TETSU

Arms Overhead Full Sit-Up vs Landmine 180

The Arms Overhead Full Sit-Up and the Landmine 180 both train the abs as their primary muscle. The Arms Overhead Full Sit-Up is bodyweight-only while the Landmine 180 uses a barbell. Here is how they compare and when to pick each.

Head to head

Side-by-side comparison

Arms Overhead Full Sit-UpLandmine 180
Primary muscleabsabs
Body partwaistwaist
Supporting muscleship flexors and lower backobliques and quadriceps
Equipmentbodyweightbarbell
Steps in our guide54
Setup

How each one starts

Arms Overhead Full Sit-Up — first steps

  1. Lie flat on your back with your knees bent and feet flat on the ground.
  2. Extend your arms overhead, keeping them straight.

Landmine 180 — first steps

  1. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and hold the barbell with both hands in front of your chest.
  2. Bend your knees slightly and rotate your torso to the right, swinging the barbell down towards your right hip.

Full step-by-step guides are linked below.

Decision

Which should you choose?

The Arms Overhead Full Sit-Up needs no equipment and scales through leverage, tempo and reps. The Landmine 180 lets you load the heaviest weights and progress in small, steady jumps. If your gym has both options, neither is a wrong choice: pick the one that feels strongest through a full range, and swap after 6 to 8 weeks to keep the abs adapting.

Guides

Full form guides

Answers

Common questions

Is the Arms Overhead Full Sit-Up better than the Landmine 180?

Neither is universally better — both train the abs as the primary mover. The Arms Overhead Full Sit-Up needs no equipment and scales through leverage, tempo and reps, while the Landmine 180 lets you load the heaviest weights and progress in small, steady jumps. Choose based on your equipment and which movement you can progress consistently.

Can I do both the Arms Overhead Full Sit-Up and the Landmine 180 in the same program?

Yes, but usually not in the same session — they overlap heavily on the abs. A common setup is one as your main movement and the other on a second training day, or alternating them block by block.

Do the Arms Overhead Full Sit-Up and the Landmine 180 work the same muscles?

The primary muscle is the same: the abs. Supporting muscles differ slightly — hip flexors and lower back for the Arms Overhead Full Sit-Up versus obliques and quadriceps for the Landmine 180.

Track it in Tetsu

Tetsu tracks both movements separately, keeps your PRs per exercise, and tells you which one is actually progressing. Free to start.