How To: Abs, Part II

IF THE SPINE AIN’T BENDIN’, YOU’RE JUST PRETENDIN’.

Reference our Instagram for how-to videos: https://www.instagram.com/jonathan.watters/?hl=en

I’m expounding on this concept here and on IG. If you think your core is strong, you’ll benefit. If your core is actually strong, you’ll still benefit. If your core is weak, you’ll benefit. If you don’t know what a core is, you’ll benefit.

In the abs videos provided, I have some simple variants to just check your control. Notice I don’t even bother with the “lowing cow” position. That can become a real distraction for people in the developed world, as it just reinforces hip flexion (which we all do too much already). Thoracic and cervical extension, sure, we need more. But for this, just focus on the “cat back” and rest. I go neutral in the “rest.” Then extreme flexion in the “active” portion. 

Again, that the abs work trunk flexion is not my singular opinion in a sea of fakery. Check a physiology textbook. I get the sense that a lot of “experts” don’t own a single one, nor seem to have ever glanced at one, since they absolutely never reference defined muscle action. 

In this series I am going to continue showing some common core exercises which people think are hard or advanced, but are actually incredibly easy/wrong. I’ll provide the variant which is actually effective.

Stay tuned. One of the first on the chopping block is toes-to-bar, perhaps the easiest "core" exercise on the planet once you're beyond the absolute beginner stage. It's nonsense for most people performed the way it typical is performed. Throwing your feet at the bar is indeed a credit to your quads, hip flexors, and hamstring flexibility. Abs? Doubtful. That said, you can perform an actually effective exercise reaching your shins or any portion of the lower limb toward the bar, as long as the distance between the rib cage and pelvis is the focus and you're REDUCING that distance. Generally, I've seen people perform this one wherein the hips travel backward, increasing the stretch of the abdomen, and kicking the feet to the bar. Great (heavy sarcastic tone). You went A to B. Big thumbs down. Try contracting the appropriate muscles.