Wood Choppers?

Anyone do this exercise? I did it religiously in Iraq and strengthened my hip flexors and lower obliques pretty good.  Helped my golf swing.  Just not sure the relation to Tris. 

It's similar to Kettlebell swings, but it's with a 25 lb plate and you go diagonally like you're kayaking (or you can use the cables like the guy in this video).  Actually got the exercise from 2 Lieutenants who were big trick-boat kayakers.

http://www.ehow.com/video_4433367_do-oblique-woodchopper-exercise.html