MB Ab Blaster
Description
Of all the abdominal exercises, this is my personal favorite. I actually think it’s the best stomach exercise out there. If you’re able to perform it properly, I highly recommend implementing it into your workout program. It’s tricky at first but you’ll eventually master the movement and once you do, you’ll feel it the next day as you sit up out of bed. The most common mistakes when performing this movement relate to timing. Don’t sit up until your feet make contact with the ground and make sure you allow the medicine ball to roll off your fingertips in a fluid movement rather than moving to an upright position and throwing from there.
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Execution
- From a seated position, flex knees to a 90 degree angle and lean back slightly till you feel a slight isometric contraction on the abdominal region.
- Grasp an appropriately weighted medicine ball with arms fully extended and hold directly above your chest.
- While keeping arms extended, lower back down to the mat in a controlled motion. As you lower yourself, allow the weighted ball to drift back until making slight contact with the mat. In this position, your mid-arm should be lined up at ear level and you should be in complete contact with the mat with the exception of your flexed legs.
- Flex at the hips , extend legs and anteriorly rotate pelvis (raise legs till bum curls off of the mat). Hold the extended leg position, contract the lower abdominals and lower down at a controlled speed. Flex at the knees as you lower your legs so you end up with legs back in the starting position.
- The moment that your heels make contact with the mat, perform a crunch and let the momentum cause the medicine ball to roll off your fingertips and into your spotters hands.
- In the upright position while contracting your abdominals, wait for your spotter to gently toss the ball back into your hands. Extend arms and lower down slowly repeating step 3.
- Repeat until desired number of repetitions are completed.
Variations
To increase the difficulty, have your spotter push down on the medicine ball on the downward phase of the movement.
Another variation is to switch the order in which the steps are performed. Example, perform three leg raises in a row or three consecutive crunch-toss movements.
A good finisher to this exercise is to superset with the plank exercise, otherwise known as the “core stabilization bridge”. Remember, the further you put your arms from under your body, the more difficult it gets to hold.
Machine Crunches
Description
Machine crunches are an excellent choice for both beginner and advanced trainees. Beginners will find machine crunches to be a practical alternative due to the movement simplicity and the option to select a relatively light resistance. Since the adjustable stack allows the option to increase the weights to otherwise impractical loads, advanced trainees commonly opt to incorporate machine crunches to perform their heavy repetitions to work on maximal strength.
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Execution
- Adjust the seat to a position that allows the pad to line up across the chest.
- Position the lower legs behind the foot pads and hands atop the outer portion of the chest padding with elbows to the sides.
- Perform an abdominal set to protect the lower back.
- Exhale and crunch forward until a contraction is felt within the abdominal region.
- Inhale and at a controlled speed, lower back down to a position just shy of starting position. Stopping shy of the starting position will ensure that the abdominals uphold the muscular contraction.
- Repeat until the desired number of repetitions are completed.
Stabilization Bridge
Description
This is a great core stability exercise that calls upon the core muscles - primarily the abdominals - to contract isometrically in order to stabilize the torso and prevent the pelvic region from collapsing. While this movement works well on its own, it is particularly effective when used in conjunction with abdominal movements such as the MB combo crunch. Using the core stabilization bridge as a superset finisher is very effective way to take the abdominals to a further extent of muscle fatigue.
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Execution
- The set up for this exercise has you lying face down with forearms against the ground at shoulder width and hands facing forward.
- With feet together, elevate the torso into a bridge position. The only points of ground contact should be the forearms and the toes.
- Focus on keeping the back straight and maintaining the bridge position. Make sure to breath while your holding the position.
- Hold position until muscle failure is reached.
Variations
Positioning the forearms wider then the shoulders will increase the difficulty and place more stress on the abdominals.
Having a training partner sit across the shoulders is also an effective way add resistance and increase the difficulty. Ensure that your partner sits across your upper back in alignment to where your forearms are placed. If your partner sits too low, additional stress will be placed on the lower back making you more susceptible to injury.
Performing the movement with knees on the ground will decrease the difficulty. This is the best option for beginners.
Oblique MB Twists
Description
This exercise is a must for most training programs as it is suitable for both beginner and advanced trainees. It is also a great option when time is limited as it recruits and trains both the abs and obliques. The obliques - as mentioned throughout the site - are often overlooked as most people concern themselves only with training the abs. Don’t make this mistake! The oblique region is extremely functional when it comes to both athletics and regular day to day activities. This is actually one of the best medicine ball core exercises that you can do.
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Execution
- Sit in an upright position with the legs bent to a 45 degree angle. The feet should be in contact with the ground. From this position, grasp an appropriately weighted medicine ball and lean back slightly until you feel a contraction within the abdominal region.
- With the arms extended and the medicine ball positioned over the chest, perform a semi-circular motion by shifting the arms from side to side.
- Repeat until the desired number if repetitions are completed.
Note: Remember to breath constantly throughout the exercise.
Variations
Elevating the feet will decrease stability and increase the reliance on the abdominal region to maintain the position. This will increase the difficulty.
Bending the arms will make the movement easier. You can use this technique in combination with the straight arm method to decrease the difficulty when first stage of fatigue is reached. This will produce an end result similar to a drop set.
Performing the exercise on a BOSU balance trainer will increase the stability recruitment and therefore, the movement will be more difficult to perform.
Seated Partner MB Toss
Description
Considering the amount of times we turn and rotate our bodies throughout the course of a day, it only makes sense to strengthen the muscles that are responsible for these movements. The oblique muscles - both internal and external - enable us to efficiently rotate and perform many common activities of daily living.
The functionality of these muscles goes beyond household tasks considering that many high-performance sporting movements - such as a golf swing - are initiated through core rotation. Performing the following medicine ball toss, along with some of the other oblique-strengthening movements provided within this site, will be very effective in improving both your athletic performance and your ability to carry out day-to-day activities.
Execution
- While in a seated position, bend knees slightly while keeping heels in contact with the ground, and lean back until tension is felt within the abdominal region.
- Inhale and while holding a medicine ball with arms extended, rotate torso to the left and tap the ball to the ground. Rotate to a position that provides a stretch but still remains comfortable.
- Exhale, rotate torso and while maintaining arm extension, release the ball in the direction of your partners hands for him/her to catch and control.
- Repeat until the desired number of repetitions are completed.
- Change positions in order to train the other side of your torso.
Variations
Lifting the feet a few inches off the ground while performing the movement will increase the need for stabilization and activate additional muscles to contract throughout the movement.
The further away from the body the ball is tapped to the floor, the more recruitment is needed from the core.
A similar movement can be performed by using two decline benches - side by side.
Exercise Ball Crunches
Description
Exercise ball crunches are a great alternative for trainees who suffer from low back problems. Using the exercise ball also increases the need for stability which makes the movement more functional when translated to everyday activities. As with any other abdominal exercise, it is important to initiate the movement by executing what’s known as an abdominal set.
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Execution
- From an upright seated position on the ball, step out and lean back until your lower back is comfortably supported by the exercise ball. Initiate abdominal set.
- Exhale and flex at the hips until a contraction is felt within the abdominals. Briefly hold this contracted position before releasing.
- Inhale and lower back down to starting position at a controlled speed.
- Repeat until desired number of repetitions are completed.
Variations
Narrowing the foot stance while performing exercise ball crunches will decrease the base of support and increase the muscle recruitment needed for stabilization.
Performing exercise ball crunches with your arms in an extended position behind your head will manipulate the movement biomechanics and increase the difficulty of the exercise.
Tying a resist-a-band to a nearby pole and gripping the handles at chest level while performing exercise ball crunches will increase the resistance, thus increase the difficulty of the exercise.
You can target your obliques (sides) by twisting your body to the side to finish off each repetition.
Cable Crunch
Description
A major advantage of performing the cable crunch exercise is the fact that the weight stack makes progression quite easy. The option to add resistance also allows you to reach fatigue faster and more importantly, the added resistance will help to recruit the fast twitch muscle fibers that are responsible for strength and power.
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Execution
- Select either the rope or a V-bar attachment and hook it onto the cable column. Place an exercise mat on the ground to pad your knees.
- Grasp handle using a neutral grip, bend down to knees and position the V-bar/rope behind head.
- Initiate abdominal set and position knees slightly behind body.
- Exhale, contract the abdominals and draw your torso towards the ground. The finishing position should have your elbows in contact with the mat.
- Inhale and at a controlled speed, move back up to starting position.
- Repeat until desired number of repetitions are completed.
Transfer Crunch
Description
The transfer crunch - which is one of the better swiss ball exercises - is an excellent way to strengthen the abdominal region. Due to the great deal of flexibility, coordination and abdominal strength required for each repetition, beginners often find the movement difficult to perform. Therefore, this movement is best suited for more experienced trainees.
Execution
- While lying with your back to the mat, extend the arms overhead while firmly gripping the sides of an exercise ball.
- Exhale, crunch upwards and draw the extended arms and feet towards each other.
- Place the exercise ball between your feet, inhale and while keeping your arms and legs straight, lower them back down to starting position at a controlled speed.
Tip: Do not allow the exercise ball or feet to make contact with the ground.. Doing so will keep the tension on the abdominal region. - Repeat the movement only this time, the sequence is reversed. You’ll be passing the ball from your feet to your hands.
- Repeat until the desired number of repetitions are completed.
Variations
Replacing the exercise ball with a smaller, yet heavier medicine ball will increase the both the resistance and range of motion of the exercise, thus increasing the difficulty. (Transitioning the ball from your hands to your feet is a little trickier using this method.)
MB Crunch Toss
Description
Your abs are strong and you really don’t have the time to perform sets of 50 repetitions before failure is reached? Well, if this is the case, medicine ball ab exercises are your solution. The addition of a medicine ball will help bring your muscles to failure a lot quicker. However, medicine ball crunches are commonly performed incorrectly. Notable techniques for optimal execution include lowering the torso back slowly during the decent and allowing the medicine ball to roll off the fingertips during the crunch motion. The most common mistake made by trainees is the extended delay in throwing the medicine ball. Not allowing the medicine ball to roll of the fingertips during the ascent and throwing it to your partner once already in an upright position will simplify the movement and defeat the purpose of the exercise.
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Execution
- While seated upright on a mat with heels making contact with the ground and the knees bent, hold a medicine ball overhead with the arms extended.
- Inhale and lower the body down towards the mat at a controlled speed.
- Exhale and sit up while allowing the medicine ball to roll off your fingertips and into the hands of your training partner.
- Briefly hold the upright contracted position with arms extended overhead until your partner tosses the medicine ball back into your hands.
- Repeat until the desired number of repetitions are completed.
Duel MB Crunch
Description
This is a unique exercise that targets the abdominal region through multiple movements. The regular crunch motion will target the upper portion of the abs while the pelvic tilt & leg raise will target the lower. The key to the effectiveness of this exercise is that you rotate your hips enough to draw your buttocks slightly off the floor. As mentioned in our abdominal training article, this pelvic tilt motion is a must if you’re trying to target your lower abs. If not utilized, the bulk of the demand will be placed upon the hip flexors rather than the abs. Another benefit to this exercise is that it allows for resistance to be added.
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Execution
- While in an upright seated position, place an appropriately weighted medicine ball between the inner thighs and cross the feet.
- Grasp another appropriately weighted medicine ball with the hands and lie back with legs flexed at a 90 degree angle.
- Exhale and while keeping arms extended with the MB in hands, simultaneously perform a crunch motion that draws the elbows towards the knees. Squeeze at the peak of the motion for an optimal abdominal contraction.
- Inhale and lower both arms and legs back to starting position at a controlled speed.
Note: Stop just shy of the heels and hands touching the ground. - Repeat until desired number of repetitions are completed.
Variations
The exercise can be performed without putting a medicine ball between your thighs. For this version to be at its most effective, you’ll want to keep your legs straight as they’re raised and you’ll want to touch the medicine ball that’s in your hands to your shins.