5 Great Core Exercises You Probably Don’t Do

Core strength is essential for all athletes and your core generally refers to your abdominal and oblique muscles. All athletes should build a strong core because it is the epicenter of your overall strength and having a strong core will improve your ability to perform many exercises and sports. Most people tend to think crunches are the only way to build up your abdominals but there are many other exercises that are just as effective, if not better, at working your core.

1 Front Squat

The front squat is a fantastic quadriceps building exercise but it also strongly involves your core muscles. The front squat is similar to the regular squat except the bar is resting on your front shoulders. The front squat will really challenge your core muscles and should definitely be a part of your routine.

2 Reverse Crunch

The reverse crunch is a useful variation on the standard crunch and really targets the abdominal muscles.

3 Deadlift

I am a big fan of compound movements because they are so effective at building muscle and they have the advantage of working many different muscles all at the same time. The deadlift is a very important compound lift that works your lower back, hamstrings and core extensively.

4 Hanging Leg Raise

The hanging leg raise will really test your midsection and will give you a challenging abdominal workout. To perform the movement grab a pull up bar and hang down. Slowly raise your feet up towards the bar, keeping your legs straight. Do the movement slowly and controlled and feel the burn in your abs.

5 Plank

To perform the plank move, hold a straight body position, supported on elbows and toes. Brace the abdominals and maintain a straight body line through feet, hips and head. Focus on keeping your abs really tight and hold the position for as long as you can.