Most people train their core wrong. They think crunches and sit-ups are enough — but they’re skipping the very foundation of what the trunk is meant to do. In this episode, I’m breaking down the science, the programming, and my 5 most-used trunk exercises for strength, performance, and injury prevention.

We cover:

• Why I prefer the term trunk musculature and the exact anatomy it includes

• The three tiers of trunk training: intrinsic, dynamic, and ballistic stability

• How to program each tier into your week

• The physiology behind trunk stability and force transfer

• My top 5 trunk exercises, why they work, and how to make them harder

• How to think about “core” training if you’re an athlete, coach, or serious lifter

This isn’t about random ab workouts. It’s about building a stable, powerful trunk that carries over to every lift, sprint, throw, and carry you do. At Hagele Strength, everything starts with a clear framework backed by research and proven in the weight room. The trunk is no exception, and once you understand how to train it, you’ll never go back to guessing.

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