How to Do the Diagonal Wood Chop Exercise
The diagonal wood chop works your oblique muscles. You can do side chops a few ways, using a dumbbell, cable machine, resistance band, or medicine ball.
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Things You'll Need
- Dumbbell,
- Cable machine,
- Resistance band or
- Medicine ball
- Optional: Exercise ball
Instructions
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1
Stand with legs shoulder-width apart, knees soft. Lift the dumbbell (or cable, band, medicine ball) with both hands, inches from your right ear. Picture yourself holding up an ax, ready to chop wood.
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2
Flex your abs as you rotate and bring your arms down to the side of your left knee. Slowly bring your arms back up to starting position. Repeat 8 to 12 times. Do opposite side, 2 to 3 sets each side.
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3
To involve your leg/glute muscles while doing the wood chop stand with legs shoulder-width apart, bending into a slight squat as you rotate your torso to bring the weight down.
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4
To give your abs a real workout do the diagonal wood chop while sitting on a stability ball. Sit on the ball, legs slightly apart, feet flat on the floor. Do the same chopping motion described in Steps 1 and 2, except instead of chopping from one ear to the opposite knee, chop to hip level. Your abs do double-duty as your core works to stabilize the ball beneath you.
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