Core · Bodyweight
Weighted Russian Twist
How to do the weighted russian twist, 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
- Rotation
- Mechanic
- Isolation
How to do it
Sit on the floor with your knees bent and hold a weight plate or dumbbell at your chest. Lean back slightly and lift your feet off the ground to balance on your hips. Rotate your torso to tap the weight toward the floor on one side, then twist across to the other side, keeping your core braced throughout.
- 1Feel your obliques drive each twist from side to side
- 2Keep your chest tall and core braced as you rotate
- 3Stay balanced on your hips with your feet up
Common mistakes
- Don't move only your arms; rotate from the torso
- Avoid rounding your back or collapsing backward
- Don't rush; control the weight across each side
Muscles worked
The weighted russian twist mainly works the obliques and lower abs, with the upper abs, lats, and hip flexors assisting.
- ObliquesPrimary
- Lower AbsPrimary
- Upper AbsSupport
- LatsSupport
- Hip FlexorsSupport
- ForearmsMinor
- Lower BackMinor
- Upper TrapsMinor
- QuadsMinor
- GlutesMinor
- HamstringsMinor
- Side DeltsMinor
Kovo programs the weighted russian twist 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.