DON'T train abs for a 6 pack

[ImpulseFortune]

Title is completely divorced from content. The topic is “don’t train your obliques for a V taper” not “don’t train your abs for a 6 pack”

[ImShadowWRLD]

context is important here, this is in a body building context... if your an athlete, yes train your obliques it helps with a lot. For example I do martial arts and it helps increase rotation power

[Suds]

Training obliques* is pointless only in bodybuilding. Any core movement done right is generally healthy and will decrease risk of back or ab herniation

[ultimatehope]

As someone who trains mostly for functional strength and self-improvement, with aesthetics just being a nice cherry on top atp, obliques training goes pretty hard

[maxs.]

Training obliques for athletic performance has a ton of value, helps with rotational power and stability

[LukaTheDon]

Ever since I got my obliques bigger and stronger my overall stability has improved. Plus to me, it makes the 6 pack stand out more

[petermozuraitis]

Keep in mind, this is where it’s important to understand that no single program, and no single Fitness Personality (like Dr Mike) holds every answer for every person for every goal. Dr Mike is a body building coach first and foremost, he trains people for aesthetic competitions, he holds a ton of answers and gold in that realm. Thick strong obliques is a sign of someone who is bullshit strong and athletically capable, for their specific sport. If you want a healthy back and sports (specific) performance TRAIN YOUR OBLIQUES, if you’re prepping for a BB show your resources are better spent elsewhere

[alexballesteros]

CONTEXT NEEDED. As a BJJ brown belt, Dr Mike should know the importance of training the obliques. There is a ton of side bending and rotation, and training your obliques will objectively make you better at those components. He should be saying "for a specific aesthetic, it's not necessary".

[MrRich]

All I train is obliques. I'm built like a sausage. My gf loves sausage.

[Marco_My_Words]

Unless your goal is not to build the best looking physique, but rather to gain functional benefits from your muscle training, such as improved performance in combat sports or during strenuous tasks. Like myself; it’s unlikely I’ll be on a stage, so my focus is on enhancing my lifting abilities and strength. An improved appearance is simply an added bonus.

[jeffh]

Title is correct. It does not say don't train your obliques for any reason. As many have noted, strengh (not growth) training the obliques is essential to most athletes. Training obliques and TA for strength/endurance is also a best defense against back injury, especially in sports requiring explosive rotational movement.

[bugman]

Have you seen those ancient Greek sculptures with absolute bulbous obliques? They look sick!

[sfexplus]

It is not a waste of time. train every part of your body every single muscle. every muscle on your body has a function.

[damonrambo]

As a martial artist.... this is nonsense.
Obliques dont grow much, unless your on some kind of juice. High rep oblique training will increase twisting power, and firm up your muscles, without much noticeable growth.

[roberte]

I want bigger obliques. I want stronger obliques.

[CarlosRomeroAlvarado]

Thinking your obliques will turn massive just for doing a few sets of these a week has the same energy as girls saying "I dont lift heavy because I dont want to get bulky"

The amount of volume, isolation and time dedication to actually blow your obliques out of proportion is ridiculous. Train them because they're an important musclegroup and you dont want weak core strength to be the limiting factor to your compound lifts.

If its a muscle, train it

[IsaacMorgan]

I want to train my obliques so they can be strong and support my spine. They're extremely important for functioning as a human.

[Eloh_Dragons]

I’ve been preaching this as a coach for a very long time, the problem is, most people with imbalances or weakness in the back & hips will need some form of oblique training, which includes adding resistance.
MMA fighters train obliques hard and you can see all the rotational force and core stability that’s required for that sport, but look at their physiques, big blocky abs. Same goes for Cross-Shitters, especially the women, zero curves, huge abs and obliques.

So you really need to decide if you’re training for functionality or sport, you NEED obliques movements.
If pure aesthetics, I wouldn’t touch them, maybe some bodyweight work once you get your BF low enough so you can see if they’re getting more defined.

[joelerk]

What if your hip bones are wider than your waist. Wouldn't it make sense to train obliques to get a more uniform look

[petermozuraitis]

Thick obliques, imo, are a sign of a bulletproof back and Farmer / construction strength. Depends on what you’re goals are, if you want to be strong and immovable as an ox, aim for horseshoe obliques that surround the six pack, aesthetics and bobdybuilding competitions, aim for 6 pack and more slender obliques