Core · Bodyweight
Side Step Crunch
How to do the side step crunch, the muscles it works, and the mistakes to avoid. Pulled straight from the Kovo app's exercise library.
- Equipment
- Bodyweight
- Difficulty
- Beginner
- Logged as
- Reps
- Movement
- Flexion
- Mechanic
- Isolation
How to do it
Stand tall and step to one side, then crunch your torso toward that side by bringing your elbow and knee together. Return to standing and repeat to the other side, alternating in a steady rhythm to fire the obliques and hips.
- 1Feel your obliques crunch as your elbow and knee meet on each side
- 2Keep the step light and controlled
- 3Squeeze your side hard at the top of each crunch
Common mistakes
- Don't just lean over; actively crunch with your obliques
- Avoid letting your stepping knee cave inward
- Don't rush so much you lose control of the movement
Muscles worked
The side step crunch mainly works the obliques, with the upper abs, lower abs, quads, glutes, and hip flexors assisting.
- ObliquesPrimary
- Upper AbsSupport
- Lower AbsSupport
- QuadsSupport
- GlutesSupport
- Hip FlexorsSupport
- Lower BackMinor
- HamstringsMinor
- CalvesMinor
- AdductorsMinor
- Tibialis AnteriorMinor
Kovo programs the side step 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.