Core · Bodyweight
Otis-up
How to do the otis-up, the muscles it works, and the mistakes to avoid. Pulled straight from the Kovo app's exercise library.
- Equipment
- Bodyweight
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
- Logged as
- Weighted reps
- Movement
- Flexion
- Mechanic
- Isolation
How to do it
Lie on your back with knees bent and hold a weight plate against your chest. Sit all the way up while keeping the plate pinned to your chest, then lower under control back to the floor.
- 1Your abs pulling your torso up against the added weight
- 2The plate staying tight to your chest throughout the rep
- 3A controlled lower rather than dropping back to the floor
Common mistakes
- Avoid throwing the plate or using momentum to sit up
- Do not pull on your neck or let the plate drift away from your chest
- Do not let your feet pop off the floor as you rise
Muscles worked
The otis-up mainly works the upper abs, with the lower abs, hip flexors, and obliques assisting.
- Upper AbsPrimary
- Lower AbsSupport
- Hip FlexorsSupport
- ObliquesSupport
- ForearmsMinor
- QuadsMinor
Kovo programs the otis-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.