How to do the Cross Body Mountain Climbers
- Begin in a plank position, hands directly beneath your shoulders, legs extended.
- Drive one knee across your body toward the opposite elbow.
- Return that foot and drive the other knee across.
- Keep alternating without letting your hips rise or sag.
Full technique — 6 steps
- Start in a high plank with hands under shoulders and legs extended behind you.
- Tighten your stomach, squeeze your glutes, and keep your ribs in line with your pelvis.
- Drive one knee forward and across your body toward the opposite elbow.
- Let your hips turn slightly with the knee while your shoulders stay over your hands.
- Return that foot to the start position, then drive the other knee toward its opposite elbow.
- Keep alternating sides in a steady rhythm without letting your hips rise or sag.
Common mistakes
- Hips piking high above shoulders
- Short knee drive under torso
- Driving the knee straight forward instead of across
- Shoulders drifting behind hands
- Letting the lower back arch
Form cues
- Shoulders over hands
- Knee to opposite elbow
- Keep ribs down
- Keep hips low
Quick answers
What muscles does the Cross Body Mountain Climbers work?
Primary: Obliques 8/10, Abs 8/10.
How many sets and reps of the Cross Body Mountain Climbers?
Strength: 3–4 sets of 12–16 reps, rest 1 min 15 s, 2 reps in reserve. Muscle growth: 3–4 sets of 16–24 reps, rest 1 min, 2–3 reps in reserve. Endurance: 2–4 sets of 30–40 reps, rest 45 s, 3 reps in reserve.
