Core training does two really important things - it helps you look thinner (not exactly the main objective for most athletes), and it supports your spine and helps with things like balance.

Those core muscles ares connected to your legs, to the way you stand, squat, sit. It’s not just about the abdominal muscles, but also training your back, your glutes, and the entire area that connects to your spinal cord and helps your body support your spine, so that the burden of supporting your body weight isn’t just placed on your bones.

The core is actually made up of three sheaths of muscles: The upper abs, the side muscles, which are called the obliques, and then this very deep layer of muscle. Those deep muscles are the ones that do all the good stuff, like support your spine and act as a natural corset.

Dr. David Martin, AIS Senior Sports Scientist in the video above:

With core training you can progress the patterns into very sports specific dynamic activities, that start to replicate the movement patterns in your sport.