Core
Trunk flexion, bracing and hanging leg raise patterns.

- Rectus abdominis
- Hip flexors
Exercises that train the Core
- 3 4 Sit-UpPrimary · Bodyweight
- 45 Degree Bicycle Twisting CrunchPrimary · Bodyweight
- 45 Degrees Side BendPrimary · Bodyweight
- Air Twisting CrunchPrimary · Bodyweight
- Alternate Heel TouchersPrimary · Bodyweight
- Alternate Leg RaisePrimary · Bodyweight
- Alternate Lying Floor Leg RaisePrimary · Bodyweight
- Band Assisted Wheel RolloutPrimary · Resistance band
- Band Decline Sit-UpPrimary · Resistance band
- Band Jack Knife Sit-UpPrimary · Resistance band
- Band Kneeling CrunchPrimary · Resistance band
- Band Seated TwistPrimary · Resistance band
- Band Side BendPrimary · Resistance band
- Band Standing CrunchPrimary · Resistance band
- Band TwistPrimary · Resistance band
- Barbell RolloutPrimary · Barbell
- Barbell Sitted Alternate Leg RaisePrimary · Barbell
- Barbell Standing Ab RolloutPrimary · Barbell
- Barbell Standing TwistPrimary · Barbell
- Bicycle CrunchPrimary · Bodyweight
- Bodyweight WindmillPrimary · Bodyweight
- Bottoms UpPrimary · Bodyweight
- Cable Half Kneeling Pallof PressPrimary · Cable
- Cable Hanging Leg RaisePrimary · Cable
- Cable Horizontal Pallof PressPrimary · Cable
- Cable Judo FlipPrimary · Cable
- Cable Kneeling CrunchPrimary · Cable
- Cable Reverse CrunchPrimary · Cable
- Cable Russian Twists (on Stability Ball)Primary · Cable
- Cable Seated CrunchPrimary · Cable
- Cable Side BendPrimary · Cable
- Cable Side CrunchPrimary · Cable
- Cable Standing CrunchPrimary · Cable
- Cable Standing Crunch (with Rope Attachment)Primary · Cable
- Cable TwistPrimary · Cable
- Cable Twist (Version 2)Primary · Cable
- Captains Chair Straight Leg RaisePrimary · Bodyweight
- CocoonsPrimary · Bodyweight
- Crunch (Arms Straight)Primary · Bodyweight
- Crunch (on Bench)Primary · Bodyweight
- Crunch (on Stability Ball)Primary · Bodyweight
- Crunch FloorPrimary · Bodyweight
- Crunch with Medicine BallPrimary · Bodyweight
- Curl UpPrimary · Bodyweight
- Dead BugPrimary · Bodyweight
- Dead Bug (Version 2)Primary · Bodyweight
- Dead Bug with Stability BallPrimary · Bodyweight
- Decline Bent Leg Reverse CrunchPrimary · Bodyweight
- Decline CrunchPrimary · Bodyweight
- Decline Sit-UpPrimary · Bodyweight
- Dumbbell Russian TwistPrimary · Dumbbell
- Dumbbell Side BendPrimary · Dumbbell
- Dumbbell Side BridgePrimary · Dumbbell
- Dumbbell Sit-UpPrimary · Dumbbell
- Dumbbell V UpPrimary · Dumbbell
- Elbow to Knee Side Plank CrunchPrimary · Bodyweight
- Elbow to Knee Sit-UpPrimary · Bodyweight
- Elbow Up and Down Dynamic PlankPrimary · Bodyweight
- Flexion Leg Sit-Up (Straight Arm)Primary · Bodyweight
- Flutter Kicks (Version 3)Primary · Bodyweight
- Frog CrunchPrimary · Bodyweight
- Front PlankPrimary · Bodyweight
- Front Plank with Arm and Leg LiftPrimary · Bodyweight
- Front Plank with Leg LiftPrimary · Bodyweight
- Gorilla ChinPrimary · Bodyweight
- Groin CrunchPrimary · Bodyweight
- Half Squat Side ReachPrimary · Bodyweight
- Handstand Hold on WallPrimary · Bodyweight
- Hanging Leg Hip RaisePrimary · Bodyweight
- Hanging Oblique Knee RaisePrimary · Bodyweight
- Hanging PikePrimary · Bodyweight
- Hanging Straight Leg Hip RaisePrimary · Bodyweight
- Hanging Straight Leg RaisePrimary · Bodyweight
- Hanging Straight Twisting Leg Hip RaisePrimary · Bodyweight
- Hip Lift Low Back Off FloorPrimary · Bodyweight
- Hip Raise (Bent Knee)Primary · Bodyweight
- Hollow HoldPrimary · Bodyweight
- Incline Leg Hip Raise (Leg Straight)Primary · Bodyweight
- Janda Sit-UpPrimary · Bodyweight
- Kettlebell Double WindmillPrimary · Kettlebell
- Kettlebell Figure 8Primary · Kettlebell
- Kettlebell Sit-UpPrimary · Kettlebell
- Kettlebell WindmillPrimary · Kettlebell
- Knee Touch CrunchPrimary · Bodyweight
- Kneeling PlankPrimary · Bodyweight
- Landmine 180Primary · Barbell
- Leg Front KickPrimary · Bodyweight
- Lever Seated CrunchPrimary · Machine
- Lever Seated Crunch (Chest Pad)Primary · Machine
- Lever Seated TwistPrimary · Machine
- Lever Side Hip AbductionPrimary · Machine
- Long Arm CrunchPrimary · Bodyweight
- Lying Ab PressPrimary · Bodyweight
- Lying Crunch (Straight Legs)Primary · Bodyweight
- Lying Leg Hip RaisePrimary · Bodyweight
- Lying Leg RaisePrimary · Bodyweight
- Lying Scissors CrossPrimary · Bodyweight
- Lying Single Leg RaisePrimary · Bodyweight
- Lying Toe TapPrimary · Bodyweight
- Negative Dragon FlagPrimary · Bodyweight
- Oblique Crunch (Version 2)Primary · Bodyweight
- Otis UpPrimary · Bodyweight
- Plank JackPrimary · Bodyweight
- Potty SquatPrimary · Bodyweight
- Pull in (on Stability Ball)Primary · Bodyweight
- Quarter Sit-UpPrimary · Bodyweight
- Resistance Band Plank MarchPrimary · Resistance band
- Reverse CrunchPrimary · Bodyweight
- Russian TwistPrimary · Bodyweight
- Scissors (Advanced)Primary · Bodyweight
- Seated in Out Leg Raise on FloorPrimary · Bodyweight
- Seated Leg RaisePrimary · Bodyweight
- Seated Twist (Straight Arm)Primary · Bodyweight
- Side Bridge Hip AbductionPrimary · Bodyweight
- Side Lying Hip Adduction (Left)Primary · Bodyweight
- Side Plank PullPrimary · Bodyweight
- Spell CasterPrimary · Dumbbell
- Spider Crawl Push-UpPrimary · Bodyweight
- Spider PlankPrimary · Bodyweight
- Stability Ball Rollout on KneesPrimary · Bodyweight
- Standing Ab TwistPrimary · Bodyweight
- Standing Air BikePrimary · Bodyweight
- Standing Side Bend (Bent Arm)Primary · Bodyweight
- Standing Wheel RolloutPrimary · Bodyweight
- Starfish Crunch (Beginner)Primary · Bodyweight
- Straight Leg Sit-UpPrimary · Bodyweight
- Twisted Leg RaisePrimary · Bodyweight
- Twisting CrunchPrimary · Bodyweight
- V UpPrimary · Bodyweight
- V Up Down (with Stability Ball)Primary · Bodyweight
- V Up with ClapPrimary · Bodyweight
- Vertical Leg Raise (on Parallel Bars)Primary · Bodyweight
- Weighted Captains Chair Leg RaisePrimary · Bodyweight
- Weighted CrunchPrimary · Bodyweight
- Weighted Dumbbell Crunch (Hands Overhead)Primary · Dumbbell
- Weighted Dumbbell Crunch (Hands Overhead) (Version 2)Primary · Dumbbell
- Weighted Hanging Leg Hip RaisePrimary · Bodyweight
- Weighted Plate 45 Degrees Side BendPrimary · Bodyweight
- Weighted Plate Crunch (Hands Overhead)Primary · Bodyweight
- Weighted Plate Crunch (Hands Overhead) (Version 2)Primary · Bodyweight
- Weighted Russian TwistPrimary · Bodyweight
- Wheel RolloutPrimary · Bodyweight
- Back Forward Leg SwingsSecondary · Bodyweight
- Band Kneeling One Arm PulldownSecondary · Resistance band
- Band One Arm Twisting Seated RowSecondary · Resistance band
- Bent Knee Lying TwistSecondary · Bodyweight
- Cable One Arm Lat PulldownSecondary · Cable
- Cable One Arm Twisting Seated RowSecondary · Cable
- Cable Twisting Overhead PressSecondary · Cable
- Commando Pull-UpSecondary · Bodyweight
- Curtsey SquatSecondary · Bodyweight
- Glute Bridge MarchSecondary · Bodyweight
- Jack StepSecondary · Bodyweight
- Kettlebell Bent PressSecondary · Kettlebell
- Kettlebell Lunge Pass ThroughSecondary · Kettlebell
- Lying Air CyclesSecondary · Bodyweight
- Marching on SpotSecondary · Bodyweight
- Medicine Ball Overhead SlamSecondary · Bodyweight
- Pelvic TiltSecondary · Bodyweight
- Pull-Up (Negative)Secondary · Bodyweight
- Shoulder TapSecondary · Bodyweight
- Table Top BridgeSecondary · Bodyweight
- Wide Chin-UpSecondary · Bodyweight
- Backward Abdominal StretchPrimary · Bodyweight
- Boat StretchPrimary · Bodyweight
- Chin to Chest StretchPrimary · Bodyweight
- Cobra Yoga PosePrimary · Bodyweight
- Kneeling Back Rotation StretchPrimary · Bodyweight
- Lying (Prone) Abdominal StretchPrimary · Bodyweight
- Middle Back StretchPrimary · Bodyweight
- Prone Cobra Hands InterlockedPrimary · Bodyweight
- Prone Cobra Palms Under ThighsPrimary · Bodyweight
- Roll Peroneal Side Lying on FloorPrimary · Bodyweight
- Spine Stretch ForwardPrimary · Bodyweight
- Standing Abs Rotation StretchPrimary · Bodyweight
- Cat StretchSecondary · Bodyweight
- Crossover Kneeling Hip Flexor StretchSecondary · Bodyweight
- Feet and Ankles Rotation StretchSecondary · Bodyweight
- Flexion and Extension Hip StretchSecondary · Bodyweight
- Hip Flexor Stretch Rear Foot ElevatedSecondary · Bodyweight
- Iron Cross StretchSecondary · Bodyweight
- Kneeling Hip Flexor StretchSecondary · Bodyweight
- Pigeon Hip StretchSecondary · Bodyweight
- Roll Lower Back (Side) Lying on FloorSecondary · Bodyweight
- Roll Thoracic Spine Lying on FloorSecondary · Bodyweight
- Seated Lower Back StretchSecondary · Bodyweight
- Single Leg Stretch (Bent Knee)Secondary · Bodyweight
- Single Straight Leg StretchSecondary · Bodyweight
- Spinal Stretch (on Stability Ball)Secondary · Bodyweight
- Spine StretchSecondary · Bodyweight
- Standing Back Rotation StretchSecondary · Bodyweight
- Standing Lateral StretchSecondary · Bodyweight
- Alternate PunchingPrimary · Bodyweight
- Bicycle Recline WalkPrimary · Machine
- Bridge Mountain Climber (Cross Body)Primary · Bodyweight
- Diagonal PunchPrimary · Bodyweight
- Front Leg Lift Under Knee TapPrimary · Bodyweight
- Punch Step ForwardPrimary · Bodyweight
- Riding Outdoor BicyclePrimary · Bodyweight
- Shoulder Tap Push-UpPrimary · Bodyweight
- Arm Raise Step in PlaceSecondary · Bodyweight
- BurpeeSecondary · Bodyweight
- Butt KicksSecondary · Bodyweight
- Celebratory Knee DrivesSecondary · Bodyweight
- Elbow to Knee TwistsSecondary · Bodyweight
- Frog HopsSecondary · Bodyweight
- High Knee RunSecondary · Bodyweight
- High Knee SkipsSecondary · Bodyweight
- High Knee TapSecondary · Bodyweight
- Jump BoxSecondary · Bodyweight
- Jump SplitSecondary · Bodyweight
- Jumping JackSecondary · Bodyweight
- Lateral BoundSecondary · Bodyweight
- Mountain ClimberSecondary · Bodyweight
- Place JogSecondary · Bodyweight
- Plyo JacksSecondary · Bodyweight
- Quick Feet (Version 2)Secondary · Bodyweight
- Quick Feet RunSecondary · Bodyweight
- RunSecondary · Bodyweight
- Side to Side HopSecondary · Bodyweight
- Standing Long JumpSecondary · Bodyweight
- Star JumpSecondary · Bodyweight
- Stationary Bike Run (Version 3)Secondary · Machine
- Swim Leg CircleSecondary · Bodyweight
How to train it
Train the Core with 2–4 of the movements above. Cover different angles, use 2–4 sets each in a 6–15 rep range, and progress the load over time. Pair primary lifts with assisting movements for complete development.
Open the muscle planner →Core FAQ
What are the best exercises for the Core?
3 4 Sit-Up, 45 Degree Bicycle Twisting Crunch, 45 Degrees Side Bend and Air Twisting Crunch are among the most effective core exercises. Pair a heavy compound movement with one or two assistance exercises to train the core through its full range.
How often should you train the Core?
Training the core two to three times per week, with roughly 10–20 hard sets in total, works well for most lifters. Leave about 48 hours between demanding core sessions so the muscle can recover and grow.

