Your core is your foundation for strength, and an abs kettlebell workout is a great tool to help strengthen it. Here, we’ve put together a short, circuit-style abs kettlebell workout created and loved by fitness instructor, personal trainer, and author Joanna Duncan.
The plank pull-through is a great exercise that targets the arms, shoulders, and lower body, says Duncan. You’ll also work your obliques, as well as the muscles that stabilize your spine in the low back.
Best Exercises for Your Kettlebell Ab Workout
Start in a high plank position with the kettlebell held slightly away from your body, and your knees bent at a 90-degree angle. Reach down with your right hand to slide the kettlebell outside your left side, keeping your hips stable and squared to the floor as you do so.
Once you reach the farthest possible point, reverse the movement to return to your starting position. Repeat with the lighter kettlebell for 10 reps, alternating sides.
Anti-rotation moves are a staple of any abs kettlebell workout, and this move combines that with a weighted “chop” movement that’s perfect for adding a bit more intensity to a half-kneeling position, which is already challenging enough on its own.
The renegade hold is similar to the pass over, but you’ll be using one arm at a time for each set. It’s an anti-rotation move, so it requires your core to help keep you from rotating as you drag the kettlebell from one side of your body to the other, she says.