Abdomen Exercises? Which ones should I do?

[BoxingDude66]

Hanging knee/leg raises for the lower abs.

Great for developing lower abs, stretching out the top abs and promote core stability.

Planks
Promote the strengtheniong of the abdomen whilst promoting core stability.

Jackknifes
Also refered to as V-Ups, tighten the abs to contract from a lieing position to a V. Excellent abdominal exercise.

any suggestions about repetitions?

[Scrap]

When doing Abb routines, always incorparate exercises for the Lower Back.

[donnydarkoIRL]

any suggestions about repetitions?

That would depend on your level of conditioning really.

[wesrman]

When doing Abb routines, always incorparate exercises for the Lower Back.

http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=NFth3F...eature=related

[Chris Nagel]

I agree with everyone here, but there's a few things I'd like to add. Start your routine off with exercises that emphasizes your lower abs, then do exercises that emphasis your obliques (e.g. side bends) or twisting exercises, then do exercises that stress your upper abs (e.g. crunches) last. The reason for this order is that if you were fatigue your abs doing crunches first, you wouldn't be able to work your lower abs and obliques as much. Your abs still work all or nothing, there are no segments but the emphasis on particular areas vary depending on the exercise.

As for reps, first choose exercises that challenge you without being too difficult, this might be leg raises (lying down) to start with and and a couple of weeks later you can replace it with hanging leg raises. The number of reps should be about how much you can do in good form, you can also take a short break and then do another set. If you fully exercise your lower-abs and obliques first, your upper-abs will already have gotten a good share of work and you won't have to do as much crunches or whatever afterward.

I also recommend training your lower back as well, and doing stretches for your abdominals and lower back.

By the way, I have a good ebook that has a decent program for the abs I can send you or anyone else that's interested. It has different routines for different levels that you can follow. It's a nice progressive program. When the exercises get too easy, you can move to the next routine that would be more challenging.

[Howlin Mad Missy]

I think we've got the same book.

It does make sense to train this way and it's what I do at home.

I'll just add (disregarding the obliques) the abs (at least what we see as 6 or 8 pack) is one long muscle.
As CNagel wrote: "there are no segments but the emphasis on particular areas vary depending on the exercise".

However if I'm training in a group I do as I'm told.

I also do lying leg raises as part of kundalini yoga. Put your hands under you butt, raise your legs 6", lift your head to look at your feet, and breathe rapidly through the nose. If you have back trouble do it one leg at a time.
Not sure if it's any use to boxing but it does work the abs nicely.

[Rocky Balboa]

Keep in mind there are different kinds of strength. Maximal strength cannot be developed by crunches or sit-ups. Repetitive Strength can though. You have to mix them up. And like Chris Nagel said, you have to hit the obliques and lower back as well. A strong core is essentail in boxing. Ducking, weaving, taking and giving punches all realy a lot on the core. So remember to work the maximal and repetitive strength of the abdominals, obliques and lower back. Rather than reps try circuits like this would be ideal for beginners for example:

10 knee-to-elbows
10 leg raises
10 crunches
1 min plank

Perform 3 times as quickly as possible (remember quality of course, more like as little rest as possible). Soon you will be able to add harder exercises, or weighted ones. And never forget the obliques and lower back