Using an empty bar allows you to work through slightly more range of motion than an ab wheel. The bar sits a little lower to the ground which means your body can fall flatter.
This will also place the points of contact (the bar and your knees, or feet if you're doing them standing) further apart. The further the distance between these contact points, the harder your abs must work to keep your lumbo-pelvic region positioned correctly.
We have some good news for you. The New Year's resolution crowd, famous for clogging up the gym for the first two months of every year, is starting to dwindle. As they devolve back into their sedentary lifestyles, you have the opportunity to evolve your training program to reach even greater heights. In this series, we'll show you how!
At some point, every strong guy wants to test his mettle in competition. Here's everything you need to know to make your first powerlifting meet a success!