Top 2 Abs/Back Exercises

[Patrick McIntosh]

There's so many out there to choose from (at least as far as as are concerned), some more effective than others, some more practical than others.

If you could only do 2 abs/back circuit exercises, what would they be?

[John Alston]

Snatch
Clean and jerk

[Derek Simonds]

Originally Posted by John Alston

Snatch
Clean and jerk

I think John just nailed it on the head. If you want to add a component lift it would be OHS. I read an article a while back that studied abdominal muscle activation in different exercises and squats had 3 times (or there abouts) muscle recruitment then traditional ab exercises.

I know my abs and back are extremely sore from this weeks CA WOD.

[Allen Yeh]

I think Patrick is asking in regards to the PM mass gain program. While I agree Snatches and Clean and Jerks are great I think doing them for a circuit would be more detrimental than helpful.

My gym only recently bought a GHD so my choice right now would be.
Abs - GHD situps, russian twists
back - back extensions, cable pullthroughs

Previous to buying the GHD my staples were:
Abs - hanging Windshield wipers, hanging leg raises
back - cable pullthroughs, romanian deadlift

[David Aguasca]

Deadlifts.
Stall bar leg raises, Coach Sommer style.

[William Hunter]

Originally Posted by David Aguasca

Deadlifts.
Stall bar leg raises, Coach Sommer style.

I like this combo, except for the fact that I can't do the HLR's the way Sommer describes, so I use the K2E instead.

I've devoted one WO per week to OHS recently. Good stuff. Dan John was right.

[Derek Simonds]

Originally Posted by William Hunter

I've devoted one WO per week to OHS recently. Good stuff. Dan John was right.

I am really looking forward to tomorrows OHS's

I guess for clarity I should also add my two favorites are whichever ones Greg throws into the CA WOD. Patrick if you look at the last three weeks there have been some pretty good combinations in the WOD's that you could use with the mass gain template.

[Leo Soubbotine]

Working the OHS didn't develop the HLR not even a bit for me.
OHS is great stuff yet it feels like it has more to do with shoulder/upper back stabilization.

Abs back circuit - I really like KTE and KB swings or Weighted GHD situp/Weighted Hip extension.

[Mike ODonnell]

Mix it up....heavy turkish getups...L-sits...Windmills...Wipers....go heavy and keep reps lower (under 10). Go throw a med ball overhead, behind head. OHS is my personal favorite....hell pushups can active your abs if you tense them up the whole time.

[Patrick McIntosh]

Thanks for the replies. Allen is right, I'm more interested in the kinds of exercises that would jive well with a simple abs-back circuit (like one would use in the mass gain program). But nonetheless this has all got me thinking and helped a lot with ideas. Thanks.