How to do a Partner Russian Twist

Reviewed by JP Michelsen, CPT, B.A. Kinesiology

About Partner Russian Twist

Sets Logged
1,112
Popularity Rank
1137th
Difficulty
Beginner
Abs Strength
57 mSCORE 130th
Equipment Required

Target muscles worked

Primary Muscles
Abs
Secondary Muscles
None

Instructions for Proper Form

Partner Russian Twist is a variation of the standard Russian Twist that adds an element of teamwork and coordination. Like other Russian Twist variations, this is a bodyweight core exercise that targets your obliques. By performing this exercise with a partner and passing a medicine ball or similar weight back and forth, you add an additional challenge that helps improve coordination and stability in your core. This is a great exercise to make your ab workout more engaging and social.

  1. Partners should sit on the floor next to each other.
  2. Partners should engage their cores to raise their feet off the floor.
  3. Partners should position legs almost parallel with the floor. Toes should be pointed at the ceiling, backs should be straight, and hands should be held out in front, in line with the lower legs.
  4. Partner 1: Maintain your starting posture as you hold a medicine ball in front of you with both hands.
  5. Partner 1: Keep muscular tension to stay stable as you twist and tap the floor next to your hips with the medicine ball.
  6. Partner 1: Keep your core engaged to bring the medicine ball and your body back to your starting position.
  7. Partner 1: Pass the medicine ball to your partner on the other side.
  8. Partner 2: Stay stable by keeping muscular tension as you twist toward your partner with arms extended to take the medicine ball from them.
  9. Partner 2: Keep muscular tension to stay stable as you twist and tap the floor next to your hips with the medicine ball.
  10. Partner 2: Keep your core engaged to bring the medicine ball and your body back to your starting position.
  11. Partner 2: Pass the medicine ball back to your partner.
  12. Continue for the allotted number of reps, then switch sides and repeat.

Weight & 1 Rep Max Calculator

Average Partner Russian Twist standards by male, female, weight, age and height

Use this calculator to see Fitbod's possible first recommendations for you. This would be your starting line, based on more than 4.5 billion logged sets from 1.1 million users.

  • beginner
    8
    reps
    10
    lbs
    1 Rep Max
    12.5
    lbs
  • intermediate
    8
    reps
    12.5
    lbs
    15
    lbs
  • advanced
    8
    reps
    12.5
    lbs
    15
    lbs

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Alternative Exercises to Partner Russian Twist

Filter By

  1. 1. Russian Twist

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    Russian Twist is one of the more common core exercises. This exercise targets multiple muscles in your core, but the reason for including this exercise is usually to target your obliques. By raising your feet off the ground, engaging your core, and twisting to each side, you can better target this specific muscle in your core.

  2. 2. Medicine Ball Russian Twist

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    79.7 mSCORESWAPPED 24 TIMES

    Medicine Ball Russian Twist is a weighted variation of Russian Twist. By holding a medicine ball in both hands, you can add resistance to this usually bodyweight exercise. While the weight usually isn't much, it forces you to engage your core both to move, and to stop the medicine ball as you rotate. This is a great variation for anyone looking to make their Russian Twists a bit more challenging.

  3. 3. Partner Medicine Ball Full Twist

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    20 mSCORESWAPPED 4 TIMES

    Partner Medicine Ball Full Twist is a compound exercise that primarily targets the core, particularly the obliques. Performing this exercise with a partner adds a dynamic element, encouraging you to pass the medicine ball back and forth while twisting your torso. This exercise helps in enhancing rotational strength and coordination, making it effective for athletes and anyone looking to improve core stability.

  4. 4. Bicycle Crunch

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    91.8 mSCORESWAPPED 3 TIMES

    Bicycle Crunch is a more difficult version of a standard crunch. Instead of raising your torso off the ground for each rep, you keep your torso off the ground, and your core engaged. By cycling your legs, you add more instability to the movement, which leads to better core activation.

  5. 5. Elbow to Knee Crunch

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    70.4 mSCORESWAPPED 3 TIMES

    Elbow to Knee Crunch is a bodyweight core exercise that primarily targets the abdominals and obliques. By bringing your opposite elbow to your knee during a crunch, you add a rotational element to the movement, which helps engage your obliques for better core development. This variation offers more intensity and muscle activation compared to a standard crunch.

  6. 6. Partner Sit Up Hi-Five

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    19.6 mSCORESWAPPED 3 TIMES

    Partner Sit Up Hi-Five is a variation on the standard Sit Up. This bodyweight exercise primarily targets the core muscles. By adding a hi-five with a partner at the top of each rep, you introduce a fun, interactive element that can also help with coordination and motivation. This is a great variation for engaging with a partner while working on core strength and stability.

  7. 7. Partner Sit Up Toss

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    24.6 mSCORESWAPPED 3 TIMES

    Partner Sit Up Toss is a variation on the standard Sit Up that involves a medicine ball. This compound exercise primarily targets your core, while adding an element of coordination by throwing and catching a medicine ball with a partner. This added resistance and coordination challenge can make this exercise more engaging and demanding than standard Sit Ups.

  8. 8. Scissor Crossover Kick

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    87.8 mSCORESWAPPED 3 TIMES

    Scissor Crossover Kick is a variation on Scissor Kicks. Like Scissor Kicks, this is a bodyweight core exercise, however, instead of alternating kicking your legs up and down, you cross your legs in front of you. By elevating your feet off the ground, you’re already working your core, and by adding the crossover, you add instability to the movement that your core needs to stabilize.

    • Intermediate
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  9. 9. Vertical Knee Raise

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    92 mSCORESWAPPED 3 TIMES

    Vertical Knee Raise is a bodyweight core exercise that involves suspending yourself, and then engaging your core to raise your knees towards your chest. By keeping your torso upright, and raising your knees, this exercise is a bit better for building functional, real world strength.

    • Beginner
    • Abs
    • Vertical Bench (Vertical Knee Raise)

  10. 10. Medicine Ball Push Up

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    33.1 mSCORESWAPPED 2 TIMES

    Incorporates a medicine ball to increase instability and engage the chest, shoulders, and core more intensely. This variation challenges balance and muscle coordination, making it ideal for those looking to intensify their push-up routine.