Core · Bodyweight
Bodyweight Woodchoppers
How to do the bodyweight woodchoppers, the muscles it works, and the mistakes to avoid. Pulled straight from the Kovo app's exercise library.
- Equipment
- Bodyweight
- Difficulty
- Beginner
- Logged as
- Reps
- Movement
- Rotation
- Mechanic
- Isolation
How to do it
Stand with feet shoulder-width apart and clasp your hands together overhead on one side. Pull your hands diagonally across your body toward the opposite hip in a chopping motion, rotating through your trunk and pivoting the back foot. Reverse back to the top and repeat, then switch sides.
- 1Obliques driving the diagonal chop across your body
- 2Trunk rotating while the hips and core stay connected
- 3A controlled stretch at the top before each downward chop
Common mistakes
- Don't rely only on your arms; let the core do the rotating
- Avoid rounding or arching the lower back as you twist
- Don't swing wildly; keep the chop deliberate and controlled
Muscles worked
The bodyweight woodchoppers mainly works the obliques, with the upper abs and lower abs assisting.
- ObliquesPrimary
- Upper AbsSupport
- Lower AbsSupport
- LatsMinor
- Lower BackMinor
- Upper TrapsMinor
- QuadsMinor
- GlutesMinor
- Front DeltsMinor
- Side DeltsMinor
- Hip FlexorsMinor
Kovo programs the bodyweight woodchoppers for you and tracks it every session.
We build your whole program, drop the right lifts into each workout, and adjust your weights as you get stronger. Free on iOS and Android.
More abs & core exercises
- How to do the ab wheel rollout
- How to do the ankle tap plank
- How to do the ankle taps
- How to do the resistance band dead bugs
- How to do the resistance band pallof press
- How to do the rollout
Last reviewed June 2026.