When training for a killer midsection, one area most guys forget to train is their obliques. These long muscles—when well-trained and when your overall body fat is low—fully frame your rectus abdominis (aka your six-pack) and give your waist a more tapered look. Obliques are the aesthetic finish that separate great midsections from average ones.
7 Obliques Exercices for a Strong, Shredded Six-Pack
1. Cable Woodchop
But how are you meant to train your obliques? If you said, “More side crunches,” then we weep for you. There are actually many exercises you can use. Here are seven of our favorites, based on overall effectiveness.
Obliques against resistance, baby. Your unweighted side crunches are a fine move to create some engagement with your obliques but if you always train them that way, then chances are they stopped responding long ago. The addition of some weight will help you reinvigorate these muscles. And before you say it, no…resistance training your for your abs will not result in a thick, blocky middle.
Do it Right: Attach a rope to a cable tower, and move the cable to the highest pulley position. Grab both handles of the rope and then kneel down onto one knee, your shoulders perpendicular to the stack. With arms extended over the opposite shoulder, look straight ahead and pull the rope across your body finishing the movement at waist level. Slowly bring the weight back to the start position and repeat movement. Be sure to keep your core and abs tight at all times. Try 3-4 sets of 8-10 controlled reps followed immediately by a single, lighter set of 20-25.
For access to exclusive gear videos, celebrity interviews, and more, subscribe on YouTube!
