OBLIQUES - THE "TORQUE MUSCLE" AND YOUR LOWER BACK'S FRIEND

The ONLY time I ever experience LOWER BACK DISCOMFORT is when I neglect
to work my obliques at least once every five or six days. Makes sense;
the obliques (both external and internal) are one of the MOST IMPORTANT
muscle groups in the entire abdominal area, much more important than the
practically-WORSHIPPED rectus abdominus muscles, the"SIX PACK." They
are, in fact, CRUCIAL to just about ANY ATHLETIC ENDEAVOR.

If one is able to THROW HARD, PUNCH with KNOCK-OUT FORCE, or lever an
opponent where one wants him to go in ANY GRAPPLING, WRESTLING SITUATION
with ease, they can primarily thank the STRENGTH in their OBLIQUES.
This is the muscle group that forcefully TWISTS us to either side, bends
us sideways-and-down or just plain sideways. It is the BATTING muscle,
the torque-from-the-body THROWING muscle and the muscle that prevents
forward force fom either hand being DISSIPATED by UNWANTED twist (it
contracts statically to accomplish this). It is also the GREAT STABILIZER
of our torso, girding and reinforcing our sides with SLABS MUSCLE - which
PROTECTS the lower back.

Bobby Pandour, the turn-of-the-century strongman pictured here had great
obliqes because no weight-trainer back then worth their salt ever did side
bends with less than 150-200 lbs. held in the hand opposite the side he
was trying to work. Some used a great deal more (pardon the censoring;
Bobby was an artist's model for the famous sculptor August Rodin and a
"free spirit" who was partial to fig leaves).

Besides side bends, one needs to work the twisting function of this muscle.
The exercise that works best for me for LOTS OF TWSTING POWER in the torso,
and the one that makes my lower back feel 19 years old... is leg side-to-
sides. Lie on the floor (or better yet, on a queen-sized bed). With arms
straight out to the side in what's called the crucifix position, raise both
straight legs, keeping them together, until the soles of your feet point
towards the ceiling. Now, keeping the legs straight and together, allow
them to drop to the left until your feet or ankles touch your left hand.
Lever them back up again, then drop them to the right, touching your right
hand. Continue, to-the-left, to-the-right, until reaching your target reps
(a minimum of 30 and a maximum of 60). Good Luck!