Why Even Elite Athletes Have Weak Hips (and How to Fix It)

August 29, 2025 by VAHVA Fitness

Unlock hidden athletic power by developing hip stability and mobility—one of the most overlooked fundamentals. Strong, mobile hips boost strength, agility and prevent injuries.

Start by trying this simple test: Stand on one leg. 


Can you stand steady without shaking? For how long?


Next, move your free leg around in different directions — forwards, backwards, sideways, rotated. Can you do it with absolute control, balance and strength?

Most people, even many athletes, quickly discover that their hips are far less stable and mobile than they thought.


And it's not because you are "clumsy" or "inflexible". It's actually a question of strength.

This is an area that will literally make or break an athlete or a martial artist.

Develop strong hips and you will have no problems progressing in your craft with the least chance of injury.


Let's dive deeper.


Hip Training Is the Cornerstone of True Athleticism & Martial Ability

Our hips are designed for three-dimensional movement. They don’t just move forward and back. The hips can rotate, abduct, flex, extend, and transition seamlessly through countless angles.

In sports and in life, your hips are constantly supporting everything you do. 

Moreover, whether you’re bent over, sprinting forward, rotating to strike, or bracing against force, your hips are the base of stability and power.

And yet, this area tends to be the most neglected in modern training.

SURE, squats and deadlifts are valuable, but they only cover a narrow slice of what the hips can actually do.

Funnily enough, we mostly see women training their hips properly because they want to build the biggest glutes they can. And what is the strongest muscle in your lower body? The glutes!

Here's What Happens When You Develop the Hips:

  • Explosive Power: Strong, mobile hips are the engine behind jumping, sprinting, kicking, and striking.

  • Agility: The ability to flow in and out of positions without stiffness or imbalance.

  • Resilience: A bulletproof lower body that resists injuries and thrives under pressure.


This is why hip training is one of the core fundamentals of the Athlete 20XX Method. It’s not optional, it’s the cornerstone.


The Truth: Even Elite Athletes & Fighters Need This


Elite athletes can train for years and still struggle with hip articulation. They can lift massive weights yet lack the control to hold basic standing hip positions without fatigue or loss of balance.


If the pros need it, how much does the average person?

The reality is that most people’s hips are undeveloped and this limitation affects everything: strength, speed, endurance and the risk of injury.


The great news is that by developing this area you can truly separate yourself from the rest.


The Precision Training Approach

athlete 20xx program

The Athlete 20XX Method was designed to fix this gap with the most complete and versatile hip and leg training system to date. 


Thanks to our qualitative and systematic approach, anyone from beginner to elite can develop hips that are:


Stable yet mobile.

Strong yet fluid.

Resilient yet powerful.


This is how we build real athletic specimen.


If you’ve only been focusing on heavy lifts or no proper leg training at all, you’ve been missing one of the most important aspects of human movement.


Your hips are the 1. key to unlocking your full athletic ability.


Train them properly, and you’ll move with more power, more agility and more freedom while dramatically reducing injury risk.


Stay strong.


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samuli jyrkinen

About the author 

Samuli Jyrkinen

Samuli is the ninja behind the scenes (photography, videography, websites, program platforms and more). He has been training religiously for over a decade and has a firm grasp of physical and mental fitness. You will find our story here.

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