THERE ARE ALL kinds of muscle building devoted guys in your local gym occupying the squat racks and benches, but if they want to really forge a functional, strong core that will perform in any type of setting, they’ll need to target their oblique muscles, too. The obliques, which you might have heard being called “side abs”, take a different approach. You might also have heard that to develop them, you’d have to pile on rep after rep of side bends. This isn’t quite the case; the obliques are more than just the side sections of your core, both in terms of their anatomy and function.
You’ll want to target your obliques with the right exercises, that work key functions of your core that aren’t limited to the flexion and bracing involved in most ab-focused workouts. Take this balanced approach, and your muscles won’t just look good when you shed your shirt—you’ll move better and be stronger, too.
What are your obliques?
The obliques are two pairs of muscles that run along either side of your torso. Each consists of the external oblique, which is the closest to the surface and the largest abdominal muscle, and the internal oblique, which lies directly beneath. The muscle fibres of the external and internal obliques run perpendicular to each other, and they work together.
What your obliques do
Your obliques are responsible for movements like bending from side-to-side and rotating your torso from left to right. They also assist with spinal flexion (the movement you’d typically associate with movements like crunches and sit-ups that target those six-pack muscles). The obliques actively resist against rotation to help stabilise and protect your spine. They’re a key muscle group for stability, a muscle group that gets attacked when you twist and turn, and when you brace in those positions. That means moves like side planks and windmills will challenge your oblique muscles, as will any exercises that have you holding a load off-centre while still trying to keep your hips and shoulders square.
Benefits of training your obliques
Training your obliques can be beneficial for your aesthetic goals and building up a balanced, symmetrical set of core muscles. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Including exercises that target your obliques in your workouts is majorly important for healthy movement and function, too—since you use the muscles for bending, rotation, and spine stabilisation, strong, healthy obliques are important for both athletic performance and everyday activities.
Unfortunately, too many guys only target their oblique muscles with exercises that only factor in one of those functions, if they target their obliques at all. Side bends and plate dips can only go so far in a well-balanced programme. You’ll want to break out of that box if you want a strong, functional core. The following exercises train your obliques in all the ways they function, by using uneven loads, instability, or rotation. The result: You’ll challenge your obliques from every angle. Tack on these moves in your workout as is appropriate, or pair three to five of them together for a killer obliques circuit.
Copenhagen plank
Why: You’ll need a weight bench (or some other sturdy platform of similar height) for this plank variation, which challenges you to elevate your body above the ground for a tougher stabilisation.
How to do it:
- Get into a side plank position, with your outside foot up on the bench. Squeeze your upper abs, hips, and obliques to keep your hips up and your spine straight.
- For the standard variation, keep the leg closer to the ground off the floor.
- If you want an additional challenge, you can give the version of the Copenhagen plank add the knee drives with the lower leg.
Sets and reps: 3 sets of 10 to 20 second reps
Side plank
Why: This is one of the most popular exercises to train your obliques, and for good reason. The plank is a simple, accessible movement, and flipping to the side gives you a potent bracing and stabilisation challenge.
How to Do It:
- Lie on one side with your legs straight and prop up your upper body on your forearm. Raise your hips so your body forms a straight line from your head to your heels.
- Brace your abs and squeeze your glutes to hold the position.
- If you want to make it harder elevate your feet or add a torso rotation.
Sets and reps: 2 to 3 sets of 40 second holds per side
Copenhagen side plank
Why: This slightly-tougher side plank puts even more onus on the obliques.
How to Do It:
- Get down on the floor on your side, placing one elbow on the floor stacked directly beneath your shoulder.
- Extend your legs out, then rest your weight on the top foot and brace your core to elevate your body off the floor, resting on your elbow and foot.
- Drive your bottom knee up, as if you were raising it up to run.
- Hold this position, maintaining tension to keep your spine straight and your torso from falling forward, then return to the floor.
Sets and reps: 2 to 3 sets of 10 to 20 second holds per side
Star plank
Why: Add abduction to the equation with this variation of the side plank.
How to Do It:
- Start in the side plank position on your side with your elbow on the floor stacked below your shoulder.
- Bend your knees together on the floor. Push your elbow and bottom knee into the floor and press upward, raising your top arm and leg up in the air in the shape of a star.
- Hold this position for a count, then return to the start.
Sets and reps: 2 to 3 sets of 10 to 20 second holds per side
Plank rotation
Why: Add an rotational element here, giving your obliques a challenge and introducing spinal mobility into the equation,
How to Do It:
- Get into a high plank/pushup position, with your hands on the ground directly beneath your shoulders, your feet on the floor in line with your hands, squeezing your glutes and abs to create fully body tension and keep your back level.
- Push one hand into the ground, then lift the other off the floor, rotating your torso to reach up to the sky.
- Keep your eyes locked onto that hand as you raise up. Pause for a count, then rotate back to the starting position
Sets and reps: 2 to 3 sets of 10 to 20 second holds per side
Kettlebell windmill
Why: This exercise might not look like much, but it can be very effective for both core training and as a means to promote better shoulder stability and hip mobility.
How to Do It:
- Start in a half-kneeling stance, slightly wider than usual.
- Press the kettlebell straight overhead. Keep your ribcage tight by squeezing your abs and glutes.
- Look up to the kettlebell, then push your butt back and rotate your chest open as you lower down to the floor. Keep the weight elevated.
- Reverse the movement to the upright position.
Sets and reps: 3 sets of 6 to 8 reps per side
Goblet squat
Why: The goblet squat is a great way for beginners to learn the basics of the squat—but it can also provide a potent challenge for the obliques once you’re working with heavier loads as you engage your core to stay in position.
How to Do It:
- Take a comfortable stance and grab your weight, holding it in front of your chest with both hands.
- Squeeze your shoulder blades to create mid-back tension to help support the load.Before you descend into the squat, take a deep breath and brace your core. This will help you to avoid tipping too far forward.
- Push your butt back, then bend your knees to squat down as low as you comfortably can while maintaining the proper upright posture. Push your knees out and keep your core engaged; don’t rest your elbows on your knees.
- Press off the floor with both feet to stand back up, squeezing your glutes and exhaling at the top.
Sets and reps: 3 sets of 6 to 8 reps
Bear plank chest press
Why: This tweak to the classic cable fly puts your obliques on notice as you battle to keep your hips square to the ground while the resistance pulls you upwards. It’s a solid chest-day finisher that blasts your abs too.
How to Do It:
- Set up in a cable machine, holding the handles in a bear plank position.
- Perform alternating pressing reps with either arm. Squeeze your abs and glutes to keep your hips and shoulders square.
Sets and reps: 3 sets of 8 to 10 reps per arm
Spider-man push-up
Why: Channel a superhero and add even more of a core component with this push-up variation.
How to Do It:
- Assume a standard pushup position.
- As you lower your body toward the floor, lift your right foot off of the floor, swing your leg out sideways and try to touch your knee to your elbow.
- Reverse the movement as you push your body back to the starting position.
Sets and reps: 3 sets of 8 to 10 reps per side
Hanging leg raise
Why: This tough hip flexion movement challenges you to work a different way than you would doing sit-ups or crunches. The hanging leg raise isn’t only working your obliques—but your whole core will have to work together to do these reps right.
How to Do It:
- Grab the bar with a strong overhand grip.
- Squeeze your shoulder blades, abs, and glutes to create full-body tension. Your feet should extend out just in front of your torso.
- Bend your knees slightly, then curl your legs up. Your butt should show to anyone standing in front of you.
- Reverse the movement to the same position you started.
Sets and reps: 3 sets of 8 to 12 reps
Typewriter hanging leg raise
Why: As if the hanging leg raise wasn’t difficult enough, you’ll add a new element that gives your obliques and even tougher task.
How to Do It:
- Hang from a bar. Tighten your abs, shifting your pelvis slightly in front of you. Squeeze your shoulder blades and flex your biceps slightly.
- Keeping your left leg as straight as possible, bend your right leg. Tighten your abs and pull your right knee to touch your left elbow.
- Pause and squeeze.
- Swing your right knee across to touch your right elbow, then back to touch your left elbow.
- Lower back to the start without letting your legs reach back or arching your back.
- That’s 1 rep. Repeat on the other side.
Sets and reps: 3 sets of 6 to 8 reps per side
This article originally appeared on Men’s Health UK.
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