{"id":291211,"date":"2025-11-18T15:03:07","date_gmt":"2025-11-18T15:03:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/291211\/"},"modified":"2025-11-18T15:03:07","modified_gmt":"2025-11-18T15:03:07","slug":"why-idris-elba-never-skips-squats-his-secret-weapon-for-staying-fight-ready-at-53","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/291211\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Idris Elba Never Skips Squats \u2013\u00a0His Secret Weapon for Staying ‘Fight-Ready’ at 53"},"content":{"rendered":"

If there\u2019s one move Idris Elba swears by in his varied training routine, it\u2019s the squat<\/a>. Now 53, the actor admits he\u2019s dealing with more physical niggles than he used to, but instead of turning to stretching or mobility<\/a> drills, he relies on this simple movement to ease his \u2018tight hip flexors<\/a>\u2019.
<\/p>\n

\u2018The squat \u2013 just squatting, like before we were homo sapiens \u2013 is my go-to exercise,\u2019 he said on the Good Hang with Amy Poehler<\/a> podcast. \u2018Getting down is easy, but once you\u2019re down, you get stuck. My pride\u2019s still too strong for that \u2013 there\u2019s no guy helping me up in that situation.\u2019 <\/p>\n

Idris Elba’s Varied Training Approach<\/p>\n

Despite his reliance on squatting, the exercise is still just a small component of Elba’s overall fitness approach. He’s previously stated how staying ‘fight-ready’ is his key focus, with kickboxing an important factor in helping him achieve that. ‘Some guys want to be toned or want to jog for miles, but my ultimate fitness goal is to be fight-ready,’ he told Men’s Health<\/a>. <\/p>\n

‘If I step into the ring, could I go toe-to-toe for five rounds? That\u2019s what I strive for. That\u2019s what I consider fit. I want to know that if I\u2019m being wrestled to the ground, I\u2019ve got the strength to fight a man off.’<\/p>\n

That desire to stay fighting fit originated nine years ago. As part of a documentary titled, Idris Elba: Fighter, he spent 12 months learning kickboxing<\/a> ahead of facing Dutchman Lionel Graves in a professional fight at York Hall. Elba won by TKO, but has continued training in the sport despite having not fought professionally since. ‘Kickboxing is rugged \u2013 it\u2019s all core strength \u2013 but when you\u2019re fight-ready, you feel like you can last forever,’ Elba said. <\/p>\n

Skipping<\/a> and shadowboxing<\/a> are also preferred options when it’s not possible to find a gym. ‘Shadowboxing is one of the best workouts you can do. You don\u2019t need any equipment, and it works every muscle,’ he said, while adding in an interview with People<\/a>, ‘My favourite way to break a sweat is skipping. Ten minutes of skipping is a lot of work, believe it or not. Your whole body\u2019s going and you break a sweat very quickly.’ <\/p>\n

Related Stories\"Headshot<\/p>\n

Ryan is a Senior Writer at Men\u2019s Health UK with a passion for storytelling, health and fitness. Having graduated from Cardiff University in 2020, and later obtaining his NCTJ qualification, Ryan started his career as a Trainee News Writer for sports titles Golf Monthly, Cycling Weekly and Rugby World before progressing to Staff Writer and subsequently Senior Writer with football magazine FourFourTwo.<\/p>\n

During his two-and-a-half years there he wrote news stories for the website and features for the magazine, while he also interviewed names such as Les Ferdinand, Ally McCoist, Jamie Redknapp and Antonio Rudiger, among many others. His standout memory, though, came when getting the opportunity to speak to then-Plymouth Argyle manager Steven Schumacher as the club won League One in 2023.<\/p>\n

Having grown up a keen footballer and playing for his boyhood side until the age of 16, Ryan got the opportunity to represent Northern Ireland national futsal team eight times, scoring three goals against England, Scotland and Gibraltar. Now past his peak, Ryan prefers to mix weightlifting with running \u2013 he achieved a marathon PB of 3:31:49 at Manchester in April 2025, but credits the heat for failing to get below the coveted 3:30 mark\u2026<\/p>\n

You can follow Ryan on Instagram @ryan.dabbs<\/a> or on X @ryandabbs_<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n