Cable Side Crunch

Setup

1. 01Set a cable to a high pulley with a single handle.
2. 02Stand sideways to the stack and hold the handle with the near hand beside the head, elbow bent.
3. 03Step out until there is tension with the torso upright.
4. 04Set the feet about hip width and place the free hand on the hip.

Execution

1. 01Crunch sideways away from the stack, driving the ribs down toward the hip.
2. 02Keep the hand pinned beside the head so the elbow travels with the torso.
3. 03Pause briefly in the fully shortened position.
4. 04Return upright slowly, letting the obliques lengthen against the cable.

Checkpoints

• -The elbow moves because the torso bends, not because the arm pulls.
• -Hips stay level and do not shift sideways.
• -The crunch stays in the frontal plane with no forward lean.
• -Tension stays on the cable at the top of every rep.

Common mistakes

• -Pulling the handle down with the arm like a one-arm pulldown.
• -Swaying the hips toward the stack to fake range.
• -Rushing the eccentric and letting the stack snap the torso upright.
• -Standing too close so the cable goes slack at the top.