How to do a Partner Russian Twist
Reviewed by Jim Parker, CPT, B.A. Kinesiology
About Partner Russian Twist
Workouts with Partner Russian Twist
Target muscles worked
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.
- Partners should sit on the floor next to each other.
- Partners should engage their cores to raise their feet off the floor.
- 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.
- Partner 1: Maintain your starting posture as you hold a medicine ball in front of you with both hands.
- Partner 1: Keep muscular tension to stay stable as you twist and tap the floor next to your hips with the medicine ball.
- Partner 1: Keep your core engaged to bring the medicine ball and your body back to your starting position.
- Partner 1: Pass the medicine ball to your partner on the other side.
- Partner 2: Stay stable by keeping muscular tension as you twist toward your partner with arms extended to take the medicine ball from them.
- Partner 2: Keep muscular tension to stay stable as you twist and tap the floor next to your hips with the medicine ball.
- Partner 2: Keep your core engaged to bring the medicine ball and your body back to your starting position.
- Partner 2: Pass the medicine ball back to your partner.
- Continue for the allotted number of reps, then switch sides and repeat.
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Alternative Exercises to Partner Russian Twist
1. Russian Twist
96.2 mSCORESWAPPED 42 TIMESRussian 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.
- Beginner
- Abs
2. Medicine Ball Russian Twist
79.7 mSCORESWAPPED 28 TIMESMedicine 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.
- Beginner
- Abs
- Medicine Ball
3. Decline Russian Twists
60.1 mSCORESWAPPED 6 TIMESDecline Russian Twists is a variation on the standard Russian Twists. This compound exercise targets your obliques and core. By performing the exercise on a decline bench, you increase the range of motion and tension on your core muscles. This added difficulty makes it excellent for those looking to further challenge their core stability and strength.
- Intermediate
- Abs
- Decline Bench
4. Plank
92.8 mSCORESWAPPED 6 TIMESPlanks are one of the most common core exercises out there. This is a bodyweight exercise that is performed for time rather than reps. Planks don’t require any movement, instead they force you to place yourself in a position that requires you to engage your core, and maintain that muscle activation for the duration of the exercise. This is a great way to help build strength and stability in a way that will translate to a variety of other exercises, and your daily life.
- Beginner
- Abs
5. Dumbbell Side Bend
38.8 mSCORESWAPPED 3 TIMESDumbbell Side Bend is an isolation exercise that primarily targets the obliques. The use of a dumbbell adds resistance to the movement, helping to build muscle mass and strength in your sides. This is a simple exercise that aids in improving core stability and can be easily incorporated into any abdominal workout routine.
6. Leg Pull-In
94.9 mSCORESWAPPED 3 TIMESLeg Pull in is a bodyweight exercise that targets your core. By raising your legs off the ground, you’re already engaging your core. Additionally your core helps to pull your legs in towards your chest.
- Beginner
- Abs
7. Partner Sit Up Toss
24.6 mSCORESWAPPED 2 TIMESPartner 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.
- Beginner
- Abs
- Medicine Ball
8. Standing Cable Core Twist
48.2 mSCORESWAPPED 2 TIMESStanding Cable Core Twist is a dynamic exercise that targets the entire core, with a particular focus on the obliques. This rotational movement enhances core stability, rotational strength, and the ability to generate power across the body. It's beneficial for athletes and those looking to improve functional strength.
- Beginner
- Abs
- Hi-Lo Pulley Cable
9. Hanging Leg Raise
60.2 mSCORESWAPPED 2 TIMESHanging Leg Raise is a bodyweight core exercise that primarily targets the abdominals and hip flexors. By hanging from a pull-up bar and raising your legs, you add instability, forcing greater muscle engagement. This is a more challenging variation than Vertical Knee Raises, increasing the demand on your core and possibly the quadriceps, providing excellent strength and muscle-conditioning benefits.
- Advanced
- Abs
- Pull Up Bar
10. Sit Up
93.8 mSCORESWAPPED 2 TIMESSit Up is one of the most common exercises out there. It’s a bodyweight exercise that targets your core. Sit Ups are very similar to Crunches, however, rather than raising just your shoulder blades off the ground, you raise your entire upper body. This gives you a bit more range of motion than Crunches, however you’ll start to lose some tension in your core at the top of the movement.
- Beginner
- Abs