Core · Bodyweight
Standing Russian Twist Knee Thrust
How to do the standing russian twist knee thrust, 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
- Rotation
- Mechanic
- Compound
How to do it
Stand with hands clasped in front of your chest. Twist your torso to one side while driving the opposite knee up toward your hands, then rotate the other way as you switch knees. Keep a fast, rhythmic pace.
- 1Feel your obliques snap the rotation side to side
- 2Drive each knee up to meet the twist
- 3Keep your core braced as you rotate
Common mistakes
- Do not just swing your arms without rotating your trunk
- Avoid hunching forward to reach the knee
- Do not let your lower back arch on the twist
Muscles worked
The standing russian twist knee thrust mainly works the obliques and hip flexors, with the upper abs, lower abs, and quads assisting.
- ObliquesPrimary
- Hip FlexorsPrimary
- Upper AbsSupport
- Lower AbsSupport
- QuadsSupport
- Lower BackMinor
- GlutesMinor
- CalvesMinor
- Tibialis AnteriorMinor
Kovo programs the standing russian twist knee thrust 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.