Why do curlups?
I hate sit ups. Unless you have good control over your core muscles you just end up working your hip flexors which results in no awesome abs or even good core strength. Check out the world record holder for situps Mark Pfeltz as a great example of this. Not even over 45000 situps in an hour could give him good abdominals.
Curlups are far more effective. The Rectus Abdominis (which creates the ’6 pack abs) attaches on your bottom ribs and stretches across to your pelvis (hip bones). So the best way to train this muscle is to try and bring those to points together. The curlup is one great exercise to do this.
Curlups help with:
- Achieving a six pack :)
- Getting out of bed or off the ground.
- Establishing a strong anterior core.
What it works:
Rectus Abdominis, TVA
How to:
- Start lying flat on the ground with your knees bent at 90 degrees. Keep your feet flat on the ground.
- While thinking of a ‘curling’ motion slowly raise your back off the ground while contracting your abs.
- Attempt to squeeze the bottom of your rib cage to the top of your pelvis.
- Lower yourself under control back to the ground and repeat.
Tips:
- This is not a big movement (this is NOT a sit up), this is more about activating your abs correctly by attempting to bring your rib cage and pelvis together by bending your spine.
- ‘Curlup’ refers to curling your spine up.
- If done correctly these should hurt.
