any point training abs seperately?

[jonny100]

I'm following a 3-day per week full-body workout, was just wondering if there's any need to work my abs with things like crunches, hanging leg raises etc when i'm doing all the compound movements already. I've read some people saying that the abs will be worked enough just from these.
any opinions? (my goal is bulking at the moment).

 

[Karky]

well i do aditional ab work, and i think its importaint, but not crunches.
its all about you're goals, do you need more core muscles?
Things like
hanging leg raises
renegade rows
ab rollouts
planks.

killer exercises for the abs

 

[jonny100]

thanks for that karky, i'll give them a go

 

[wacky906]

I also incorporate some more ab work besides my compound exercises.

I do

Weighted Crunches on Swiss Ball - Upper Abs
Reverse Crunches - Lower Abs
Russian Twists - Obliques
Back Extensions - Lower Back

 

[jsb]

Personally I generally don't do any direct ab work I don't think it is needed. If you have a good all round programme with things like one arm dumbell thrusters, heavy back and front squating, overhead squating, deadlifts and GM just to name a few by the time you go to do ab work you should already feel that your abs have gotten a good hammering

 

[Karky]

personally i dont feel that much in my abs after doing heavy compounds, ofcource i brace and feel them working, but i like to really tire them with some extra work, stuff to stabilize the pelvic for example. And rotation is needed if you're an athleete who needs it (thrower, martial artist etc)

 

[SgtTTTT]

My opinion is that the body benefits from tight ab muscles. Many old-time (pre steroid) body-builders had great abs which they often trained 5-or-6 times a week (traing but not over-training). Unlike most skeletal muscles, the abs can take several consecutive days of light-to-moderate training without ill effects.

You could also train different parts on different days (dividing frontal movements, side-to-side movements, & twisting movements) if you wish.

There are some simple very-old Chinese breathing exercises which exercise the abs quite well while you just stand & breath -- it's called "5-Animal Play" (WUQIN QIGONG; consiting of 5 postures: Ape, Deer, Tiger, Bear, & Bird; Ape works the low-abs; Deer works the upper-abs; Tiger works to stretch the lats & also hits both the front-abs & the obliques; Bear works the obliques; & Bird works the centerline of the back) & it is well-described & photographed on pages 41-thru-44 of a book titled "THE WONDERS OF QIGONG: A Chinese Exercise for Fitness, Health & Longetivity" © 1985, ISBN 0-935099-07-7 (if out of print, then it's worth searching for if you want the benefits of tight abs without doing the more common western ab exercises).

Hope this helps you decide -- remember it's your body: what you do or don't do will affect you 1st & foremost.

Take Care,

Marooned Mike