So many people ask about abs...
Abs are nice, they are pretty, both boys and girls want them to look good... nothing wrong with that in itself. BUT we are missing out on the big picture. Besides vanity, abs are REALLY important for other functions as well. and its not just the abs, its the entire torso musculature. Including obliques(sides), spinal errectors (the middle of the back), quadratus lumborum (makes sure the hips are level), and a bunch of smaller ones:) This whole bunch of muscles do the following...
-Keeping Posture
-Supporting heavy loads
-Trasfering power from the lower body to the upper and Vice versa
-and YES looking pretty
I am especially concious about torso strength becuase I have had a slipped disc before thats an OUCH. But now its good as new and stronger than ever thanks alot to consistent core training.
These exercises in the video train the core hard, and in a way that translates to real life activity. Athletes and people who want to make sure that they stay healathy in the back all through life will want to do these. I especially like the swiss ball wood chops (the cable can be put high, middle or low for differnt movement planes - i demonstrate the high and middle variation, i think you can imagine what the low one looks like... just twist and lift diagonally upward.
I learned about them from a video from the Parisi Speed School about training full contact martial artists. Hey those guys are tough. We can learn from all disciplines of sport, so thats what I'm sharing here.
BTW, make sure that you "brace" the abdominals when training them. Hold your breath and blow into the tummy and make it as big as possible (not the chest) this will keep you stable as you train. this holds true for all other lifting as well.
posted by Coach Jonathan Wong @ 7/01/2006 10:49:00 PM
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