There are five classic strength training exercises that every bodybuilder should include in their workout. These are tried and true and work just as well today as they did 50 years ago to build muscle.

Nothing screams brute strength like the barbell deadlift. This massive exercise works the entire back and hip musculature while developing a vice-like grip.

1. Barbell Deadlift

One of the most important exercises for bodybuilding is the barbell deadlift. It strengthens all the muscles in your back and butt, including the hamstrings, glutes, and core, while also increasing total-body strength. This is why it is often included in most weightlifting programs.

For the best results, the deadlift should be programmed as a compound exercise at the beginning of your workout to build strength and muscle. It should be performed at a comfortable pace and slowly increased in load over time as you get stronger.

Rows, including dumbbell bent over rows and single-arm dumbbell rows, target the back muscles, which are very important for bodybuilding because they help keep the spine aligned correctly to avoid injuries like back pain. Pull-ups and cable pulldowns are also good options for training the back muscles.

2. Barbell Squat

The king of all compound exercises, the barbell squat packs an incredible amount of muscle into your lower body and core. A staple for powerlifters and bodybuilders alike, it works over 256 muscles in your legs, back, glutes, hips, and core.

It's a difficult exercise to master, but when done well it will make you unstoppable in the gym and on the field/court. To ensure you're hitting your form correctly, seek out feedback from someone who can check your form or video yourself. Aim to squat down as low as you can without the barbell grazing your knees, and to stand up tall through the top of your chest.

Some people shy away from the barbell squat in favor of isolation exercises like bench presses, cable curls, and dumbbell rows, but this would be a mistake. The squat is one of the most important movements you can do and it should feature in every workout. For maximum effect, pair the squat with other lower body exercises and include upper body moves like the bench press or barbell shoulder press.

3. Triceps Extension

The overhead cable triceps extension is a single-joint isolation exercise that targets the lateral head of the triceps. When performed correctly, it's a very effective exercise for stimulating arms   and improving any weaknesses in your shoulders or triceps.

The best way to do this movement is by securing the handles of a cable machine in a high cross position and standing with your feet shoulder-width apart. Extend your arms straight up above your head, then slowly lower the handle behind your head by bending at the elbows. It is important to keep the arms from moving too much as this will reduce the effectiveness of the movement.

Some lifters tend to let the arms float forward towards their face during this exercise, which reduces the load on the triceps and makes it less effective. To perform the movement correctly, you need to focus on squeezing the triceps and maintaining the integrity of your shoulders and core throughout the exercise. This movement is very effective for triggering Muscle Growth when done in the upper rep range of 8-12 reps per set.

4. Back Extension

The Back Extension is one of the most effective exercises for bodybuilding, adding slabs of muscle to your shoulders and back. It's a staple of the chest routine of bodybuilders from Doug Young and Ronnie Coleman to Arnold Schwarzenegger and countless other pros. It hits nearly every major upper-body muscle, and the hormonal response it provokes is highly conducive to gaining massive amounts of muscle.

You can perform back extensions on a machine (see the machine version above), or you can do it with no equipment at all by lying flat on the floor in the Superman position (pictured right). Whichever way you choose to do it, be sure to keep your core engaged throughout the movement. Avoid relying on momentum or swinging your arms during the movement, as this will reduce the training effect and increase your risk of injury.

The Back Extension works the muscles called erector spinae, which are responsible for maintaining your upright posture and spinal flexibility. Stronger erector spinae can help prevent back injuries and improve spinal stability and lower-body function, too.

5. Standing Calf Raise

This exercise builds leaner, stronger calves and is an essential component to building full-body strength. Standing calf raises target two muscles that run down the back of your leg, the gastrocnemius and soleus. The gastrocnemius helps flex your ankle, while the soleus helps with balance and generates power when you jump or sprint.

To perform the standing calf raise, stand with your feet hip-width apart on a step or low box, and lower your heels down until you feel a stretch in your calves. Pause at the top of each rep, and then press into the balls of your feet to raise onto your toes. Repeat for a set number of reps, focusing on maintaining control throughout the movement and maximizing your time under tension.

Many bodybuilders incorporate the big five into their routines alongside isolation exercises that target smaller muscle groups, but you don't have to include all of them in one workout. Instead, you can train the big five on separate days to ensure you're hitting all of your bodybuilding goals! If you want to increase your intensity, try adding plyometric moves like box jumps in between the big five.