Exercise Comparison
3/4 Sit-Up vs Janda Sit-Up
Side-by-Side
Muscle Analysis
Shared
Instructions
3/4 Sit-Up
Lie down on the floor and secure your feet. Your legs should be bent at the knees.
Place your hands behind or to the side of your head. You will begin with your back on the ground. This will be your starting position.
Flex your hips and spine to raise your torso toward your knees.
At the top of the contraction your torso should be perpendicular to the ground. Reverse the motion, going only ¾ of the way down.
Repeat for the recommended amount of repetitions.
Janda Sit-Up
Position your body on the floor in the basic sit-up position; knees to a ninety degree angle with feet flat on the floor and arms either crossed over your chest or to the sides. This will be your starting position.
As you strongly tighten your glutes and hamstrings, fill your lungs with air and in a slow (three to six second count) ascent, slowly exhale. Tip: It is important to tighten the glutes and hamstrings as this will cause the hip flexors to be inactivated in a process called reciprocal inhibition, which basically means that opposite muscles to the contracted ones will relax.
As you inhale, slowly go back in a controlled manner to the starting position.
Repeat for the recommended amount of repetitions.
Verdict
Both exercises target the abdominals. 3/4 Sit-Up is a beginner exercise using bodyweight, while Janda Sit-Up is beginner and uses bodyweight. 3/4 Sit-Up is a compound movement working multiple joints, making it better for overall strength. Janda Sit-Up isolates the target muscle for focused development.