Kneeling Cable Crunch With Alternating Oblique Twists

Also called oblique cable crunch, twisting cable crunch and kneeling cable crunch.

Works

Abs

Equipment

Cable

Level

Beginner

Type

Isolation, one side at a time

How to do it

Setup. Connect a rope attachment to a high pulley cable and position a mat on the floor in front of it.

1. Grab the rope with both hands and kneel approximately two feet back from the tower.
2. Position the rope behind your head with your hands by your ears.
3. Keep your hands in the same place, contract your abs and pull downward on the rope in a crunching movement until your elbows reach your knees.
4. Pause briefly at the bottom and rise up in a slow and controlled manner until you reach the starting position.
5. Repeat the same downward movement until you're halfway down, at which time you'll begin rotating one of your elbows to the opposite knee.
6. Again, pause briefly at the bottom and rise up in a slow and controlled manner until you reach the starting position.
7. Repeat the same movement as before, but alternate the other elbow to the opposite knee.
8. Continue this series of movements to failure.

Cues

• Rope by the ears, hips still.
• Crunch down to the center.
• Alternate twisting to each knee.
• Hold the squeeze 1 second.

Common mistakes

• Pulling with the arms.
• Hips sitting back.

Where to start

A starting point, not a law. Pick a weight you could lift two or three more times than the top of the range. Tempo is seconds down, pause, up. When every set hits the top of the range, add a little weight.

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