The Diagonal Belly Button Hunter

Reaction Sequence · Mechanism

Lie flat on your back, bend those knees to about 60 degrees, plant your feet on the floor, and put your hands loosely behind your head like you're chilling at a picnic — except this picnic is about PAIN. That's your cozy starting position, and it's all downhill from here in the best possible way.

Now here's where things get spicy: you drive your right elbow and shoulder ACROSS your body while simultaneously pulling your left knee up toward your left shoulder. You're trying to make these two things meet in the middle like star-crossed lovers who can only be together for one glorious second of abdominal contraction. The key is to move your SHOULDER toward your knee, not just your elbow — your elbow is just along for the ride, man. The real work is happening in those obliques.

Exhale as you crunch across, squeeze everything like you're trying to wring out a wet towel, and then lower back down to the starting position while inhaling. Then switch sides — left elbow to right knee — and keep alternating until you've completed all your reps.

This beginner ab move targets those obliques like a heat-seeking missile, and it's the reason your sides will be sore tomorrow in ways you didn't think were possible. It's also the closest most of us will ever get to touching our elbows to our knees, which is honestly a life goal worth pursuing.