The Sylvester Stallone abs workout represents a real back-to-basics attack on the midsection. Today you'll learn how to perform this entire routine in your local gym or even at home. However, going back to basics doesn't necessarily mean it's going to be a walk in the park.

While exercise routines are often over complicated with current fads and trends, one aspect of Stallone's training routine which stands out is that everything is kept simple. Each move featured in the routine is a basic, proven bodybuilding exercise which has been used for decades.

Exercise 1: Floor Crunches.

Three sets of 15 reps. This is a classic exercise for the upper abs, allowing you to zone in on the area in question by eliminating the involvement of all muscles in the surrounding area. Be sure to perform this move slowly and controlled, don't make the common error of blasting through crunches really quickly.

Move 2: Side Crunches.

2 sets of 30 on each side are required. By going straight from normal crunches to oblique crunches, your core will already be under a significant workload. This allows you to slightly adjust the focus of the exercise from the center of the stomach to the sides. Be sure to remember to work both sides before you move on to the next exercise.

Part 3: Full Knee Raises.

2 sets of 10 reps. This is a tough move because it's one of those exercises which most people perform incorrectly. You need to focus on bringing the knees up beyond a 90 degree angle, something which many people neglect. This ensures that the strain is placed on the lower torso rather than the hip flexor muscles.

Move 4: Side Twists.

Perform three sets of 10 reps. This is another exercise which manages to place immense pressure on the oblique muscles which populate the area surrounding the main six pack. by focusing on squeezing these as you perform each rep, you will enable fabulous definition with a relatively light weight.

Move 5: Roll-Outs.

1 set of 30 reps. A timeless classic, this piece of equipment was a mainstay of old school bodybuilding gyms during the 70's, 80's and early 1990's. It has made a pleasing reappearance in many public gyms over the last few years. It's a highly effective move which focuses on complete core development so be sure to take your time with this one in order to feel the maximum contraction on each repetition you perform.

As with all exercise routines, of course, you should look to scale this down to suit your individual capabilities. It would be silly to presume that everybody would be able to jump straight into this high intensity core session and get great results. The Sylvester Stallone abs workout is a tough test for even the fittest of fitness enthusiasts.