Chest · Bodyweight
Criss Cross Upper Chest Raise
How to do the criss cross upper chest raise, 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
- Flexion
- Mechanic
- Isolation
How to do it
Stand with your arms down and slightly in front of your body, palms facing in. Raise both arms up and across the midline so they criss-cross in front of your upper chest, then lower and repeat, alternating which arm crosses on top.
- 1Feel a squeeze across your upper chest as the arms cross
- 2Keep the front of your shoulders driving the raise
- 3Stay tall with your core braced
Common mistakes
- Don't lean back to throw the arms up
- Avoid shrugging your shoulders toward your ears
- Don't let momentum swing the arms; stay controlled
Muscles worked
The criss cross upper chest raise mainly works the upper chest and front delts, with the mid chest and internal rotators assisting.
- Upper ChestPrimary
- Front DeltsPrimary
- Mid ChestSupport
- Internal RotatorsSupport
- Upper TrapsMinor
- Upper AbsMinor
- Side DeltsMinor
Kovo programs the criss cross upper chest raise 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 chest exercises
- How to do the archer push-up
- How to do the assisted dip
- How to do the resistance band chest flyes
- How to do the resistance band push-up
- How to do the barbell bench press
- How to do the paused bench press
Last reviewed June 2026.