This study investigated the recruitment patterns of ten trunk muscles in isometric exertion tasks, focused on the functional roles (agonist or antagonist). Twelve male students performed maximum voluntary isometric exertion tasks towards six directions: flexion/extension, left/right lateral bending, and clockwise/counter-clockwise twisting. EMG signals from ten trunk muscles and exertion forces were collected. Normalized EMG (NEMG) values were calculated at 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, and 90 %MVC. The subjects showed a limited capacity in producing twisting moments, approximately 50% of the extension moment, and 70% of lateral bending moments. EMG activity was dependent on the direction and magnitude of the exertion, and also on the functional role. The mean NEMG of agonist was 0.260 and 0.067 for antagonist. Agonists showed the highest mean NEMG in flexion (0.367), while antagonists showed the highest mean NEMG in twisting clockwise/counter-clockwise (0.090/0.106).