How to Perform Bruce Lee's Abdominal Workout

Bruce Lee was a fitness legend of our time, and he continually stressed having a strong body to be able to withstand the rigors of martial arts, or ostensibly, any everyday activity. He viewed the abdominal muscles as a "shell" through which to protect the rest of the torso. And it showed - he had one of the most defined physiques ever known.

Lee would insist on using proper form when performing exercises. With respect to sit-ups, he'd said, "The proper way of doing sit-ups isn't just to go up and down, but to curl yourself up; to curl yourself back up, like rolling up a roll of paper." Indeed, form is of paramount importance, and if your form isn't correct, you might as well not be exercising at all.

So without further ado, here is Bruce Lee's Abdominal Workout:

1. Waist twists. 4 sets of 70. Sit upright on a chair with your toes pointed forward. Sit straight up. If you have a broomstick or any other long rod, place it on your shoulders and grab them with your hands. If not, put your hands behind your head and interlace your fingers. Turn your torso to the left slowly. Hold. Return to the middle. And repeat the process by turning to the right. This constitutes one rep.

2. Sit-up twists. 4 sets of 20. Lie down on the floor, with your knees up and toes facing forward. Try to eliminate as much space as possible between your lower back and the floor. Place your hands behind your head, but don't interlace your fingers. Curl up slowly like the aforementioned newspaper as far as you are comfortable. Twist your torso to the left as far as you are comfortable. Slowly return to the starting position. Repeat the process and twist your torso to the right. This constitutes one rep.

3. Leg raises. 4 sets of 20. Lie straight down on the floor, knees down, legs together. Again, eliminate the space between your lower back and the floor. Slowly raise your legs together toward the ceiling. Go up to about 45 degrees, and slowly come back down, but without letting your legs touch the floor again.

4. Leaning twists. 4 sets of 50. Stand straight up, feet shoulder width apart. Take your broom handle and rest it on your shoulders. Grab it with your hands where you are comfortable. Bend your torso forward with your back straight, and twist the broom handle toward the ceiling as far as you can comfortably. Return to the starting position and repeat the process for the other side. This constitutes one rep.

5. Frog kicks. 4 sets of 50. Lie down on the floor and eliminate the gap between your lower back and the floor. Bring your knees up to your chest and thrust your feet out at about a 45 degree angle.

In addition to these abdominal workouts, Bruce Lee rode a stationary bike for 45 minutes a day, as described in my easy tips on toning your stomach.

As always, please use caution when doing these exercises. Do them only to the extent you are comfortable. Do not overdo it. If you feel any pain, lightheadedness, or any adverse reaction to these exercises, please stop immediately.

To close, I leave you with a quote from Bruce Lee himself: "Exercise the abs daily and with patience. Results will soon come."