Exercise guide
Standing Opposite Touches
- Beginner
- Compound
- Rep-based
- Lower arms
- Lower legs
- Shoulders
- Upper arms
- Upper legs
- Waist
Standing Opposite Touches is a dynamic core exercise that improves rotational stability and coordination while targeting the obliques and lower abdominals. It combines a standing crunch with a leg lift to engage the hip flexors and quadriceps simultaneously.
Reviewed by the Crucible Fit team · Updated June 2026
Muscles worked
Setup
- Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and your back straight.
- Extend both arms out to your sides at shoulder height, forming a 'T' shape.
- Engage your core and look straight ahead to establish balance.
How to do it
- Lift your right leg straight up in front of you while rotating your torso to reach your left hand toward your right toes.
- Exhale sharply as you reach the peak of the movement, focusing on 'crunching' your ribs toward your hip.
- Inhale as you lower your leg with control and return your torso to the center starting position.
- Repeat the movement on the opposite side, alternating legs and arms for the duration of the set.
Form checklist
- Keep your standing leg slightly bent to maintain balance and protect the knee.
- Avoid rounding your lower back excessively; focus on rotating from the mid-section.
- Keep your arms active and parallel to the floor between every repetition.
- Ensure the leg lift comes from the hip and core, not just momentum.
Pro tips
- To maximize oblique engagement, focus on bringing your shoulder toward the opposite hip rather than just reaching with your hand.
- Slow down the eccentric (lowering) phase of the leg lift to increase time under tension for the lower abs.
Make it harder
- Add a small hop as you switch sides to increase the heart rate and plyometric demand.
- Hold light dumbbells or wear ankle weights to increase the resistance on the core and hip flexors.
Frequently asked
- What muscles does the standing opposite touches work?
- The standing opposite touches primarily targets the abs, obliques, and quadriceps, and also works the glutes and hip flexors as secondary muscles.
- What equipment do you need for the standing opposite touches?
- The standing opposite touches requires no equipment — just your body weight.
- Is the standing opposite touches good for beginners?
- Yes. The standing opposite touches is a beginner-friendly movement and a strong foundation to build on.
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