Bruce Lee was a martial arts icon of our time, with one of the strongest bodies ever seen. He was always focused on possessing a powerful body to be able to cope with the demands of martial arts, or pretty much any activity. He saw the abdominal muscles as a shield that protects the rest of the torso. And you wouldn’t know it: he boasted one of the most chiseled physiques ever known.
Lee always emphasized perfect form when exercising. Regarding sit-ups, he once said, “The correct way to do sit-ups is not just to go up and down, but to curl up; to curl back up, like rolling up a roll of paper.” He’s absolutely right. Form is of the utmost importance, and if your form isn’t solid, why even exercise?
So, without further ado, here’s Bruce Lee’s ab workout (and in addition to these, check out these easy tips for toning your stomach):
1. Abdominal twists.
4 sets of 20. Lie on the floor or a mat, with your knees bent and your toes pointed forward. Try to minimize as much space as possible between your lower back and the mat. Rest your hands behind your head, but you don’t have to interlock your fingers. Curl up gently like the newspaper Bruce Lee talked about as far as you can comfortably reach. Rotate your torso to the left as far as you can comfortably. Gently return to your starting position. Repeat the exercise and twist your torso to the right this time. This is a repeat.
2. Banked turns.
4 sets of 50. Stand up straight and place your feet about 2 feet apart. Take a broomstick or wooden stick and place it on your shoulders. Grab it with your hands where you can comfortably. Bend your upper body forward while keeping your back straight, and then rotate the pole toward the ceiling as far as you comfortably can. Return to your starting position and do the exercise again for the other side. This is a repeat.
3. Waist turns.
4 sets of 70. Sit up straight in a chair with your toes pointed forward. Put the broom handle on your shoulders and grab it with your hands. Slowly twist your torso to the left. Hold this position momentarily and return to center. Repeat the movement and turn to the right this time. This is a repeat.
4. Frog kicks.
4 sets of 50. Lie on the floor or a mat and close the space between your lower back and the mat. Bring your knees up to your sternum and kick your feet out at about 45 degrees.
5. Leg raises.
4 sets of 20. Lie on the floor or a mat, with your knees down and your legs together. Remember to close that space between your lower back and the mat. Gently lift your legs together, up about 45 degrees, and slowly return to the starting position, but don’t let your legs touch the ground.
Along with these abdominal exercises, Bruce Lee rode a stationary bike for about 45 minutes a day, as explained in these simple tips for toning your stomach.
