Core · Dumbbell
Dumbbell Wood Chop
How to do the dumbbell wood chop, the muscles it works, and the mistakes to avoid. Pulled straight from the Kovo app's exercise library.
- Equipment
- Dumbbell
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
- Logged as
- Weighted reps
- Movement
- Rotation
- Mechanic
- Compound
How to do it
Hold a single dumbbell with both hands. Start it high beside one shoulder, then swing it diagonally down and across your body toward the opposite hip, rotating through your trunk. Reverse the path under control and repeat.
- 1Feel your obliques driving the diagonal chop across your body
- 2Rotate your hips and pivot your back foot with the swing
- 3Keep your core braced so your trunk does the work
Common mistakes
- Don't rely on momentum or let the dumbbell fling you around
- Avoid rounding your back at the bottom of the chop
- Don't bend or straighten your arms to move the weight
Muscles worked
The dumbbell wood chop mainly works the obliques, with the upper abs, lower abs, forearms, lower back, and glutes assisting.
- ObliquesPrimary
- Upper AbsSupport
- Lower AbsSupport
- ForearmsSupport
- Lower BackSupport
- GlutesSupport
- LatsMinor
- Upper TrapsMinor
- QuadsMinor
- Front DeltsMinor
- Side DeltsMinor
- Hip FlexorsMinor
Kovo programs the dumbbell wood chop 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.