Bodyweight · Abs

Bodyweight Abs Exercises

There are 46 bodyweight exercises for the abs here: 22 compound movements and 24 isolation exercises, beginner to advanced level. Good places to start: Ankle Tap Pushups and Bird Dog Crunch. By level: 27 beginner, 16 intermediate and 3 advanced. Each links to step-by-step instructions and form tips.

Written by the GymStreak coaching teamUpdated

Exercises
46
Beginner
27
Compound
22

01

How the abs work

The rectus abdominis is the long 'six-pack' muscle that runs down the front of the torso and flexes the spine. Beneath it, the transverse abdominis wraps around the waist like a belt and braces the trunk. The obliques on the sides handle rotation and side-bending (see the obliques page).

02

Training with bodyweight

With bodyweight, progress by moving to a harder variation, adding reps or slowing the lowering phase rather than adding weight. Keep the form strict before you make it harder. Bodyweight exercises use your own body as the resistance, so you can train at home, outdoors or while travelling. They cover every major muscle group and are the easiest way to start.

03

Choosing abs exercises

Pick one flexion exercise, one anti-extension exercise and one leg-raise variation. Beginners can start with crunches, planks and dead bugs; hanging leg raises and rollouts are more advanced.

All bodyweight abs exercises

BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced

  1. 01

    Ankle Tap Pushups

    Beginner compound bodyweight exercise for the abs, also working the chest, forearms and shoulders.

    Beginnercompound
  2. 02

    Bird Dog Crunch

    Beginner compound bodyweight exercise for the abs, also working the glutes, hamstrings and lower back.

    Beginnercompound
  3. 03

    Butt-Ups

    Beginner isolation bodyweight exercise for the abs, also working the hamstrings.

    Beginnerisolation
  4. 04

    Cocoons

    Beginner isolation bodyweight exercise for the abs, also working the quadriceps.

    Beginnerisolation
  5. 05

    Crab Toe Touch

    Beginner isolation bodyweight exercise for the abs, also working the quadriceps.

    Beginnerisolation
  6. 06

    Cross-Body Crunch

    Beginner isolation bodyweight exercise for the abs, also working the obliques.

    Beginnerisolation
  7. 07

    Crunches

    Beginner isolation bodyweight exercise for the abs.

    Beginnerisolation
  8. 08

    Dead Bug

    Beginner isolation bodyweight exercise for the abs, also working the quadriceps.

    Beginnerisolation
  9. 09

    Elbow to Knee

    Beginner isolation bodyweight exercise for the abs, also working the obliques.

    Beginnerisolation
  10. 10

    Extended Leg Pulses

    Beginner isolation bodyweight exercise for the abs, also working the obliques.

    Beginnerisolation
  11. 11

    Lying Toe Taps

    Beginner compound bodyweight exercise for the abs, also working the quadriceps, adductors and abductors.

    Beginnercompound
  12. 12

    Mountain Climbers Fast

    Beginner compound bodyweight exercise for the abs, also working the calves, chest and hamstrings.

    Beginnercompound
  13. 13

    Mountain Climbers Slow

    Beginner compound bodyweight exercise for the abs, also working the calves, chest and hamstrings.

    Beginnercompound
  14. 14

    Plank

    Beginner compound bodyweight exercise for the abs, also working the quadriceps.

    Beginnercompound
  15. 15

    Plank Ups

    Beginner compound bodyweight exercise for the abs, also working the chest, forearms and glutes.

    Beginnercompound
  16. 16

    Plank With T Rotations

    Beginner compound bodyweight exercise for the abs, also working the chest, lats and lower back.

    Beginnercompound
  17. 17

    Punch And Kick

    Beginner compound bodyweight exercise for the abs, glutes, hamstrings, quadriceps and shoulders.

    Beginnercompound
  18. 18

    Reverse Crunch

    Beginner isolation bodyweight exercise for the abs.

    Beginnerisolation
  19. 19

    Reverse Plank

    Beginner compound bodyweight exercise for the abs, glutes, hamstrings and lower back, also working the shoulders.

    Beginnercompound
  20. 20

    Scissor Kick

    Beginner isolation bodyweight exercise for the abs, also working the quadriceps.

    Beginnerisolation
  21. 21

    Shoulder Taps

    Beginner isolation bodyweight exercise for the abs, also working the shoulders, glutes and quadriceps.

    Beginnerisolation
  22. 22

    Sit-Ups To Twists

    Beginner compound bodyweight exercise for the abs, also working the obliques.

    Beginnercompound
  23. 23

    Situps

    Beginner isolation bodyweight exercise for the abs.

    Beginnerisolation
  24. 24

    Spider Mountain Climbers

    Beginner compound bodyweight exercise for the abs, also working the calves, chest and forearms.

    Beginnercompound
  25. 25

    Star Planks

    Beginner isolation bodyweight exercise for the abs, also working the glutes, obliques and shoulders.

    Beginnerisolation
  26. 26

    Starfish Crunch

    Beginner isolation bodyweight exercise for the abs, also working the obliques and shoulders.

    Beginnerisolation
  27. 27

    Tuck Crunch

    Beginner isolation bodyweight exercise for the abs.

    Beginnerisolation
  28. 28

    Alternate Heel Touches

    Intermediate isolation bodyweight exercise for the abs, also working the obliques.

    Intermediateisolation
  29. 29

    Cross Elbow

    Intermediate compound bodyweight exercise for the abs, also working the obliques, quadriceps and lats.

    Intermediatecompound
  30. 30

    Decline Crunches

    Intermediate isolation bodyweight exercise for the abs.

    Intermediateisolation
  31. 31

    Decline Situps

    Intermediate isolation bodyweight exercise for the abs.

    Intermediateisolation
  32. 32

    Hanging Leg Raise

    Intermediate isolation bodyweight exercise for the abs, also working the quadriceps.

    Intermediateisolation
  33. 33

    Hanging Pike

    Intermediate isolation bodyweight exercise for the abs, also working the quadriceps.

    Intermediateisolation
  34. 34

    Jackknife Sit-Up

    Intermediate isolation bodyweight exercise for the abs, also working the quadriceps.

    Intermediateisolation
  35. 35

    Lateral Plank Walks

    Intermediate compound bodyweight exercise for the abs, also working the chest, glutes and obliques.

    Intermediatecompound
  36. 36

    Leg Raises

    Intermediate isolation bodyweight exercise for the abs, also working the quadriceps.

    Intermediateisolation
  37. 37

    Plank To Jump Squat

    Intermediate compound bodyweight exercise for the abs, hamstrings and quadriceps, also working the calves, glutes and obliques.

    Intermediatecompound
  38. 38

    Side Plank Leg Pull

    Intermediate compound bodyweight exercise for the abs, obliques, shoulders and abductors, also working the adductors.

    Intermediatecompound
  39. 39

    Side Plank Rotation With Kicks

    Intermediate compound bodyweight exercise for the abs, also working the glutes, hamstrings and lats.

    Intermediatecompound
  40. 40

    Squat Jumps

    Intermediate compound bodyweight exercise for the abs, calves, hamstrings, quadriceps, adductors and abductors, also working the lower back.

    Intermediatecompound
  41. 41

    Squat To Toe Touch

    Intermediate compound bodyweight exercise for the abs, glutes, hamstrings, obliques, quadriceps and adductors, also working the abductors.

    Intermediatecompound
  42. 42

    Straight Arm Plank Jacks

    Intermediate compound bodyweight exercise for the abs, also working the calves, chest and forearms.

    Intermediatecompound
  43. 43

    Toe Touchers

    Intermediate isolation bodyweight exercise for the abs.

    Intermediateisolation
  44. 44

    Barbell Ab Rollout

    Advanced isolation bodyweight exercise for the abs, also working the lats.

    Advancedisolation
  45. 45

    Plank Hops

    Advanced compound bodyweight exercise for the abs, also working the calves, chest and forearms.

    Advancedcompound
  46. 46

    Plank With Reach Out

    Advanced compound bodyweight exercise for the abs, also working the glutes, hamstrings and lower back.

    Advancedcompound

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