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How To

How to Do the Diagonal Wood Chop Exercise

Contributor
By eHow Contributing Writer
(2 Ratings)

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.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy
Instructions

Things You'll Need:

  • Dumbbell,
  • Cable machine,
  • Resistance band or
  • Medicine ball
  • Optional: Exercise ball
  1. Step 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.

  2. Step 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.

  3. Step 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.

  4. Step 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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