TETSUBody-Up vs Cable Rear Drive
The Body-Up and the Cable Rear Drive both train the triceps as their primary muscle. The Body-Up is bodyweight-only while the Cable Rear Drive uses a cable. Here is how they compare and when to pick each.
Side-by-side comparison
| Body-Up | Cable Rear Drive | |
|---|---|---|
| Primary muscle | triceps | triceps |
| Body part | upper arms | upper arms |
| Supporting muscles | chest and shoulders | shoulders and back |
| Equipment | bodyweight | cable |
| Steps in our guide | 5 | 4 |
How each one starts
Body-Up — first steps
- Start by placing your hands on a raised surface, such as a bench or parallel bars, with your palms facing down and fingers pointing forward.
- Extend your legs out in front of you, keeping your heels on the ground and your body straight.
Cable Rear Drive — first steps
- Attach a handle to a low pulley cable machine and stand facing away from the machine.
- Grasp the handle with an overhand grip and extend your arms straight out in front of you.
Full step-by-step guides are linked below.
Which should you choose?
The Body-Up needs no equipment and scales through leverage, tempo and reps. The Cable Rear Drive keeps constant tension on the muscle through the whole range of motion. If your gym has both options, neither is a wrong choice: pick the one that feels strongest through a full range, and swap after 6 to 8 weeks to keep the triceps adapting.
Full form guides
Common questions
Is the Body-Up better than the Cable Rear Drive?
Neither is universally better — both train the triceps as the primary mover. The Body-Up needs no equipment and scales through leverage, tempo and reps, while the Cable Rear Drive keeps constant tension on the muscle through the whole range of motion. Choose based on your equipment and which movement you can progress consistently.
Can I do both the Body-Up and the Cable Rear Drive in the same program?
Yes, but usually not in the same session — they overlap heavily on the triceps. A common setup is one as your main movement and the other on a second training day, or alternating them block by block.
Do the Body-Up and the Cable Rear Drive work the same muscles?
The primary muscle is the same: the triceps. Supporting muscles differ slightly — chest and shoulders for the Body-Up versus shoulders and back for the Cable Rear Drive.
Track it in Tetsu
Tetsu tracks both movements separately, keeps your PRs per exercise, and tells you which one is actually progressing. Free to start.