6 Underrated Exercises You Should Be Doing in 2026 for Strength & Longevity | Judd Lienhard

Every year I like to simplify things. Instead of chasing trends or arguing over the “perfect” lift, I focus on movements that most people aren’t doing — but absolutely should be. In this video, I break down six exercises I believe nearly everyone would benefit from adding to their training in 2026. I intentionally avoided common staples like push-ups, chin-ups, or traditional back squats because most of you already know you should be doing those. These six are different. They’re underused. They’re scalable. They’re joint-friendly. And they build real-world strength and longevity. 📲 Try my training app with a FREE 7-day trial: 👉 https://www.juddlienhard.com/ Get immediate access to over a year’s worth of structured programming, including leg-focused, full body, bodyweight, minimal-equipment, and strength-focused workouts—built around the same principles you see in this video. 💪 Judd's resistance bands: https://www.juddlienhard.com/product/... Here’s what we cover: • Why Zercher squats may be more appropriate than back squats for many lifters • How skipping (extensive plyometrics) improves tendon health, sprint mechanics, and bone density • Why rebounder (mini trampoline) training is a powerful recovery and conditioning tool • How resistance bands provide variable resistance and joint-friendly strength training • Why rings are one of the most versatile upper body tools available • The overlooked benefits of sled pushes and sled drags for lower leg strength and conditioning These movements don’t require extreme recovery demands. They’re beginner-friendly but scalable enough for advanced athletes. And most importantly, they address gaps that traditional gym routines often miss — like foot and ankle strength, rapid stretch-shortening cycles, joint-friendly conditioning, and variable resistance training. If you care about: • Strength training for longevity • Athletic performance over 30 or 40 • Joint health and tendon resilience • Explosive power without excessive joint stress • Smarter conditioning methods • Functional strength for everyday life Then this video will give you practical tools you can apply immediately. ⏱ TIMESTAMPS: 00:00:00 – Intro: 6 Exercises to Add in 2026 00:01:05 – Zercher Squats (Better Alternative to Back Squats?) 00:14:20 – Skipping & Extensive Plyometrics (Tendon & Bone Density) 00:24:40 – Rebounder Training (Mini Trampoline Benefits) 00:35:30 – Resistance Bands & Variable Resistance 00:53:10 – Rings vs TRX (Best Upper Body Tool?) 01:09:45 – Sled Work (Lower Leg Strength & Conditioning) 01:18:30 – Final Recap: Why These 6 Matter #strengthtraining #functionalfitness #plyometrics #sledwork #ringtraining #resistancebands #longevityfitness #athleticperformance #juddlienhard