Best Ab Movement - Front Squats?

[Steve123]

I've been doing front squats - deep, breaking well below the plane. I've been focusing on doing these without a Belt. Actually, I've been doing all my compound movements without a belt for all but my heaviest lifts.

Holy shit do I get an amazing Ab workout with front squats!!!!

Is this the case with anyone else? And, am I wrong in that I'm starting to beleive that direct ab work is a waste of time?

Just wanted to get some thoughts on this.

 

[PsyT]

front squats + military press whew no need for ab work after those

 

[slayer66]

I agree my whole core is burnt after front squats ..no belt either,I dont understand the need for a belt . my abs are comming in sharp and fast just with a clean diet.

 

[Steve123]

I agree my whole core is burnt after front squats ..no belt either,I dont understand the need for a belt . my abs are comming in sharp and fast just with a clean diet.

I used to wear a belt for everything and my core was weak as a result and ended up hurting my back a few times. Since then I use my Abs and lower back as my "belt". Haven't had a problem since. I can't claim "raw status" on F-squats though because I do wrap my knees - no choic there unfortuatly.

 

[PsyT]

well I was taught how to use a belt differently so that you engage your abs with it on obviously...push out against it...

but I only use belt when I max out on deadlift...and my max might sound silly to you guys (getting real close to 4pps)

 

[Steve123]

well I was taught how to use a belt differently so that you engage your abs with it on obviously...push out against it...

but I only use belt when I max out on deadlift...and my max might sound silly to you guys (getting real close to 4pps)

The weight doesn't matter bro. For bodybuilding at least, I really don't care what a guy can lift. I'm not a big Deadlifter either. In fact, I don't usually go under 10 reps with deads. I'm a 315 kind of guy for a 20 set. That's about the best I can do.

I was taught to use a belt by getting it so tight that it almost cuts the cirulation off to your torso! A National LEvel PL told me this. He said, "if it isn't cutting off your circulation, it's doing nothing to protect you".

Not sure how true that is but it got me thinking that too many guys wear thest belt for ornamental fashion reasons and not utility.

 

[penance]

yes front squats are awesome ab builder - pulldowns, pullover, pull-ups and deadlifts also hit abs very hard..

added a video just for the sake of it, here is ronny rockel with 200kg front squats:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nRO3...A00FE2E4&playnext_from=PL&playnext=1&index=19
insane...

 

[Steve123]

yes front squats are awesome ab builder - pulldowns, pullover, pull-ups and deadlifts also hit abs very hard..

added a video just for the sake of it, here is ronny rockel with 200kg front squats:
YouTube - Ronny Rockel trains legs 2 weeks out 200kg front squad
insane...

Holy Shit. That hurts just to watch!

 

[maldorf]

Its funny, but the exercise that I usually felt hit my abs the most was when I would do heavy tricep cable pushdowns. Sometimes id have to cut my set short because my abs were in such pain,lol. Not sure if it was because of the direct work they were getting from the pushdowns or if they were just already tired from all of the other work I do. I am a firm believer that you realy dont have to do much direct ab work at all. I usually do just maybe 2 sets of crunches a week.

 

[majsi98]

I felt my abs alot also during v-bar pullups... touching chest to the v-bar (hands parallel to each other)d

 

[PsyT]

Its funny, but the exercise that I usually felt hit my abs the most was when I would do heavy tricep cable pushdowns. Sometimes id have to cut my set short because my abs were in such pain,lol. Not sure if it was because of the direct work they were getting from the pushdowns or if they were just already tired from all of the other work I do. I am a firm believer that you realy dont have to do much direct ab work at all. I usually do just maybe 2 sets of crunches a week.

you ever do standing rope crunches? they hit in same way but involve more than just isometric contractions...a powerlifter taught me to do those and I feel they have really toughened up my core.

The problem is finding stacks that weigh enough to really push the 8-12 rep range.

 

[taz]

to this day my favorite direct ab work is using the rope and kneeling in front of the stack. sliding back about 2feet then doing moderate to heavy weighted rope crunches.
for some serious pain,do numerous drops. for example ill go:
70lbs - 12 reps
60lbs - 10 reps
50lbs - 20 reps
40lbs - 20 reps
30lbs - failure

weights are examples not actual. but that and the next day my abs are killing along with the obliques.

 

[kicka19]

to this day my favorite direct ab work is using the rope and kneeling in front of the stack. sliding back about 2feet then doing moderate to heavy weighted rope crunches.
for some serious pain,do numerous drops. for example ill go:
70lbs - 12 reps
60lbs - 10 reps
50lbs - 20 reps
40lbs - 20 reps
30lbs - failure

weights are examples not actual. but that and the next day my abs are killing along with the obliques.

Problem with those is the cable stacks don't go very high, 95 to 120 is what I've seen.