How to do a Scissor Crossover Kick
Reviewed by Jim Parker, CPT, B.A. Kinesiology
Workouts with Scissor Crossover Kick
Target muscles worked
Instructions for Proper Form
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.
- Lie on your back with your legs extended and your arms at your sides with your palms facing down.
- Brace your core to prevent your lower back from lifting off of the ground.
- Raise your legs 1-2’ above the ground outside shoulder-width apart keeping them extended with slight knee flexion.
- Cross your right leg over the left as you move your left leg underneath the right.
- Return to the starting position repeating with the left leg overtop.
- Continue alternating for allotted repetitions or time.
Common Form Mistakes
Dropping Your Heels
Don’t allow your heels to drop between reps. Keep them elevated throughout the entire exercise. You would be able to perform more reps by giving yourself some time to rest between reps, however it will make this exercise less effective. Focus on keeping your core engaged, and your legs elevated.
Sets & Reps Calculator
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Alternatives & Variations to Scissor Crossover Kick
1. Ab Crunch Machine
96.1 mSCORESWAPPED 2,046 TIMESAb Crunch Machine is a variation of Crunches performed with a machine. Unlike standard Crunches, the use of a machine gives you more control over your resistance. In addition, the machine will restrict your range of motion allowing you to focus more on exertion than stabilizing the movement.
- Intermediate
- Abs
- Ab Crunch Machine
2. Crunches
94 mSCORESWAPPED 1,991 TIMESCrunches are one of the most common exercises out there. It’s an easy to perform, bodyweight exercise that targets your abdominals. Crunches are very similar to Sit Ups, however, instead of raising your upper body all the way into a near sitting position, you only raise your shoulder blades off the ground. This is a great exercise for beginners looking to build core strength.
3. Plank
92.8 mSCORESWAPPED 1,484 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.
4. Russian Twist
96.2 mSCORESWAPPED 1,263 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.
5. Cable Crunch
88.8 mSCORESWAPPED 1,092 TIMESCable Crunch is a variation on the more standard Crunch. Unlike Crunches, this is a weighted exercise that does not have you laying on your back. Instead of using your bodyweight for resistance, you use a cable machine. This gives you more control over your resistance, as well as more control over the direction that resistance is coming from.
6. Leg Raise
96.5 mSCORESWAPPED 1,056 TIMESLeg Raise is a simple bodyweight core exercise that involves laying on the ground and suspending your legs in the air. While your core does play a significant role in raising your legs, the real benefit comes from controlling their descent back to the floor.
7. Sit Up
93.8 mSCORESWAPPED 1,026 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.
8. Vertical Knee Raise
92 mSCORESWAPPED 1,006 TIMESVertical 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.