While we all know that you run with your legs and not your core, you will not be able to generate the power necessary in your lower body if you don’t have a strong foundation. Having a strong core or torso, is imperative to improving your overall speed and quickness. I compare it to shooting a cannon out of a rowboat. Since there is nothing preventing the boat from moving, no force will be generated and the cannonball will not travel very far. On the other hand, if the cannon were bolted down into a block of cement, there would be no blowback, resulting in a much more powerful explosion.
One of the best exercises for strengthening your core is the McGill Crunch. In the video above, my son William and I will take you through the proper technique and motions of this movement to get you on the path to solidifying your foundation. An added bonus for those of you with time constraints is that this exercise can be done properly in a little more than two minutes. So, I don’t want to hear anyone saying they are unable to put in the time.
If you want your arms and legs to be maximizing the amount of power necessary to improve your speed and quickness, maintaining a strong core is paramount. It is the foundation of all movement, and more importantly helps with injury prevention. So take a few minutes to watch this tip, incorporate it into your workout routine and watch your performance go to the next level.