Core · Kettlebell
Kettlebell Side Plank
How to do the kettlebell side plank, the muscles it works, and the mistakes to avoid. Pulled straight from the Kovo app's exercise library.
- Equipment
- Kettlebell
- Difficulty
- Beginner
- Logged as
- time
- Movement
- Isometric
- Mechanic
- Isolation
How to do it
Lie on one side with your elbow stacked under your shoulder and hold a kettlebell on your top hip or pressed overhead for added load. Lift your hips off the ground until your body forms a straight line, supported by your forearm and the side of your bottom foot, and hold.
- 1Stack your elbow under your shoulder and lift your hips until your body
- 2is one straight line; feel your obliques and glutes working
- 3Keep your hips high and chest open, bracing your core against the kettlebell's pull
- 4Breathe steadily and hold without letting your torso twist
Common mistakes
- Don't let your hips sag or pike up; hold a straight plank
- Don't collapse into your shoulder; push the floor away to stay lifted
- Don't hold your breath; breathe evenly throughout
Muscles worked
The kettlebell side plank mainly works the obliques, with the upper abs, lower abs, and side delts assisting.
- ObliquesPrimary
- Upper AbsSupport
- Lower AbsSupport
- Side DeltsSupport
- GlutesMinor
Kovo programs the kettlebell side plank 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.