Curl-Up
Core · Bodyweight · Beginner
How to do it
- Lie flat on your back with your knees bent and feet flat on the ground.
- Place your hands behind your head with your elbows pointing outwards.
- Engaging your abs, slowly lift your upper body off the ground, curling forward until your torso is at a 45-degree angle.
- Pause for a moment at the top, then slowly lower your upper body back down to the starting position.
- Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.
Muscles worked
Primary: Abs
Secondary: Hip Flexors
Is your Curl-Up good?
Enter your bodyweight to compare against Buffro's nine strength ranks. The source is Buffro's exercise-specific standards, not a generic chart copied across every movement.
| Buffro rank | Clean reps |
|---|---|
| Beginner | 5 reps |
| Novice | 15 reps |
| Intermediate | 25 reps |
| Advanced | 40 reps |
| Expert | 54 reps |
| Veteran | 71 reps |
| Elite | 88 reps |
| Master | 107 reps |
| Apex | 126 reps |
These targets mirror Buffro's bodyweight-rep rank math for adults under 40 and adjust for bodyweight. They are training benchmarks, not medical or safety limits.
The table uses the same nine tiers as the Buffro app for Curl-Up.
Sets and reps
Use an easy load and stop well before failure while you learn the movement.
Finish most sets with 1-3 good reps still available.
Use strict form and progress the load only after the top of the rep range is clean.
Common mistakes
- Using momentum to finish the rep. Keep your body controlled so the target muscles, not swinging, create the movement.
- Shortening the range as fatigue builds. Use the largest pain-free range that keeps tension on your abs.
- Turning the set into a speed contest. Pause briefly in the hardest position, then control the return instead of dropping into the next rep.
Curl-Up FAQ
What muscles does the Curl-Up work?
The primary target is abs. It also involves hip flexors while you keep the movement controlled.
How many sets and reps should I do for the Curl-Up?
Start with 3 sets in a repeatable range. Use 6-12 reps for most compound work or 10-15 for smaller isolation work, then add load after you can complete every rep cleanly.
How should I read the Curl-Up strength standards?
Use clean reps through the same range each set. Buffro adjusts bodyweight-rep standards for bodyweight, sex, and the movement's difficulty family.