what does it mean to keep core tight?

[Semidevil]

What does it mean to keep core tight? I'm doing insanity workout and it emphasizes this throughout the program.

Is it sucking the gut in and tightening it? Or is it pushing it out and tightening it? Or is it just plain tightening it?

not quite sure of this concept yet.

 

[rcpratt]

Flex your abs. It's mostly pushing it out.

 

[mizzou]

use it in a context like,

"These knee crunches will really keep your core tight"

or

"Keep your core tight while you do these knee crunches"

to me the latter doesn't make literal sense

it may just be "belt tightening" speak where it just references core strength but they say it as "tightness"

 

[surfsatwerk]

Arch your lower back and flex your abs.

 

[brikis98]

It depends on what exactly you are doing, but in general, you suck in a lot of air, lock your back in extension and flex the abs hard. This should generate a lots of intra-abdominal pressure, give your spine a lot of support, and make everything tight & stable. To learn what it feels like, try it out with a weightlifting belt. The belt will give you good tactile feedback for what it means to tighten up the core. Once you get the general idea, try to replicate the feeling without the belt.