Core · Bodyweight
V-up with Clap
How to do the v-up with clap, 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 arms overhead and legs straight. Lift your torso and legs together into a V shape and clap your hands under your raised legs or above your shins at the top, then lower back down with control.
- 1Upper and lower abs working together to fold into the V
- 2A firm peak contraction as you clap at the top
- 3Straight legs reaching up to meet the hands
Common mistakes
- Jerking up with momentum instead of a controlled lift
- Letting the low back arch off the floor
- Bending the knees to make the clap easier
Muscles worked
The v-up with clap mainly works the upper abs and lower abs, with the obliques and hip flexors assisting.
- Upper AbsPrimary
- Lower AbsPrimary
- ObliquesSupport
- Hip FlexorsSupport
- QuadsMinor
Kovo programs the v-up with clap 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.