Best Obliques Exercises

This shortlist highlights 33 exercises that target the obliques. It is a curated editorial roundup built from movement type, equipment, and difficulty data — not a lab ranking or coaching substitute.

How we chose these exercises

  • We group exercises by the attribute a reader is most likely filtering on first, such as target muscle, equipment, or difficulty.
  • We favor exercises with clear movement intent and dependable metadata for muscle group, equipment, and difficulty.
  • Beginner-friendly movements and low-equipment options are surfaced earlier when the shortlist serves broad training intent.
  • This page is a curated editorial ranking rather than a personalized training plan or medical recommendation.

Featured exercises

33 curated exercises for this shortlist.

B

Black Widow Knee Slides

Category
Compound
Primary Muscle
Obliques
Secondary Muscle
Abs
C

Cable Woodchoppers

Category
Isolation
Primary Muscle
Obliques
Secondary Muscle
None
D

Dragon-flag

Category
Compound
Primary Muscle
Obliques
Secondary Muscle
Abs, Shoulders, Glutes
F

Flutter Kicks

Category
Compound
Primary Muscle
Obliques
Secondary Muscle
Abs
L

Leg Raise

Category
Compound
Primary Muscle
Obliques
Secondary Muscle
Abs
S

Splinter Sit-ups

Category
Isolation
Primary Muscle
Obliques
Secondary Muscle
None
T

Trunk Rotation With Cable

Category
Compound
Primary Muscle
Obliques
Secondary Muscle
Lats
T

TRX Obliques

Category
Compound
Primary Muscle
Obliques
Secondary Muscle
Abs, Serratus Anterior, Shoulders
B

Butterfly Sit Up

Category
Compound
Primary Muscle
Obliques
Secondary Muscle
Abs
C

Crunches HD

Category
Compound
Primary Muscle
Obliques
Secondary Muscle
Abs
H

Heel Touches

Category
Compound
Primary Muscle
Obliques
Secondary Muscle
Abs
H

High Knee Skips HD

Category
Compound
Primary Muscle
Obliques
Secondary Muscle
Abs, Biceps, Glutes
P

Planche de cote dynamique

Category
Compound
Primary Muscle
Obliques
Secondary Muscle
Abs
R

Reach ups

Category
Compound
Primary Muscle
Obliques
Secondary Muscle
Abs
R

Respiración profunda (de pie o sentado)

Category
Compound
Primary Muscle
Obliques
Secondary Muscle
Abs
S

Seated Corkscrew

Category
Compound
Primary Muscle
Obliques
Secondary Muscle
Abs
S

Sit Up Elbow Thrust

Category
Compound
Primary Muscle
Obliques
Secondary Muscle
Abs
S

Standing Side Crunches

Category
Compound
Primary Muscle
Obliques
Secondary Muscle
Abs
T

Torso rotation strech

Category
Compound
Primary Muscle
Obliques
Secondary Muscle
Chest
U

Upper External Oblique

Category
Isolation
Primary Muscle
Obliques
Secondary Muscle
None
W

W-Raise

Category
Compound
Primary Muscle
Obliques
Secondary Muscle
Abs
W

Windshield Wipers

Category
Compound
Primary Muscle
Obliques
Secondary Muscle
Abs
B

Barbell Ab Rollout

Category
Isolation
Primary Muscle
Obliques
Secondary Muscle
None
C

Crunch en maquina

Category
Compound
Primary Muscle
Obliques
Secondary Muscle
Abs
D

Dumbbell Side Bend

Category
Isolation
Primary Muscle
Obliques
Secondary Muscle
None
D

Dynamic side hold

Category
Compound
Primary Muscle
Obliques
Secondary Muscle
Abs
H

Hollow Hold

Category
Compound
Primary Muscle
Obliques
Secondary Muscle
Abs
M

Medicine ball twist

Category
Compound
Primary Muscle
Obliques
Secondary Muscle
Abs
P

Plate twist

Category
Compound
Primary Muscle
Obliques
Secondary Muscle
Abs
S

Side Crunch

Category
Compound
Primary Muscle
Obliques
Secondary Muscle
Abs
S

Side Dumbbell Trunk Flexion

Category
Compound
Primary Muscle
Obliques
Secondary Muscle
Abs
W

Weighted Crunch

Category
Isolation
Primary Muscle
Obliques
Secondary Muscle
None
R

Remo alto polea alta

Category
Compound
Primary Muscle
Obliques
Secondary Muscle
Serratus Anterior, Triceps

Training references

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best obliques exercises?

Best Obliques Exercises highlights options such as Black Widow Knee Slides, Cable Woodchoppers, Dragon-flag. The right pick depends on your training goal, available equipment, and experience level.

How did you choose these obliques exercises?

We curated this shortlist using muscle-targeting data, equipment tags, movement type, and difficulty so the page reflects practical training intent.

Should beginners start with every exercise in this obliques list?

No. Start with the exercises that match your current technique, mobility, and equipment access, then progress as your form and strength improve.