We've said it before, and we'll say it again: your core muscles are about so much more than having six-pack abs. or doing endless crunches. In fact, your six-pack abs make up a very small part of the muscles that constitute your core.

The core of the body includes both passive skeletal and active muscles, as well as neural components. With all these different pieces working in tandem, your abdominals enhance your ability to create torque production in the upper body and lower body, so you can push, pull, punch, and kick with more force and power.

The core muscles include:

External and internal obliques - these core muscles play a key role in rotational strength, stability, and bending.
Transversus abdominis - this deep core muscle stabilizes the spine and pelvis for movement, wrapping around to protect the back.
Rectus abdominis - these are the bumpy muscles at the front that make up the six-pack abs. Their true purpose is to assist with trunk flexion.
Quadratus lumborum - this deep muscle is responsible for stabilizing the pelvic floor and spine during movement.
Erector spinae - the erector spinae is made up of a group of muscles and tendons that provide back strength and flexion.

While these are the main muscles that make up the core, they aren't the only ones. Everything from your pelvic floor to your glutes play a role in core strength and stability. This is why it's so important to break up with ab exercises and focus on functional core training.

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