Core · Kettlebell
Kettlebell Sit-up Press
How to do the kettlebell sit-up press, the muscles it works, and the mistakes to avoid. Pulled straight from the Kovo app's exercise library.
- Equipment
- Kettlebell
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
- Logged as
- Weighted reps
- Movement
- Flexion
- Mechanic
- Compound
How to do it
Lie on your back with knees bent, holding a kettlebell at your chest in both hands. Sit all the way up while pressing the kettlebell overhead at the top, then lower the weight back to your chest as you roll down. Keep the press and situp linked in one rhythm.
- 1Feel your abs drive the situp and your shoulders finish the press
- 2Curl up one vertebra at a time using your core, not momentum
- 3Press the kettlebell straight overhead at the top of the situp
Common mistakes
- Don't yank with your arms or neck to throw yourself up
- Avoid pressing before your torso is upright
- Don't let your feet fly up off the floor as you sit up
Muscles worked
The kettlebell sit-up press mainly works the upper abs and front delts, with the triceps, lower abs, hip flexors, forearms, obliques, and side delts assisting.
- Upper AbsPrimary
- Front DeltsPrimary
- TricepsSupport
- Lower AbsSupport
- Hip FlexorsSupport
- ForearmsSupport
- ObliquesSupport
- Side DeltsSupport
- Upper ChestMinor
- Mid ChestMinor
- Upper TrapsMinor
- QuadsMinor
- HamstringsMinor
Kovo programs the kettlebell sit-up press 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.