Core Exercises

[getlarge]

I've been thinking about devoting one day to straight core exercises. What's a good routine for this?

[CookAndrewB]

Core...

First, what are you including in this "core" that you are speaking of. It has different meanings to different people.

Second, to what end goal are you looking to do this? Are you looking to improve aesthetically, improve performance, or simply looking to be the most core-tastic guy you know?

Better answers are the result of better questions.

[getlarge]

Core...

First, what are you including in this "core" that you are speaking of. It has different meanings to different people.

Second, to what end goal are you looking to do this? Are you looking to improve aesthetically, improve performance, or simply looking to be the most core-tastic guy you know?

Better answers are the result of better questions.

core-tastic.. i like that. by core i mean abs and lower back. i'm looking to get stronger in all areas of my body, and i understand that it starts here. obviously the stronger my core gets, the better looking it will get as well.

[grim83]

not necessarily there sparky. strength does not begat a better looking muscle. look at most of the strongmen, believe me they have crazy strength all over, especially in the core, but most look like ****. also (if you were referring to the look of your abs) its genetic. their is very little that can be done about them. sorry and have a nice day along with some great training.

[getlarge]

not necessarily there sparky. strength does not begat a better looking muscle. look at most of the strongmen, believe me they have crazy strength all over, especially in the core, but most look like ****. also (if you were referring to the look of your abs) its genetic. their is very little that can be done about them. sorry and have a nice day along with some great training.

i hope you were trying to kid around, because that response was a joke.

1) don't call me sparky
2) from my experience, the stronger i have got, the better i have looked
3) there's very little that can be done and it's all genetic? are you stupid?
4) what could you possibly know about my genetics

i asked for a core workout program that bodybuilders use, and i get that? why did you even bother to respond?

[LB3]

In reference to the Abs, some of the shape and definition(read: look) of that muscle section when you can actually see them is influenced by genetics. I think that is what he was referring to.

Many notate Ahnold for this fact, since his lower abs were not all that present, and it's not like the dude didn't try(I think).

As for your OP, if you currently do compound crap then it's getting worked. Add some ab muscle work and lower your BF and they will be around, if they aren't already. Otherwise I love core work too, planks, tic tacs, medicine ball passes, etc etc. I sweat like a pig, and it feels great.

Funny note, did you know pigs don't even have sweat glands?

/mindblown, I know.

[LB3]

Maybe you're just an angry Flyers fan.

Or, maybe there's confuzion here about Strongmen and Bodybuilders, who does what and how. You said you wanted a stronger core, but a bodybuilding routine to achieve it. I would wager strongmen have stronger cores, but you probably won't see a 6 pack on them.

'cept maybe that Marios Pudga something. Dude always seems cut.

[CookAndrewB]

core-tastic.. i like that. by core i mean abs and lower back. i'm looking to get stronger in all areas of my body, and i understand that it starts here. obviously the stronger my core gets, the better looking it will get as well.

That might be up for discussion, but I suppose you can cross that bridge when you get to it.

So, functionality is the goal then?

Ab wheel (you will probably want to start these on your knees)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hyb86AA3R2k

Inch Worm pushups
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JsJrw...eature=channel

Renegade rows
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vyHls4EKqxU

Well, I was going to throw up some more vids but Youtube went down.

These are "generally" abdominal in nature, but I think you will find that they reach out a bit further than that. Saying these are ab exercises is a little like saying standing shoulder press is for the shoulders. Sure, a bit, but there is so much more to that equation. The good news is that these exercises will hit on some scapular stability and should help to keep your shoulders in good shape. Not exactly "core" but a pleasant side effect.

I would suggest looking into sandbag work as well. As simple as it may seem, picking up a sandbag and putting it on a platform of some sort is terrific work for the hips and lower back. (Google sandbag or stone loading)

[LB3]

+1 on sand. I had a military bag filled with sand for a while... and doing things with it was a damn good time and workout.

[getlarge]

Maybe you're just an angry Flyers fan.

Or, maybe there's confuzion here about Strongmen and Bodybuilders, who does what and how. You said you wanted a stronger core, but a bodybuilding routine to achieve it. I would wager strongmen have stronger cores, but you probably won't see a 6 pack on them.

'cept maybe that Marios Pudga something. Dude always seems cut.

nope, just an angry eagles and phillies fan (until last october of course).

yeah i've been doing the basic situps and whatnot, i was just looking for other exercises to build a stronger core. hopefully it would help my bench out and upper body.

other than sit-ups, deadlifts, hyperextensions, crunches, what else is there?

[CookAndrewB]

not necessarily there sparky. strength does not begat a better looking muscle. look at most of the strongmen, believe me they have crazy strength all over, especially in the core, but most look like ****.

Well, you have a couple things going on there. Strong core = big core, but rarely do people think "big waist" and "sexy"

3) there's very little that can be done and it's all genetic? are you stupid?
4) what could you possibly know about my genetics

i asked for a core workout program that bodybuilders use, and i get that? why did you even bother to respond?

To be fair...

There is little you can do about genetics. You can improve, but you can't become a tree or grow a vagina... and along those lines, but considerably less extreme, you can't make your muscles a size and shape they aren't meant to be.

Also, you asked about functionality, not aesthetics. I know about one, and practically nothing about the other. I'll let you decide which

Or, maybe there's confuzion here about Strongmen and Bodybuilders, who does what and how. You said you wanted a stronger core, but a bodybuilding routine to achieve it. I would wager strongmen have stronger cores, but you probably won't see a 6 pack on them.

'cept maybe that Marios Pudga something. Dude always seems cut.

Matter of diet, same with seeing a 6-pack on powerlifters. There isn't any benefit (from a strength and performance standpoint) to having ripped abs. Might be a benefit if you are trying to bed the rich old cougar who owns the pool you are cleaning (saw that plot on a porno once) but for getting real world work done, not gonna help you.