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BJJ Core Training

Build the anti-rotation, compression, and stability your game demands. These exercises develop the core strength for maintaining position, resisting sweeps, and powering through transitions.

30 Exercises
18 Equipment Types

By Difficulty

★☆☆☆☆
3
Level 1
★★☆☆☆
12
Level 2
★★★☆☆
8
Level 3
★★★★☆
5
Level 4
★★★★★
2
Level 5

All Core Training Exercises sorted by difficulty

Dead Bug

The dead bug trains core stability by alternating arm and leg extensions while lying on your back. T...

★☆☆☆☆ 3-4 sets / 8-12 reps per side
none

Plank

The plank is the foundational isometric core exercise that builds endurance in the muscles that stab...

★☆☆☆☆ 3-4 sets / 30-60 seconds
none

Bird Dog

The bird dog extends opposite arm and leg from an all-fours position, building core stability and sp...

★☆☆☆☆ 3 sets / 10-12 reps per side
none

Pallof Press

The Pallof press is an anti-rotation core exercise that forces the core to resist rotational forces ...

★★☆☆☆ 3-4 sets / 10-12 reps per side
cable machine or resistance band

Hollow Body Hold

The hollow body hold is a gymnastics fundamental that builds isometric core strength by holding a cu...

★★☆☆☆ 3-5 sets / 20-40 seconds
none

Side Plank

The side plank targets the obliques and lateral core stabilizers by holding a sideways plank positio...

★★☆☆☆ 3 sets / 20-40 seconds per side
none

Russian Twist

The Russian twist involves rotating the torso while seated with feet off the ground, targeting the o...

★★☆☆☆ 3-4 sets / 12-15 reps per side
medicine ball or weight plate

Bicycle Crunch

The bicycle crunch combines a crunch with alternating knee drives and torso rotation. This dynamic m...

★★☆☆☆ 3-4 sets / 15-20 reps per side
none

Leg Raise

The lying leg raise targets the lower abdominals by lifting straight legs from the floor while lying...

★★☆☆☆ 3-4 sets / 10-15 reps
none

Landmine Rotation

Landmine rotations involve swinging a barbell anchored at one end from side to side in a controlled ...

★★☆☆☆ 3-4 sets / 8-10 reps per side
barbelllandmine attachment

Bear Crawl Hold

The bear crawl hold is a static isometric position where you hover on all fours with knees 1-2 inche...

★★☆☆☆ 3-4 sets / 20-40 seconds
none

Medicine Ball Dead Bug

Adding a medicine ball squeeze between hands and knees intensifies the standard dead bug by creating...

★★☆☆☆ 3 sets / 8-10 reps per side
medicine ball

Reverse Crunch

The reverse crunch targets the lower abdominals by curling the hips off the floor toward the chest. ...

★★☆☆☆ 3-4 sets / 12-15 reps
none

Cable Anti-Rotation Hold

The cable anti-rotation hold involves holding a cable handle at chest height with arms extended, res...

★★☆☆☆ 3 sets / 20-30 seconds per side
cable machine

Prone Plank March

The prone plank march involves alternating between forearm and high plank positions in a controlled ...

★★☆☆☆ 3 sets / 6-8 transitions per leading arm
none

Ab Wheel Rollout

The ab wheel rollout is an advanced anti-extension core exercise that challenges the anterior core t...

★★★☆☆ 3-4 sets / 8-12 reps
ab wheel Warm-up needed

V-Up

The V-up is a dynamic core exercise where you simultaneously lift your legs and torso to form a V-sh...

★★★☆☆ 3-4 sets / 10-15 reps
none

Hanging Leg Raise

The hanging leg raise targets the lower abdominals and hip flexors by raising the legs while hanging...

★★★☆☆ 3-4 sets / 8-12 reps
pull-up bar Warm-up needed

Suitcase Deadlift

The suitcase deadlift is a single-arm deadlift that creates massive anti-lateral flexion demand on t...

★★★☆☆ 3-4 sets / 6-8 reps per side
barbell or dumbbell Warm-up needed

Stir the Pot

Stir the pot is a stability ball plank variation where you make small circles with your forearms. Th...

★★★☆☆ 3 sets / 8-10 circles each direction
stability ball

Plank Pull-Through

The plank pull-through involves pulling a kettlebell or dumbbell from one side to the other while ma...

★★★☆☆ 3 sets / 8-10 pulls per side
kettlebell

Renegade Row

The renegade row performs alternating single-arm rows from a push-up position, demanding extreme ant...

★★★☆☆ 3-4 sets / 6-8 rows per arm
dumbbells Warm-up needed

Suspension Trainer Fallout

The suspension trainer fallout replicates the ab wheel motion using a TRX or similar system. Extendi...

★★★☆☆ 3 sets / 8-10 reps
suspension trainer Warm-up needed

Body Saw

The body saw is an advanced plank variation where you shift your body forward and backward while mai...

★★★★☆ 3-4 sets / 8-10 reps
sliders or towel Warm-up needed

Copenhagen Plank

The Copenhagen plank is a side plank variation with the top leg elevated on a bench, creating intens...

★★★★☆ 3 sets / 15-25 seconds per side
bench Warm-up needed

L-Sit Hold

The L-sit hold involves supporting your body weight on your hands with legs extended straight in fro...

★★★★☆ 3-5 sets / 10-20 seconds
parallettes or dip bars Warm-up needed

Turkish Get-Up Core Focus

The Turkish get-up performed with intentional core focus emphasizes the anti-rotation and stability ...

★★★★☆ 2-3 sets / 2-3 reps per side
kettlebell Warm-up needed

GHD Sit-Up

The GHD sit-up uses a glute-ham developer bench to perform a full-range sit-up with hip extension at...

★★★★☆ 3-4 sets / 10-15 reps
GHD machine Warm-up needed

Dragon Flag

The dragon flag is an advanced core exercise where you lower your entire body from a vertical positi...

★★★★★ 3 sets / 3-5 reps
bench Warm-up needed

Hanging Windshield Wiper

Hanging windshield wipers involve raising your legs while hanging and rotating them side to side in ...

★★★★★ 3 sets / 5-8 reps per side
pull-up bar Warm-up needed

Track Your Core Training

Log your core training sessions alongside your BJJ training. MatTime gives you a complete picture of your athletic development.

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