In the same way that a football player has to “take care of the ball,” you’d be hard pressed to find a movement around here where “taking care” of your midsection isn’t at the top of the list of priorities. Think about an X-Ray of an entire human body. The area between the bottom rib and the top of hip is the most vulnerable section in the body. It is, considering the mass that it has, the least supported structurally. You’ve got your spine and that’s it.
As an athlete, you’ll find that taking care of your trunk will make or break your performances both with regards to output and safety. In this application, “taking care of your trunk” most literally means stabilizing, showing control, and being able to transfer power.
Not only is the trunk, by nature, quite vulnerable, it also serves as the transmission between the upper and lower half of your body. Many basic movements use power from the hip, for example, to aid in the work of the shoulders. Without an engaged midsection, this transfer of power isn’t made possible.
Squatting? Pressing? Jumping? Running? You’ll need to start with good trunk stability.
Logan Gelbrich
@functionalcoach
10/20/14 WOD
Complete 2 rounds for time of:
800m Run
30 Ring Dips
20 Toes to Bar
-Rest 5 min-
5-5-5
Pause Front Squats