The Core of the Problem

Let be blunt, people are fucking addicted to core training. For years this was based on the false premise of localised/spot fat reduction. This was a concept spread by liars, and still is. However, the majority of people now know that training your core does not burn belly fat. So why on earth do some people spend so much time on their cores?
Many work on the 'I know it wont burn any fat, but it can't hurt' principle. Well that’s bollucks because it can:

...some believe that repeated spine flexion is a good method to train the flexors (the rectus abdominis and the abdominal wall). Interestingly, these muscles are rarely used in this way because they are more often used to brace while stopping motion. Thus, they more often act as stabilizers than flexors. Furthermore, repeated bending of the spinal discs is a potent injury mechanism– Stuart McGill PhD

So it can actually physically hurt and the time wasted could be used to properly train those muscles or prepare some vegetables instead of putting chips with everything.
Others seem to believe that if you cant see a muscle it doesn’t exist. They look down and see belly fat and conclude that there is no muscle underneath it. If there was no muscle underneath it they would be lying on the floor nearly as immobile as Bambi's mum in Act 3 of the for-mentioned film.
Finally people will talk of 'pressure' to look good, to be ripped and the association between a 6 pack and success. To that argument I offer you Jeremy Clarkson. Who? You have never heard of him because he is so poor, unsuccessful and unripped!

The net result is the majority of people who go to core classes or do specific core training are doing so based on fiction, falsehoods and illogical conclusions. This has to stop.

So what is the core? Well there isn't even a universally accepted definition so I will offer this for the purpose of this article:

The core is composed of the lumbar spine, the muscles of the abdominal wall, the back extensors, and quadratus lumborum. Also included are the multijoint muscles, namely, latissimus dorsi and psoas that pass through the core, linking it to the pelvis, legs, shoulders, and arms. Given the anatomic and biomechanical synergy with the pelvis, the gluteal muscles may also be considered to be essential components as primary power generators. – Stuart McGill PhD

So lots of muscles, not just the ones that 'give you' a six pack. Who has ever trained their lats in a core class? Or their glutes? What most people fail to realize is:

The core musculature functions differently than the limb musculature in that core muscles often co-contract, stiffening the torso such that all muscles become synergists. – Stuart McGill PhD

And previously mentioned above:

They (the rectus abdominis and the abdominal wall) more often act as stabilizers than flexors. – Stuart McGill PhD

So in basic terms the core is a system of muscles who's roles are primarily to stabilise; to prevent movement. So why do so may people use flexing an twisting like crunches, sit-ups, Russian Twists, leg raises? By the way, no part of the 'abs' attach to the legs, so no part of the 'abs' can therefore move the legs. Sadly this is the fault of the Fitness Industry in terms of gym, trainers and the people who make and market equipment. They basically still directly market to people who basically want less belly fat by offering something that has no way of achieving it. This is a common theme in the industry despite their being more PTs, Class Instructors, Gyms than ever before and a recognised training syllabus for all instructors that does not include this crap! The difference between what Fit Pros are taught and what they then deliver would not be tolerated in any other industry.

It is off course desirable to have a properly working core but no more so that a properly working leg or arm. Would anybody train their biceps 4 times a week but never directly train their triceps?

I train my biceps 4 times a week and my triceps 5 times a week.

See, even APT isn't that stupid. Nice of you to turn up by the way.

Sorry POPT, just been teaching a Core Class. What this weeks moan about?

Did you do any Lat training in the Core Class?

Of course not.

Then this week moan is about YOU.

The whole body should work together as one but all too often this isn't what you see with clients and classmembers. You can see people that can perform weighted sit-ups holding a 25kg weight but cant hold a plank for 30 seconds. You can have people that can hold a plank for 3 minutes but after only 5 press-ups there back arches despite them having the strength to do 20 press-ups. They can maintain a straight back until the thighs are 5cm off vertical then the back rounds yet can do 5 sets of 20 leg raises. These are some of many examples of people training the 'core' to be good a one thing in isolation and the slightest change upset this. A final few points from the linked article by Stu McGill:

True spine stability is achieved with ‘‘balanced’’ stiffening from the entire musculature, including the rectus abdominis and the abdominal wall; quadratus lumborum; latissimus dorsi; and the back extensors of longissimus, iliocostalis, and multifidus. Focusing on a single muscle generally does not (my emphasis)enhance stability but creates patterns that when quantified result in less stability. – Stuart McGill PhD

Strength may, or may not, help a particular individual because strength without control and endurance to repeatedly execute perfect form increases risk. – Stuart McGill PhD

 It is impossible to train muscles such as transverse abdominis or multifidus in isolation—people cannot activate just these muscles. – Stuart McGill PhD

The purpose of this article (Rant - APT) is not to offer guidance on how you should train you core but to highlight the fundamental flaws in most people approach and the Fitness Industry, Fitness Professionals, Fitness Media and media are failing us all. If every Core Class is full, if every useless bit 'Core Training' equipment is in use gyms will continue to mislead their customers. So I ask people to not attend these classes, to not use this equipment and ask your gyms why they push core so much. Ask them to quantify what they offer in real terms. Do not 'like' or 'share' any media articles such as '5 Ways for a Toned Stomach by Summer' because you should now know these articles will be nonsense.

Core Training: Evidence Translating into Better Performance and Injury Prevention