You've probably heard a thousand different things about core strength. From "abs are made in the kitchen" to "crunches are bad for you" to...really who knows what else?! Craig Hoffman and Chris Gorres get to the core of the issue, bad pun intended: what does it really take to have functional core strength to maximize your athleticism?

The guys talk about some of the key things to know, and the methods they use to accomplish them in the latest episode of the Train With The Best Podcast.

Support the show

Follow the show on Instagram: instagram.com/trainwiththebest21. Follow Craig at instagram.com/craig_hoffman and Chris at instagram.com/trainergorres.

We have a brand new code with our friends at Momentous! Use the brand new code TWTB at LiveMomentous.com (automatic when you click the link) for 15% off all orders.

JAWKU provides an elite level timing device at a price anyone can afford. Plus, they have a brand new muscle blaster mini - the smallest and most powerful massage gun on the market. Head to jawku.com/discount/twtb for a 20% discount on all JAWKU products!

We're thrilled to welcome Blazepod to the TWTB family. Use the code TWTB for 15% off your order at Blazepod.com.

Craig is an official Whoop affiliate! You can join him on Whoop by getting $30 off your membership at join.whoop.com/hoffman.

Our theme music was made by Jamarian Bates. You can contact him via Soundcloud here: @jaybates40oz!

Athlete mental health is not just about their safety, it's about their performance. Craig Hoffman and Chris Gorres talk about the art of coaching athletes to be at their best mentally, and how doing so means a coach paying attention to the environment around them.

This 20 minute chat is a must listen for sport coaches, strength coaches, and leaders of people of all kinds!

Follow the show on Instagram: instagram.com/trainwiththebest21. Follow Craig at instagram.com/craig_hoffman and Chris at instagram.com/trainergorres.

We have a brand new code with our friends at Momentous! Use the brand new code TWTB at LiveMomentous.com (automatic when you click the link) for 15% off all orders.

JAWKU provides an elite level timing device at a price anyone can afford. Plus, they have a brand new muscle blaster mini - the smallest and most powerful massage gun on the market. Head to jawku.com/discount/twtb for a 20% discount on all JAWKU products!

We're thrilled to welcome Blazepod to the TWTB family. Use the code TWTB for 15% off your order at Blazepod.com.

Craig is an official Whoop affiliate! You can join him on Whoop by getting $30 off your membership at join.whoop.com/hoffman.

Our theme music was made by Jamarian Bates. You can contact him via Soundcloud here: @jaybates40oz!

This week on the Train With The Best Podcast, Chris Gorres is in for a challenge he’s never faced before—Hyrox! Craig Hoffman walks Chris through every station of this intense fitness race, asking for his expert opinion on the best strategy for each segment.

💥 Hyrox Station-by-Station Breakdown: Chris, despite being one of the best sports performance coaches in the world, has never specifically trained for or coached athletes in Hyrox. Craig puts him to the test, diving into the strategies that could help optimize performance for every part of the race, from running to strength-based exercises.

🏃‍♂️ Sports Performance Meets Fitness Racing: How does Chris’ sports performance expertise apply to a race like Hyrox, which combines endurance, strength, and skill? Tune in to find out!

🔗 Listen Now on TrainWithTheBest21.com

🎧 Available on all major podcast platforms. Don’t miss this fascinating exploration of Hyrox strategies from an elite coach's perspective! 🎧

Follow the show on Instagram: instagram.com/trainwiththebest21. Follow Craig at instagram.com/craig_hoffman and Chris at instagram.com/trainergorres.

We have a brand new code with our friends at Momentous! Use the brand new code TWTB at LiveMomentous.com (automatic when you click the link) for 15% off all orders.

JAWKU provides an elite level timing device at a price anyone can afford. Plus, they have a brand new muscle blaster mini - the smallest and most powerful massage gun on the market. Head to jawku.com/discount/twtb for a 20% discount on all JAWKU products!

We're thrilled to welcome Blazepod to the TWTB family. Use the code TWTB for 15% off your order at Blazepod.com.

Craig is an official Whoop affiliate! You can join him on Whoop by getting $30 off your membership at join.whoop.com/hoffman.

Our theme music was made by Jamarian Bates. You can contact him via Soundcloud here: @jaybates40oz!

In this special episode of the Train With The Best Podcast, Chris Gorres and Craig Hoffman take you inside the NFL Combine in Indianapolis for two insightful conversations with the experts at EXOS.

🥗 Busting Nutrition Myths with Ariah Fish, R.D.: EXOS Performance Dietitian Ariah Fish joins the show to tackle common nutrition misconceptions. From travel nutrition to the debate over whether "only calories matter," she breaks down what athletes (and everyday people) need to know about fueling for performance.

🏈 Behind the Scenes with Michelle Starr: EXOS Director of Operations Michelle Starr gives us a rare look at what it takes to run EXOS' elite NFL Combine training program. From logistics to athlete care, Michelle shares how they create an environment for future pros to thrive.

🔗 Listen Now on TrainWithTheBest21.com

🎧 Available on all major podcast platforms—don’t miss this exclusive look inside the NFL Combine! 🎧

Follow the show on Instagram: instagram.com/trainwiththebest21. Follow Craig at instagram.com/craig_hoffman and Chris at instagram.com/trainergorres.

We have a brand new code with our friends at Momentous! Use the brand new code TWTB at LiveMomentous.com (automatic when you click the link) for 15% off all orders.

JAWKU provides an elite level timing device at a price anyone can afford. Plus, they have a brand new muscle blaster mini - the smallest and most powerful massage gun on the market. Head to jawku.com/discount/twtb for a 20% discount on all JAWKU products!

We're thrilled to welcome Blazepod to the TWTB family. Use the code TWTB for 15% off your order at Blazepod.com.

Craig is an official Whoop affiliate! You can join him on Whoop by getting $30 off your membership at join.whoop.com/hoffman.

Our theme music was made by Jamarian Bates. You can contact him via Soundcloud here: @jaybates40oz!

Is there such a thing as too strong? In this episode of The Train With The Best Podcast, Craig Hoffman and Chris Gorres break down the point of diminishing returns in strength training. Sure, getting stronger is crucial, but at what point does chasing a bigger one-rep max start hurting more than it helps? They dive into risk mitigation, why more weight doesn’t always mean better performance, and how to train for what really matters—excelling in your sport.

Follow us on Instagram:
📲 Chris: @trainergorres
📲 Craig: @craig_hoffman
📲 Show: @TrainWithTheBest21

For more, visit TrainWithTheBest21.com.

Follow the show on Instagram: instagram.com/trainwiththebest21. Follow Craig at instagram.com/craig_hoffman and Chris at instagram.com/trainergorres.

We have a brand new code with our friends at Momentous! Use the brand new code TWTB at LiveMomentous.com (automatic when you click the link) for 15% off all orders.

JAWKU provides an elite level timing device at a price anyone can afford. Plus, they have a brand new muscle blaster mini - the smallest and most powerful massage gun on the market. Head to jawku.com/discount/twtb for a 20% discount on all JAWKU products!

We're thrilled to welcome Blazepod to the TWTB family. Use the code TWTB for 15% off your order at Blazepod.com.

Craig is an official Whoop affiliate! You can join him on Whoop by getting $30 off your membership at join.whoop.com/hoffman.

Our theme music was made by Jamarian Bates. You can contact him via Soundcloud here: @jaybates40oz!

Before Luka Doncic was traded, we talked about the mismatch between athleticism and aesthetics, especially amongst elite athletes. From Pat Mahomes to Luka Doncic to Nikola Jokic, we talk about how what it means to be athletic is misunderstood, and definitely can't be seen with the human eye based on cut up abs or ripped arms.

In doing so, we talk to Rustin Dodd of The Athletic bout his piece on the subject!

Read his story here: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6096850/2025/01/30/patrick-mahomes-nikoa-jokic-body-athletes-workout/

Follow the show on Instagram: instagram.com/trainwiththebest21. Follow Craig at instagram.com/craig_hoffman and Chris at instagram.com/trainergorres.

We have a brand new code with our friends at Momentous! Use the brand new code TWTB at LiveMomentous.com (automatic when you click the link) for 15% off all orders.

JAWKU provides an elite level timing device at a price anyone can afford. Plus, they have a brand new muscle blaster mini - the smallest and most powerful massage gun on the market. Head to jawku.com/discount/twtb for a 20% discount on all JAWKU products!

We're thrilled to welcome Blazepod to the TWTB family. Use the code TWTB for 15% off your order at Blazepod.com.

Craig is an official Whoop affiliate! You can join him on Whoop by getting $30 off your membership at join.whoop.com/hoffman.

Our theme music was made by Jamarian Bates. You can contact him via Soundcloud here: @jaybates40oz!

Craig and Chris answer your questions in the latest edition of our year end mailbag, including what fitness trends they want to leave in 2024 and some they'd like to take with them into the future.

Follow the show on Instagram: instagram.com/trainwiththebest21. Follow Craig at instagram.com/craig_hoffman and Chris at instagram.com/trainergorres.

We have a brand new code with our friends at Momentous! Use the brand new code TWTB at LiveMomentous.com (automatic when you click the link) for 15% off all orders.

JAWKU provides an elite level timing device at a price anyone can afford. Plus, they have a brand new muscle blaster mini - the smallest and most powerful massage gun on the market. Head to jawku.com/discount/twtb for a 20% discount on all JAWKU products!

We're thrilled to welcome Blazepod to the TWTB family. Use the code TWTB for 15% off your order at Blazepod.com.

Craig is an official Whoop affiliate! You can join him on Whoop by getting $30 off your membership at join.whoop.com/hoffman.

Our theme music was made by Jamarian Bates. You can contact him via Soundcloud here: @jaybates40oz!

Chris Gorres is one of the world's foremost experts in ACL rehab, but injuries can happen to anyone and that's exactly what happened when his daughter, Mila, tore her ACL in her first college soccer game.

Two months into the rehab, Mila's ahead of schedule. Chris shares this one of a kind rehab in this special episode of the Train With The Best podcast.

Follow the show on Instagram: instagram.com/trainwiththebest21. Follow Craig at instagram.com/craig_hoffman and Chris at instagram.com/trainergorres.

We have a brand new code with our friends at Momentous! Use the brand new code TWTB at LiveMomentous.com (automatic when you click the link) for 15% off all orders.

JAWKU provides an elite level timing device at a price anyone can afford. Plus, they have a brand new muscle blaster mini - the smallest and most powerful massage gun on the market. Head to jawku.com/discount/twtb for a 20% discount on all JAWKU products!

We're thrilled to welcome Blazepod to the TWTB family. Use the code TWTB for 15% off your order at Blazepod.com.

Craig is an official Whoop affiliate! You can join him on Whoop by getting $30 off your membership at join.whoop.com/hoffman.

Our theme music was made by Jamarian Bates. You can contact him via Soundcloud here: @jaybates40oz!