I’ve been doing the X2 Ab Ripper routine from P90X2 and I be many people are wondering how it compares to the P90X Ab Ribber X (ARX) routine. So, I have to be honest and say I struggled a bit more in Ab Ripper X and that may be because of the quicker pace from move to move and the fact that each exercise in Ab Ripper X was 25 reps.
If you’re like me, the P90X Ab Ripper took a long time to get down and the remote was always close by to hit the pause button. So far X2 Ab Ripper is the same! Now, if you can make it through P90X Ab Ripper without hitting pause, I think you will do just fine with X2 Ab Ripper. If you haven’t worked out in a while or are new to ab routines like Ab Ripper X, X2 Ab Ripper will be a challenge. But a good challenge!
Some of the X2 exercises are similar to ARX with a few enhancements such as “Scissor Twists” are similar to “Fifer Scissors” except as you raise one leg in the air and bring the opposite arm towards your raised leg and hold for a few seconds.
“Row Your Boat” is like “In and Out Abs” or “Crunchy Frogs” where you your legs outward in a push motion with your arms and then row you r arms back and bend your knees in, like rowing a boat! Superman Banana X is the same as in ARX except you have arms and feet wide to make an X. Other moves that will be familiar to those P90X fans similar moves are Oblique Roll Crunch, and Roll V Hold.
Then there are some killer isometric moves that work to get the best of me such as Abrinome where you lie on your back with your arms out to the side and with your legs straight up, you swing your legs to one side and hold at a 45 degree angle for a period of time (seems to take forever!). Gate Bridge Lift is like a draw bridge move and right after that is my nemesis, which is the Phelon Twist. This one is where you fold your arms like in a straight jacket and twist to one side and hold. I have a picture here to illustrate and there’s more in the video clip here.
Here is a list of the moves. The workout takes about 16 minutes!
- Scissor Twist (20 reps)
- Row Your Boat (20 Reps)
- Superman Banana X (13 Reps)
- Oblique Roll Crunch (22 Reps)
- Roll V Hold (10 Reps)
- Abrinome (9 Reps)
- Gate Bridge Lift (10 Reps)
- Phelon Twist (10 Reps)
- Scissor Clapper (30 Reps)
- Tornado (20 Reps)
- Balance Bike Crunch (20 Reps)
This is a great ab workout and blends nicely with other ab/core workouts from Beachbody. For me, the isometric holds are the biggest challenge from those moves in Ab Ripper X. I think most people will find the workout to provide great challenge. Other ab routines that are phenomenal Ab Core Plus in P90X+, Abs in Ten Minute Trainer, and Insane Abs in Insanity. Rev Abs and Chalene Extreme are also amazing for the core!
Leave a Reply