As we get more conscious about out health and fitness, more and more people are trying to learn how to build muscle effectively. One of the biggest areas of interest is celebrity workouts and today we are going to delve into the Sylvester Stallone abs workout to explain how "Rocky" achieved his physique.
Make no mistake about it, the sculpted six pack you see in the Rocky movies didn't come cheap. However, if you can combine this style of training with some of the proven muscle building principles towards your diet and rest you will see fantastic results with it.
Don't let this fool you, however. The workout may stick the the old classic movements but it certainly isn't easy. Naturally, given that you want to train like Rocky you probably weren't looking for something simple.
There are a few exercises today which you'll already be familiar with but those which present a new challenge will be fully explained for you.
* Crunches on the floor.
* Crunches with a twist.
* Elevated Knee Raise.
* Torso twists.
* The wheel.
We'll start with the first exercise on today's shortlist, which is the crunch. This is probably the most popular abdominal exercise in existence today but many people unwittingly get the technique wrong, causing themselves to lose many of the benefits. Those with back issues can substitute the floor for an exercise ball if they wish, something which Sly himself now does.
This move is all about tempo and technique. Have you ever met anyone who claims to do 1000 crunches per day? You'll notice that they tend to blast through the reps and don't actually feel any soreness or get any results from their mammoth workouts. Work up to 3 sets of 30 reps on this exercise, focusing on keeping a slow controlled pace and focusing on contracting your upper abs each time you roll forward into the finishing position.
Twisting crunches offer a good variation on the standard method and will target the oblique muscles, which run down the side of the six pack. They have the same principles as a regular crunch, but by aiming your elbow at it's opposing knee you will be able to target the small oblique muscles on each side of your stomach.
Elevated knee raises are a move which you'll often seen performed wrong in gyms around the world. Instead of swinging your legs forward and putting stress on your hip flexor muscles, try doing this move with knees bent at a ninety degree angle and lift them by contracting your lower abdominal region. Roll your abs back as your knees come up, holding the tension briefly before completing each repetition.
In the gym, Sly has stated on many occasions that if he could only take one core strength exercise with him to desert island it would be the next one. Rotary oblique twists, also known as broomstick twists, are a fantastic move for toning and strengthening your obliques. By performing this move on a decline bench you'll also be able to strengthen your entire core section, including your lower back.
The last exercise in the session is the abdominal wheel roll-out. Another extremely old movement, this simple piece of equipment has been an ever-present in gyms for many decades and continues to be one of the hardest exercises despite the numerous advances we have made over the years.
Come up onto your knees and simply push the wheel out in front of you as far as your balance will allow, the roll it back towards your body. Try to perform thirty repetitions without resting. As you progress here you will notice that you are able to wheel further away from your centre of gravity and provide yourself with an even tougher workout. To begin with, however, try to reach shoulder level with the wheel on each rep.
There you have it, folks. The Sylvester Stallone abs workout is a brutal affair but you probably wouldn't want it any other way. After all, if you want to learn how to build muscle the same way The Italian Stallion did you should be prepared for some of the most brutal workouts you have performed in your life.
Make no mistake about it, the sculpted six pack you see in the Rocky movies didn't come cheap. However, if you can combine this style of training with some of the proven muscle building principles towards your diet and rest you will see fantastic results with it.
Don't let this fool you, however. The workout may stick the the old classic movements but it certainly isn't easy. Naturally, given that you want to train like Rocky you probably weren't looking for something simple.
There are a few exercises today which you'll already be familiar with but those which present a new challenge will be fully explained for you.
* Crunches on the floor.
* Crunches with a twist.
* Elevated Knee Raise.
* Torso twists.
* The wheel.
We'll start with the first exercise on today's shortlist, which is the crunch. This is probably the most popular abdominal exercise in existence today but many people unwittingly get the technique wrong, causing themselves to lose many of the benefits. Those with back issues can substitute the floor for an exercise ball if they wish, something which Sly himself now does.
This move is all about tempo and technique. Have you ever met anyone who claims to do 1000 crunches per day? You'll notice that they tend to blast through the reps and don't actually feel any soreness or get any results from their mammoth workouts. Work up to 3 sets of 30 reps on this exercise, focusing on keeping a slow controlled pace and focusing on contracting your upper abs each time you roll forward into the finishing position.
Twisting crunches offer a good variation on the standard method and will target the oblique muscles, which run down the side of the six pack. They have the same principles as a regular crunch, but by aiming your elbow at it's opposing knee you will be able to target the small oblique muscles on each side of your stomach.
Elevated knee raises are a move which you'll often seen performed wrong in gyms around the world. Instead of swinging your legs forward and putting stress on your hip flexor muscles, try doing this move with knees bent at a ninety degree angle and lift them by contracting your lower abdominal region. Roll your abs back as your knees come up, holding the tension briefly before completing each repetition.
In the gym, Sly has stated on many occasions that if he could only take one core strength exercise with him to desert island it would be the next one. Rotary oblique twists, also known as broomstick twists, are a fantastic move for toning and strengthening your obliques. By performing this move on a decline bench you'll also be able to strengthen your entire core section, including your lower back.
The last exercise in the session is the abdominal wheel roll-out. Another extremely old movement, this simple piece of equipment has been an ever-present in gyms for many decades and continues to be one of the hardest exercises despite the numerous advances we have made over the years.
Come up onto your knees and simply push the wheel out in front of you as far as your balance will allow, the roll it back towards your body. Try to perform thirty repetitions without resting. As you progress here you will notice that you are able to wheel further away from your centre of gravity and provide yourself with an even tougher workout. To begin with, however, try to reach shoulder level with the wheel on each rep.
There you have it, folks. The Sylvester Stallone abs workout is a brutal affair but you probably wouldn't want it any other way. After all, if you want to learn how to build muscle the same way The Italian Stallion did you should be prepared for some of the most brutal workouts you have performed in your life.
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About the author: Discover how to build muscle with fitness instructor Russ Howe PTI's free guide to the sylvester stallone abs workout next.