Kneeling Cable Crunch With Alternating Oblique Twists

Kneeling Cable Crunch With Alternating Oblique Twists is a beginner-level isolation in the strength category that primarily works the abs. It is performed with cable.

How to do it

1. 1Connect a rope attachment to a high pulley cable and position a mat on the floor in front of it.
2. 2Grab the rope with both hands and kneel approximately two feet back from the tower.
3. 3Position the rope behind your head with your hands by your ears.
4. 4Keep 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.
5. 5Pause briefly at the bottom and rise up in a slow and controlled manner until you reach the starting position.
6. 6Repeat the same downward movement until you're halfway down, at which time you'll begin rotating one of your elbows to the opposite knee.
7. 7Again, pause briefly at the bottom and rise up in a slow and controlled manner until you reach the starting position.
8. 8Repeat the same movement as before, but alternate the other elbow to the opposite knee.
9. 9Continue this series of movements to failure.

Muscles worked

Primary muscles in filled badges, secondary in grey. Tap for more exercises per muscle.

Tips and common mistakes

• •Focus on the muscle contraction and control the eccentric (lowering) phase.
• •Add load only once you complete all reps with good form — progressive overload.
• •Initiate the pull from the target muscle rather than jerking with body momentum.
• •Prioritize full range of motion over heavy weight with partial reps.

Sets and reps

For hypertrophy: 3–4 sets × 8–12 reps with 1–2 reps in reserve (RPE 7–9) and 1–2 minutes rest. For strength: 3–5 × 4–6 with longer rest.