Does he target abs or are oly lifts sufficient to get a core like his?

>>36476233
Maybe

Yes he trains abs. They have to be conditioned to handle the load for heavy lifts. Just delving straight into heavy oly lifts with a weak core with ruin you.

>>36476278
Is core strength usually the limiting factor on oly lifts?

I'm a total beginner so I don't really know what I can safely work with. I've been trying out 135 lbs clean and jerks and I want to go higher but not injure myself or learn bad form. For reference I'm 170 lbs and my deadlift max is 345 lbs and I can front squat 185 for about 5 reps.

>>36476362
you wont notice shit at 135 m8

Once you move up to 315 for a clean and jerk your core will betray you if you don't prepare it

Once you hit the whole, without a core, you will just crumple like a house of cards

>>36476233
In soviet/russian weightliftings schools trainees usually do crunches and weighted crunches, sometimes leg raises.