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How far are you willing to go to get the shredded abs of a superhero? Jake Gyllenhaal might just have set the bar—rather, the punch—for extreme workouts. In a recent Instagram escapade, Gyllenhaal, preparing for his role as a UFC fighter in the movie Road House willingly took 40 quick-fire punches to the stomach. Because that’s what you do apparently to the torso of a cheese grater. While he seemed to take it in stride, joking about the rather visceral aftermath, the clip certainly raises eyebrows and, perhaps, concerns.
At best the internet, and TikTok and Instagram, are an exaggeration. At worse it is a performative pit of misinformation and outright bollocks in the race to get ever more engagement. The increasing number of guys–and it is always guys–putting on a show like this, risking their actual physical health, for likes has nurtured a particularly sick side of fitness.
Alex Menchin, personal trainer and co-founder of UN1T Training in Alexandria, sheds some light on the method behind the madness. “Punching the stomach on its own won’t necessarily build abs or make your abs stronger. However, what it does do is force the person getting punched to hold the contraction, so they are technically working them,” Menchin explains. That’s not to say that the tactic doesn’t have its place in martial arts training where body blows might help fighters brace for impact, enhancing both mental toughness and physical reflexes, for the average gym-goer, they could lead to serious injuries.
Rather, Menchin advocates safer and equally effective methods: “In my opinion, you could get abs that are equally as strong with a workout routine that incorporates strength training (heavy compound lifts), direct core work, and some isometric holds, for example, any plank variation.”
And let’s not overlook the role of diet in achieving that sculpted look. “At the end of the day, you will only ever be able to see visible abs on people who maintain a low body fat percentage, which is done through consistency with your nutrition,” Menchin adds.
@nicolas_iong How many punches can you take? 🍫🥊 But the real question is: Does Punching Your Abs Make Them Stronger? Here’s the answer: Let me immediately get one thing clear – punching your abs will not make them stronger. Punching your abs will not make them stronger. However, you are forced to perform an isometric contraction when being punched in the stomach, which is what can increase strength. The main reason that boxers and martial artists get punched in the abs is to condition themselves for getting hit. The aim is to increase pain tolerance, while learning how to position themselves and which muscles to tighten. As a whole, punching your abs during sit-ups does work because it helps to increase peak muscle activation. It also helps to create a mind-muscle connection, which is focusing on using the specific muscle to further increase muscle activity. #punches #shredded #abs
So, while Gyllenhaal’s commitment to his role is nothing short of impressive, let’s leave the stomach-punching stunts to Hollywood. Menchin’s advice? Keep your fitness routine grounded in reality, where the only hits you’re taking are the beats of your workout playlist, not punches to the gut. Stick to tried and true fitness techniques and remember that good nutrition is key.
With a bit of dedication and safer methods, those dream abs might just make an appearance, no bruises required.
