Core · Dumbbell
Beginner Dumbbell Starfish Crunch
How to do the beginner dumbbell starfish crunch, the muscles it works, and the mistakes to avoid. Pulled straight from the Kovo app's exercise library.
- Equipment
- Dumbbell
- Difficulty
- Beginner
- Logged as
- Weighted reps
- Movement
- Flexion
- Mechanic
- Isolation
How to do it
Lie on your back with your arms and legs spread wide like a starfish, holding a dumbbell in both hands overhead on the floor. Crunch up by bringing the dumbbell and your legs toward each other over your midline, then lower back to the spread starting position. Keep the movement controlled on the way down.
- 1Feel your abs crunch hard as the weight and legs meet in the middle
- 2Reach the dumbbell up and in toward your shins
- 3Lower slowly to keep tension on the core
Common mistakes
- Don't yank with your arms or use momentum to swing up
- Avoid pulling on your neck or jutting your chin forward
- Don't let your lower back arch hard off the floor
Muscles worked
The beginner dumbbell starfish crunch mainly works the upper abs and lower abs, with the hip flexors and obliques assisting.
- Upper AbsPrimary
- Lower AbsPrimary
- Hip FlexorsSupport
- ObliquesSupport
- ForearmsMinor
- LatsMinor
- QuadsMinor
- Front DeltsMinor
Kovo programs the beginner dumbbell starfish crunch 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.