Brad Pitt shirtless, oiled and gleaming in Fight Club. Admit it, you wanted to be him in that moment back in 1999. Or rather, you wanted the six pack. Every man did – although few had the dedication to get there.

This article will help you in that quest, but – and perhaps more importantly – it will also help you move and perform well. The best core workouts should be about much more than high-definition Tyler Durden abs. Your core muscles claim the assist on practically every movement your body makes and most of the exercises you ask of it at the gym.

We’re looking at the bigger picture. Sure you want to unleash that six pack, but don’t you want a more toned everything else while you’re at it?

Core Workout v. Abs Workout

“The difference between an abs workout and a core workout is semantics,” explains Luke Grahame, expert trainer at London’s Roar Fitness. “They are fundamentally the same thing. The key difference is the desired outcome: abs workouts imply training for aesthetics alone, core workouts imply training for function, in this case, strength and stability.”

Don’t care about any of that and just want great looking abs? Well, endlessly training your core won’t necessarily help with that. “As for which is better, the vast majority of people are wasting their time and effort by training their abs for aesthetic reasons,” explains Grahame.

“Unless an individual has attained a low enough body fat percentage, through calorie deficit and physical activity, no amount of abdominal training will achieve a six pack. Training for core function however will be of benefit to virtually everyone, regardless of their goal.”

Why It’s Important To Train Your Core

The core isn’t there just to make the bit between your chest and pants look good. It’s a highly complex part of your body, one that encompasses numerous vital functions that are essential to overall health; a protective shield and support for your spine and internal organs, assisting in circulation, and creating a safe foundation for all movement.