Core · Bodyweight
Criss Cross Knee Tuck
How to do the criss cross knee tuck, the muscles it works, and the mistakes to avoid. Pulled straight from the Kovo app's exercise library.
- Equipment
- Bodyweight
- Difficulty
- Beginner
- Logged as
- Weighted reps
- Movement
- Rotation
- Mechanic
- Isolation
How to do it
Lie on your back with hands behind your head and legs lifted. Bring one knee toward your chest while twisting the opposite elbow across to meet it, then switch sides in a pedaling, criss-cross motion.
- 1Obliques rotating elbow toward the opposite knee
- 2Lower abs holding both legs off the floor
- 3A continuous, controlled pedal from side to side
Common mistakes
- Pulling on the neck with your hands
- Rushing through reps and losing the rotation
- Dropping the non-working leg to the floor
Muscles worked
The criss cross knee tuck mainly works the obliques and lower abs, with the upper abs and hip flexors assisting.
- ObliquesPrimary
- Lower AbsPrimary
- Upper AbsSupport
- Hip FlexorsSupport
- QuadsMinor
Kovo programs the criss cross knee tuck 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.