Exercise guide
EZ-Bar Legs Side Pull In Sit-Up
- Advanced
- Compound
- Rep-based
- Waist
This advanced compound movement integrates a weighted sit-up with a lateral knee tuck to aggressively target the rectus abdominis and obliques while challenging hip flexor strength. The addition of the EZ-bar increases the stability requirement and provides a significant load to the entire core complex.
Reviewed by the Crucible Fit team · Updated June 2026
Muscles worked
Setup
- Lie flat on your back with legs fully extended and heels hovering slightly off the floor.
- Grip the EZ-bar at the inner knurling with a shoulder-width overhand grip.
- Hold the bar directly over your chest with arms extended, locking your shoulder blades into the floor.
How to do it
- Exhale as you sit up, simultaneously drawing both knees toward your right elbow while keeping the bar level.
- Contract your obliques at the top of the movement, bringing your chest and knees as close together as possible.
- Inhale and slowly lower your torso and legs back to the starting position in a controlled manner.
- Alternate sides by pulling your knees toward your left elbow on the following repetition.
Form checklist
- Keep the EZ-bar horizontal and stable; do not let it tilt as you rotate.
- Maintain a hollow body position at the bottom to keep the core engaged.
- Avoid letting your heels touch the ground between repetitions.
- Ensure the movement comes from the core, not by swinging the arms or bar.
Pro tips
- Think about 'shortening' the distance between your hip bone and lower ribs to maximize oblique recruitment.
- Pause for a split second at the peak of the contraction to emphasize the mind-muscle connection with the deep abdominals.
Make it harder
- Increase the load by adding weight plates to the EZ-bar.
- Perform the eccentric phase (lowering) with a 4-second tempo to maximize time under tension.
Frequently asked
- What muscles does the ez-bar legs side pull in sit-up work?
- The ez-bar legs side pull in sit-up primarily targets the abs and obliques, and also works the erector spinae as secondary muscles.
- What equipment do you need for the ez-bar legs side pull in sit-up?
- The ez-bar legs side pull in sit-up uses ez barbell.
- Is the ez-bar legs side pull in sit-up good for beginners?
- The ez-bar legs side pull in sit-up is rated advanced. Build a base with simpler variations first, then progress to it with light load and strict form.