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Intermediate Triceps Routine

A focused triceps strength session using bodyweight + dumbbells, ~25 minutes.

Warm-Up

Raise temperature and prep shoulders/elbows for pressing and extensions. (5 min)

Jumping Jack
Jumping Jack1 min
How to

A full-body cardio move that trains coordination, calves, shoulders, and hips.

  1. Stand tall with feet together and arms at your sides.
  2. Jump your feet out as you raise your arms overhead.
  3. Jump your feet back together as you lower your arms.
  4. Repeat at a steady pace, landing softly each time.
Form cues
  • Stay light on your toes
  • Keep your chest tall
Common mistakes
  • Landing hard with locked knees
  • Letting your arms swing out of control
Arm Circle
Arm Circle1 min
How to

A simple shoulder warm-up that moves both arms in circles and trains shoulder control.

  1. Stand tall with your feet about hip-width apart.
  2. Raise both arms out to your sides at shoulder height.
  3. Make small, controlled circles with both arms.
  4. Keep circling for the set time, then reverse direction if told.
  5. Lower your arms to finish.
Form cues
  • Keep your ribs down
  • Move smoothly, not fast
Common mistakes
  • Shrugging your shoulders toward your ears
  • Arching your back to keep the arms up
Inchworm
Inchworm1 min
How to

A full-body walkout that trains your core, shoulders, and hamstrings.

  1. Stand tall with feet hip-width apart.
  2. Hinge at your hips and place your hands on the floor.
  3. Walk your hands forward to a high plank.
  4. Pause with your body in a straight line.
  5. Walk your hands back to your feet and stand up.
Form cues
  • Brace your core in the plank.
  • Keep your legs as straight as you can.
Common mistakes
  • Letting your hips sag in the plank.
  • Rushing the hand walkout.
Plank Shoulder Tap
Plank Shoulder Tap2 min
How to

A plank variation where you tap each shoulder in turn to train your core, shoulders, and balance.

  1. Start in a high plank with hands under shoulders and feet set wide.
  2. Brace your core and keep your body in a straight line.
  3. Lift one hand and tap the opposite shoulder.
  4. Place it back down, then alternate sides each rep.
Form cues
  • Keep your hips still
  • Press the floor away
Common mistakes
  • Rocking your hips side to side
  • Letting your lower back sag

Circuit A

Triceps strength emphasis. Rest as needed to keep form strict.

Close-Grip Push-Up
Close-Grip Push-Up10x
How to

A push-up with hands close together that trains your chest, shoulders, and triceps.

  1. Start in a high plank with hands under your chest, close but comfortable.
  2. Brace your core and keep your body in a straight line.
  3. Bend your elbows back and lower your chest toward your hands.
  4. Press the floor away to return to the start.
  5. Repeat for your reps.
Form cues
  • Keep elbows close to your sides
  • Move as one straight line
Common mistakes
  • Letting your hips sag
  • Flaring your elbows wide
Dumbbell Overhead Triceps Extension
Dumbbell Overhead Triceps Extension12x
How to

An overhead arm extension with a dumbbell that trains your triceps.

  1. Stand tall and hold one dumbbell with both hands overhead.
  2. Keep your elbows close to your head and ribs down.
  3. Bend your elbows to lower the dumbbell behind your head.
  4. Extend your elbows to press the dumbbell back overhead.
  5. Repeat for your reps with steady control.
Form cues
  • Keep elbows pointing forward
  • Move only at your elbows
Common mistakes
  • Flaring your elbows wide
  • Arching your lower back
Bench Dip
Bench Dip12x
How to

A bodyweight dip using a bench that trains your triceps, shoulders, and chest.

  1. Sit on the bench edge with hands beside your hips and feet on the floor.
  2. Slide your hips off the bench, keeping your chest lifted.
  3. Bend your elbows to lower your hips straight down.
  4. Press through your hands to straighten your arms and lift back up.
Form cues
  • Keep elbows pointing back
  • Stay close to the bench
Common mistakes
  • Letting your shoulders shrug toward your ears
  • Drifting your hips far away from the bench
3 rounds · 30 sec rest
1m 30s rest

Circuit B

Higher-rep isolation and trunk stability finisher.

Dumbbell Triceps Kickback
Dumbbell Triceps Kickback15x each side
How to

A single-arm dumbbell move that trains your triceps by extending your elbow behind you.

  1. Hold a dumbbell in one hand and hinge forward with a flat back.
  2. Brace your free hand on your thigh or a bench for support.
  3. Keep your upper arm close to your side with your elbow bent.
  4. Extend your elbow until your arm is straight behind you.
  5. Bend your elbow with control to return.
  6. Finish your reps, then switch arms.
Form cues
  • Keep your upper arm still
  • Squeeze your triceps at the top
Common mistakes
  • Swinging the dumbbell for momentum
  • Letting your elbow drift down
Plank Shoulder Tap
Plank Shoulder Tap30 sec
How to

A plank variation where you tap each shoulder in turn to train your core, shoulders, and balance.

  1. Start in a high plank with hands under shoulders and feet set wide.
  2. Brace your core and keep your body in a straight line.
  3. Lift one hand and tap the opposite shoulder.
  4. Place it back down, then alternate sides each rep.
Form cues
  • Keep your hips still
  • Press the floor away
Common mistakes
  • Rocking your hips side to side
  • Letting your lower back sag
3 rounds · 30 sec rest

Cool-Down

Downshift breathing and stretch triceps/shoulders gently. (2 min)

Triceps Stretch
Triceps Stretch1 min each side
How to

An overhead arm stretch that targets your triceps and the back of your upper arm.

  1. Stand tall and reach one arm overhead.
  2. Bend your elbow and let your hand move down your upper back.
  3. Use your other hand to gently guide the elbow back.
  4. Hold the stretch and breathe slowly.
  5. Release gently, then switch arms.
Form cues
  • Keep your ribs down
  • Use a gentle pull
Common mistakes
  • Arching your lower back
  • Forcing the elbow into pain
Child's Pose
Child's Pose1 min
How to

A kneeling rest pose that gently stretches your back, hips, and shoulders.

  1. Kneel on the floor with your big toes together and knees apart.
  2. Sit your hips back toward your heels.
  3. Fold forward and reach your arms in front of you.
  4. Rest your forehead down and let your chest sink between your thighs.
  5. Hold the position and breathe slowly.
Form cues
  • Relax your shoulders
  • Breathe into your back
Common mistakes
  • Forcing your hips down
  • Holding your breath
Long Head Bias in Every Movement

Long Head Bias in Every Movement

Overhead extensions place the triceps long head at full stretch, maximizing motor unit recruitment where the muscle is weakest. Kickbacks then isolate the lateral and medial heads at peak contraction, while close-grip push-ups load all three heads under bodyweight resistance — covering the entire triceps complex in under 20 minutes.

The Elbow Joint's Hidden Vulnerability

The Elbow Joint's Hidden Vulnerability

Triceps training uniquely stresses the olecranon and ulnar collateral ligament, especially during bench dips where elbow position shifts load onto passive structures. Controlling tempo on the descent of every rep isn't just technique — it's the difference between tendon conditioning and tendon irritation at this volume.

Density Over Duration at 25 Minutes

Density Over Duration at 25 Minutes

With 18 minutes of work time, this routine uses mechanical drop-set logic — moving from compound push-ups to isolation kickbacks as fatigue accumulates, matching exercise demand to available motor output. Add one rep per set each week to the overhead extension to anchor progressive overload without extending session length.

Intermediate Triceps Routine | Mighty Nimble | Mighty Nimble