I would like to start by dispelling a few myths. The core or as I refer to it as the Midline is a combination of the abdominal muscles, hip muscles and back muscles working together to create what I call Midline stabilization. The exercises that best develop this area are Functional Movements, FM are found in nature and are built into our DNA, when done correctly they are safe and ensure quality of life.

Functional Movements consist of Squats - Presses - Deadlifts, these movements are the foundations which we build upon and add more athletic movements such as the Olympic snatch, clean and jerk and many gymnastic movements.

I recommend you start with the:

Squat, Front squat, Over  head squat

Shoulder press, Push press, Push jerk

Deadlift, Sumo deadlift highpull, Medicine ball clean

These movements can be found on the internet and in my new book "No Excuses" (Commando Steve)

There are a number of specific exercises I like that target the abdominal muscles such as the abmat sit up, knee to elbows and GHD sit up and exercises that help strengthen the back, using what they call a Glute hamstring developer: HIp extension, back extension and hip back extension.

The Commando