Oblique crunch
Oblique crunches on the floor target the obliques, enhancing core stability and overall abdominal strength. This exercise activates the upper and lower obliques, sculpting the waistline and improving rotational movements essential for various sports. Benefits include improved posture, better balance, and reduced injury risk. Athletes profit by increasing core stability, which enhances performance in sports requiring twisting or quick directional changes. Ideal for developing a strong, defined core and boosting athletic power.
| Primary muscle group: | Core |
| Exercise type: | Bodyweight |
| Exercise goal: | Strength |
| Key metric: | Repetitions |
Community Averages
11
Avg. reps/set
Popularity
* Based on data from the Blaze community
Description
- 1Starting Position: Lie on your right side with legs stacked and knees slightly bent.
- 2Hand Placement: Place your left hand behind your head.
- 3Lift Elbow: Begin by lifting your left elbow upward, simulating the motion of a standard crunch. Focus on engaging your obliques.
- 4Crunch Up: Crunch as high as you can, squeezing your obliques. Hold for a second.
- 5Lower Down: Slowly lower your elbow back to the starting position.
- 6Breathing: Inhale as you lower (eccentric phase), and exhale as you lift (concentric phase).
- 7Form Focus: Concentrate on perfect form and slow, controlled movements, as you can't add resistance to this exercise.
Tips & Tricks
Engage Your Core: Before you even start the movement, make sure to engage your core muscles. This will help you maintain balance and maximize the workout efficiency.
Slow and Controlled Movements: Perform each crunch in a slow and controlled manner. This ensures that you're truly working the oblique muscles rather than relying on momentum.
Breathing: Exhale as you crunch up and inhale as you lower back down. Proper breathing helps you stabilize the movement and maintain rhythm.
Don't Pull on Your Neck: Keep your hands lightly touching your head or temples. Avoid pulling on your neck to prevent strain and ensure that the effort comes from your oblique muscles.
Focus on the Twist: When lifting your shoulder towards the opposite knee, focus on squeezing your obliques. The movement should come from your torso twist, not just from lifting your shoulder.
Keep Your Legs Stable: While one leg is bent and the other crossed over, try to keep both legs stable and in position throughout the exercise. This will help you engage the obliques more effectively.
Consistency: Integrate oblique crunches into your regular workout routine for the best results. Consistency is key to seeing improvement and strengthening your oblique muscles over time.
Mix It Up: To avoid plateaus, try combining oblique crunches with other core exercises. This will keep your workouts challenging and engaging.
Track in the Blaze App
Download Blaze Workout Tracker to log this exercise with sets, reps, and progress tracking.
