Core · Bodyweight
Crossed Body Twist Sit-up
How to do the crossed body twist sit-up, 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
Lie on your back with knees bent and arms crossed over your chest. Sit up and rotate your torso so one shoulder drives toward the opposite knee, then lower under control and alternate sides each rep.
- 1Abs lifting the torso and obliques driving the twist
- 2A controlled crunch up rather than a momentum throw
- 3Each shoulder reaching across toward the opposite side
Common mistakes
- Do not yank your neck or head forward
- Do not bounce off the floor to start the rep
- Do not let your feet lift on the way up
Muscles worked
The crossed body twist sit-up mainly works the obliques and upper abs, with the lower abs and hip flexors assisting.
- ObliquesPrimary
- Upper AbsPrimary
- Lower AbsSupport
- Hip FlexorsSupport
- QuadsMinor
Kovo programs the crossed body twist sit-up 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.