workouts.
More time in the gym.
But after years of coaching, I’ve found that most people don’t need more exercises.
They need to get really good at the six fundamental movement patterns.
If I had to build a programme from scratch, I’d start here:
1. The Squat
Squats train your quads, glutes and core while building the foundation of your lower body.
Your legs contain a huge amount of muscle, and resistance training helps your muscles take up and store glucose.
It’s one of the most important movements you can train.
2. The Hinge
Think Romanian deadlifts or deadlifts.
The hinge trains your glutes, hamstrings and back.
If the squat trains the front of your legs, the hinge trains the muscles on the back.
These are the muscles you don’t see in the mirror—but everyone else does.
3. The Lunge
Single-leg training is hugely underrated.
It challenges your balance, stability and coordination while helping you identify differences in strength between your legs.
If you struggle to perform a controlled bodyweight reverse lunge, that’s a good sign you have an area worth working on.
4. The Vertical Push
Think shoulder press.
This trains your shoulders and triceps while helping build a strong, athletic-looking upper body.
A machine shoulder press is a perfectly good option if it allows you to train hard and progressively.
5. The Horizontal Push
Think bench press or incline chest press.
This trains your chest, front delts and triceps.
And yes, some people probably spend a little too much time pressing…
But a well-programmed incline press can be excellent for building a fuller upper body.
6. The Lat Pull
Think lat pulldowns or pull-ups.
This trains your lats, biceps and upper back while helping create that classic V-taper.
And if you can’t do a pull-up yet?
That’s exactly why the lat pulldown exists.
Build your strength until you can.
The biggest mistake I see isn’t people doing the wrong exercises.
It’s doing too many exercises without getting stronger at any of them.
You don’t need 20 different movements.
You need a few great ones.
Train them consistently.
Progress them over time.
Recover properly.
And let your body adapt.
Master the basics and you can build an incredible physique without making your workouts unnecessarily complicated.