Friday 1 January 2010: JR + PU/SU

JUMP ROPE + PUSH-UPS/SIT-UPS

Jump/Skip rope in 30/30 intervals for twenty minutes performing quick sets of calisthenics during the rest intervals.

This is a challenging workout, but it is effective and very satisfying to complete. During the thirty seconds between sets of rope skipping you will complete a brief set of an additional exercise. Alternate sets of push-ups and sit-ups so that you perform ten sets of each during the twenty minutes.

You do not have long to perform each set. You also will need extra time to transition from skipping to pushing or crunching and back again. Plan to keep the sets small (e.g. 5-20 reps) and allow ~5 seconds for the first transition and 5-10 seconds for the transition back to the rope. Start with sets of push-ups and sit-ups smaller than you think you can handle. This is a conditioning drill, not a strength workout.

This does not have to be done at an all-out sprint. Find a rhythm and work from one exercise to the other.

Advanced
Complete ten sets of:

• 30/30 Skipping Rope or Jumping Jacks
• A set of Push-ups
• 30/30 Skipping Rope or Jumping Jacks
• A set of Sit-ups

Intermediate - Basic
Complete ten sets of:

• 30/30 Skipping Rope or Jumping Jacks
• A set of Push-ups (go to your knees if necessary)
• 30/30 Skipping Rope or Jumping Jacks
• A set of Crunches

30/30 Interval = 30 seconds work, 30 seconds rest

 

Post results to Comments. 

Thursday 31 December 2009: SPRINT 8

 SPRINT 8

Today's workout is based on a sprint protocol designed by Phil Campbell, author of Ready, Set GO! Synergy Fitness for Time-Crunched Adults.

The sprints are progressive. The first sprint begins at a jog and climaxes at 50% of maximum effort; the second sprint goes from 40% at the beginning to 60% at the climax; the third sprint goes from 50-70%; the fourth sprint from 60-80%; the fifth sprint from 70-90%; the sixth sprint reaches 95% of maximum effort; the seventh and eighth sprints are run at 95-100% effort.

If you are not accustomed to the type of sprint training we do around here, do not max out on the final three sprints - climax between 80-90% of maximum effort.

Advanced:

• Run 5 minutes
• Repeat eight times:
  Sprint 15 seconds
  Recover 1 minute
• Run 5 minutes

Intermediate:

• Run-walk 5 minutes
• Repeat six-eight times:
  Sprint 15 seconds
  Recover 60-85 seconds
• Run-walk 5 minutes

Basic:

• Powerwalk 5 minutes
• Repeat four-six times:
  Sprint 15 seconds
  Recover 85-120 seconds
• Powerwalk 5 minutes

Post results to Comments.

Wednesday 30 December 2009: ALT PULL-PU O2M

PULL-UPS / PUSH-UPS EVERY SECOND MINUTE

 

Alternate sets of pull-ups and push-ups, performing one set at the beginning of every second minute. These sets should be close to muscle failure, stopping one or two reps short.

You will perform five sets of each exercise. Do a set of pull-ups on the 20th, 16th, 12th, 8th, and 4th minutes. Perform a set of push-ups on the 18th, 14th, 10th, 6th, and 2nd minutes.

 

Options

• Advanced Trainees:
  Pull-ups, Chin-ups, Rope Pull-ups, etc.Push-ups, Feet Elevated Push-ups, Dips, etc.
• Intermediate and Basic Trainees:
  Partial, Assisted, or Jumping Pull-ups or BodyRowsPush-ups, Knee Push-ups, Countertop Push-ups

Post results to Comments. 

Tuesday 29 December 2009: BOXING CONDITIONING

BOXING CONDITIONING

 

Advanced - Four rounds of:

• 4 minutes - Shadowbox (include kicks, knees, and elbow strikes as desired)
• 1 minute - Rest
  During rest perform:
  -Round 1 - a set of push-ups
  -Round 2 - a set of crunches
  -Round 3 - a set of squats
  -Round 4 - a set of push-ups

Intermediate - Five rounds of:

• 3 minutes - Shadowbox  (include kicks, knees, and elbow strikes as desired)
• 1 minute - Rest
  During rest perform:
  -Round 1 - 5-15 push-ups
  -Round 2 - 15-30 crunches
  -Round 3 - 10-20 squats
  -Round 4 - 15-30 crunches
  -Round 5 - 5-15 push-ups

Basic - Seven rounds of:

• 2 minutes - Shadowbox
• 1 minute - Rest

Post results to Comments.

Monday 28 December 2009: DO IT ALL

DO IT ALL

Complete the following circuit five times:

• 30/30 Pull-ups
• 30/30 Sit-ups
• 30/30 Push-ups
• 30/30 Squats

30/30 = 30 seconds work, 30 seconds rest

 

Substitutions

• Pull-ups: Partial, Assisted, or Jumping Pull-ups or Body Rows
• Sit-ups: Crunches, Flutter Kicks, Leg Levers
• Push-ups: Dips, Knee Push-ups
• Squats: Squat Jumps, Half-Squats

Post results to Comments. 

Sunday 27 December 2009: REST

REST DAY 

Thursday-Saturday 24-26 December 2009: WEEKEND WORKOUTS

WORKOUTS FOR THURSDAY - SATURDAY
(DECEMBER 24-26, 2009)

 

Thursday 27 Dec 2007: SPRINT - JUMP

 

Friday 28 Dec 2007: FIVE BASIC EXERCISES

 

Saturday 29 Dec 2007: RUN FOR DISTANCE

 

Post results to Comments for this post. 

Wednesday 23 December 2009: ALT PULL-PU OTM

ALTERNATE PULL-UPS AND PUSH-UPS
ON THE MINUTE

Perform a set of pull-ups or push-ups at the top of every minute for twenty minutes. Perform pull-ups on the odd numbered minutes (1,3,5,7,9,11,13,15,17,19) and push-ups on the even numbered minutes (2,4,6,8,10,12,14,16,18,20). You will perform ten sets of each exercise. The alternating pattern will allow you to do more reps and/or more challenging reps in each set than you could do in superset fashion.

Advanced:

• Pull-ups or Chin-ups
• Push-ups, Dips, Handstand PU, or other challenging variation

Intermediate:

• Partial, Assisted, and/or Jumping Pull-ups
• Push-ups (go to your knees if necessary)

Basic:

• Bodyrows
• Knee Push-ups

Post results to Comments. 

Tuesday 22 December 2009: B-CIRCUITS

Today's workout was developed by Bryce Lane.

B-CIRCUITS

Complete as many circuits as possible in twenty minutes.

If you are not accustomed to plyometric training or are obese, perform the Basic WOD.

Advanced:

• 12 Short Range Squat Jumps
  (Half-Squat Jumps: Squat until your elbows touch your knees and thighs are parallel to ground and then jump for height or distance)
• 12 Full Range Squat Jumps
  (Deep Squat Jumps: Squat deep until your hands touch the ground and then jump for height or distance)
• 20 High Tension Bodyweight Squats
  (Squat while maintaining conscious tension of the leg muscles)

Intermediate:

• 6 Short Range Squat Jumps
• 6 Full Range Squat Jumps
• 10 High Tension Bodyweight Squats

Basic:

• 5 Half-Squat Jumps
• 10 Lunges (Each leg)
• 10 Calf Raise and Flex

Are you tempted to cheat on the jump as your legs become tired? Try Traveling B-Circuits by jumping for distance instead of height. Try to cover the same total distance on each circuit as the workout progresses to ensure that you are pushing yourself adequately.

 

Post results to Comments.

 

B-Circuits are covered in Bryce's excellent booklet Fitness Secrets of the Road Ninja. I also highly recommend The Booklet of Bodyweight Power and A Mighty River of Steel.

Monday 21 December 2009: 5BX

FIVE BASIC EXERCISES

 

This circuit can be performed virtually anywhere. It requires very little room to complete. When time crunched, try performing a single circuit (10 minutes) for a quick physical and mental boost.

Complete two of the following circuits in twenty minutes.

• 2 minutes - Sun Salutations
• 1 minute - Squats
• 1 minute - Push-ups
• 1 minute - Sit-ups or Leg Raises
• 5 minutes - Jump Rope, Jumping Jacks, or Run in Place

Modifications for Intermediate and Basic trainees

• Perform Half-Squats instead of Squats
• Perform Knee Push-ups instead of Push-ups
• Perform Crunches instead of Sit-ups
• Perform Cardio Exercise 30/30 style (30 sec. work, 30 sec. rest)

Post results to Comments. 

Friday-Saturday 18-19 December 2009: WORKOUTS

Saturday 19 December 2009

RUN FOR DISTANCE

Advanced:
Run for twenty minutes.

Intermediate:
Run-walk for twenty minutes.

Basic:
Powerwalk for twenty minutes.

Friday 18 December 2009

JUMPING JACK + PUSH-UP CHALLENGE

Today's workout involves two ten-minute challenges.

For the first ten minutes, perform as many jumping jacks as possible, resting as necessary.

During the second ten minutes, perform as many push-ups as possible.

Intermediate and Basic trainees should substitute Knee Push-ups as necessary.

Post results to Comments. 

Thursday 17 December 2009: CRAWL...SPRINT #2

CRAWL...SPRINT #2

Same workout for everybody today, but adjust the intensity according to your ability.

Complete as many rounds as possible in twenty minutes.

• 30 seconds Bear Crawl
• 15 seconds Sprint
• 30 seconds Crab Crawl
• 15 seconds Sprint

Advanced trainees should rest as necessary between rounds.

Intermediate and Basic trainees should rest as necessary during each round.

 

30/30 = 30 seconds work, 30 seconds rest, repeat for specified repetitions
15/45 = 15 seconds work, 45 seconds rest, repeat for specified repetitions

 

Post results to Comments. 

Wednesday 16 December 2009: PU DROP SETS

 

PUSH-UP DROP SETS

Today we'll be applying a popular weightlifting technique to a bodyweight exercise. The concept is simple: perform a set of hard push-ups, then immediately perform a set of an easier push-up variation, then immediately perform a third set of an even easier version. This workout is tough; do not underestimate it. Keep the reps low, especially early in the session, to avoid burnout.

Complete as many drop sets as possible in twenty minutes.

Advanced:

• Feet Elevated PU
• Regular PU
• Knee PU

Intermediate:

• Regular PU
• Knee PU
• Countertop PU

Basic:

• Knee PU
• Countertop PU
• Countertop PU (move feet closer to the countertop)

Post results to Comments.

Tuesday 15 December 2009: J-SQ + BW-SQ #2

JUMP SQUATS + BODYWEIGHT SQUATS #2

Complete as many rounds as possible in twenty minutes.

Advanced - Intermediate:

• A set of Squat Jumps
  (e.g. Box Jumps, Hurdle Jumps, Star Jumps, Half-Squat Jumps, etc.)
• A set of Bodyweight Squats
  (e.g. Deep Knee Bends, Half Squats, Hindu Squats, Sumo Squats, Pistols, etc.)

If you are unaccustomed to plyometric training, perform the Basic WOD.

Basic:

• A set of Half Squats
• A set of Lunges
• A set of Calf Raises
• A set of Jumping Jacks

Post results to Comments. 

Monday 14 December 2009: 30/30 CALS CIRCUITS

30/30 CALISTHENICS CIRCUIT

Complete 5 rounds of the following circuit in twenty minutes.


30/30 = 30 seconds work, 30 seconds rest

Advanced:

• 30/30 Pull-ups
• 30/30 Sit-ups
• 30/30 Push-ups
• 30/30 Squats

Intermediate:

• 30/30 Partial, Assisted, or Jumping Pull-ups
• 30/30 Sit-ups or Crunches
• 30/30 Push-ups (go to your knees if necessary)
• 30/30 Squats

Basic:

• 30/30 Body Rows
• 30/30 Crunches
• 30/30 Knee Push-ups
• 30/30 Half- Squats

Post results to Comments. 

Sunday 13 December 2009: REST

 REST DAY

Saturday 12 December 2009: RUN FOR DISTANCE

RUN FOR DISTANCE

Advanced:
Run for twenty minutes.

Intermediate:
Run-walk for twenty minutes.

Basic:
Powerwalk for twenty minutes.

Post results to Comments. 

Friday 11 December 2009: PULL, CLIMB, TWIST

PULLING, CLIMBING, TWISTING

The idea for this workout came from Jim Biancolo.

Perform ten rounds of the following cycle in twenty minutes.

Advanced:

• 30 seconds - Body Rows or Pull-ups
• 30 seconds - Mountain Climbers
• 30 seconds - Russian Twists
  (Lie on your back with your knees bent and feet on the floor. Extend your arms and clasp your hands in front of you. Crunch up so that your shoulder blades are off the ground. Now twist your midsection to the left and to the right so that your arms are parallel to the floor. Once to each side equals one rep. This exercise can also be performed holding a medicine ball or weight in your hands or with a broomstick behind your shoulders.)
• 30 seconds - Rest

Even though Advanced trainees are accustomed to doing 30 second sets of Pull-ups, the overall intensity of this workout makes the Body Rows an acceptable substitution. If you think the Body Rows are too easy, try the completely suspended version shown in the Body Row link or do them sprint-style and attempt to get 20-30 reps in each round.

Intermediate:

• 30 seconds - Body Rows
• 30 seconds - Squat Thrusts
• 30 seconds - Russian Twists or Regular Crunches
• 30 seconds - Rest

Basic:

• 30 seconds - Body Rows
• 30 seconds - Half-Squats
• 30 seconds - Crunches
• 30 seconds - Rest

Post results to Comments. 

Thursday 10 December 2009: SPRINT 8

SPRINT 8

Today's workout is based on a sprint protocol designed by Phil Campbell, author of Ready, Set GO! Synergy Fitness for Time-Crunched Adults.

The sprints are progressive. The first sprint begins at a jog and climaxes at 50% of maximum effort; the second sprint goes from 40% at the beginning to 60% at the climax; the third sprint goes from 50-70%; the fourth sprint from 60-80%; the fifth sprint from 70-90%; the sixth sprint reaches 95% of maximum effort; the seventh and eighth sprints are run at 95-100% effort.

If you are not accustomed to the type of sprint training we do around here, do not max out on the final three sprints - climax between 80-90% of maximum effort.

Advanced:

• Run 5 minutes
• Repeat eight times:
  Sprint 15 seconds
  Recover 1 minute
• Run 5 minutes

Intermediate:

• Run-walk 5 minutes
• Repeat six-eight times:
  Sprint 15 seconds
  Recover 60-85 seconds
• Run-walk 5 minutes

Basic:

• Powerwalk 5 minutes
• Repeat four-six times:
  Sprint 15 seconds
  Recover 85-120 seconds
• Powerwalk 5 minutes

Post results to Comments. 

Tuesday 8 Decemer 2009: CONDITIONING

CONDITIONING INTERVALS

 

Today's workout uses 30/30 intervals (30 seconds work, 30 seconds rest, repeat for time allotted).

 

Advanced:

• 5 x 30/30 Jumping Jacks or Jump Rope
• 5 x 30/30 Burpees
• 5 x 30/30 Mountain Climbers
• 5 x 30/30 Squats

Intermediate:

• 5 x 30/30 Jumping Jacks or Jump Rope
• 5 x 30/30 Squat Thrusts (add push-up if possible)
• 5 x 30/30 Mountain Climbers
• 5 x 30/30 Squats

Basic:

• 5 x 30/30 Jumping Jacks or Jump Rope
• 5 x 30/30 Half-Squats or Squat Thrusts
• 5 x 30/30 Mountain Climbers
• 5 x 30/30 Half Squats

Post results to Comments. 

Monday 7 December 2009: PFT

Time for the first Monday of the month...

PHYSICAL FITNESS TEST

Advanced:

• Max Pull-ups in 1 minute
• Rest 1 minute
• Max Sit-ups in 1 minute
• Rest 1 minute
• Max Push-ups in 1 minute
• Rest 3 minutes
• Run 12 minutes for distance

Intermediate:

• Max Partial or Assisted Pull-ups or Body Rows
• Rest 1 minute
• Max Sit-ups or Crunches in 1 minute
• Rest 1 minute
• Max Push-ups in 1 minute
• Rest 3 minutes
• Run-walk 12 minutes for distance

Basic:

• Max Body Rows in 1 minute
• Rest 1 minute
• Max Crunches in 1 minute
• Rest 1 minute
• Max Knee Push-ups in 1 minute
• Rest 3 minutes
• Powerwalk 12 minutes for distance

Post results to Comments. 

Sunday 6 December 2009: REST

 REST DAY

Saturday 5 December 2009: RUN FOR DISTANCE

 RUN FOR DISTANCE

Advanced:
Run for twenty minutes.

Intermediate:
Run-walk for twenty minutes.

Basic:
Powerwalk for twenty minutes.

Post results to Comments.

Friday 4 December 2009: PULL O2M - P-Sk + CRAWL

PULL-UPS ON THE SECOND MINUTE
& POWER SKIP + CRAWL

Advanced:

• Perform a set of Pull-ups at the top of every second minute for ten minutes.
  (You will perform a set of pull-ups at minutes 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10.)

Then

• Repeat five times:
  60 seconds - Power Skipping
  60 seconds - Bear Crawl/Crab Crawl (alternate each interval)

Intermediate - Basic:

• Perform a set of Body Rows at the top of every minute for ten minutes.
  (You will perform a set of Body Rows at minutes 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10.)

Then

• Repeat ten times:
  30 seconds - Power Skipping
  30 seconds - Bear Crawl/Crab Crawl (alternate each interval)

Post results to Comments. 

Thursday 3 December 2009: CRAWL...SPRINT #2

CRAWL...SPRINT #2

 

Same workout for everybody today, but adjust the intensity according to your ability.

 

Complete as many rounds as possible in twenty minutes.

• 30 seconds Bear Crawl
• 15 seconds Sprint
• 30 seconds Crab Crawl
• 15 seconds Sprint

Advanced trainees should rest as necessary between rounds.

 

Intermediate and Basic trainees should rest as necessary during each round.

 

30/30 = 30 seconds work, 30 seconds rest, repeat for specified repetitions
15/45 = 15 seconds work, 45 seconds rest, repeat for specified repetitions

 

Post results to Comments.

Wednesday 2 December 2009: PULL-PU O2M

PULL-UPS / PUSH-UPS EVERY SECOND MINUTE

 

Alternate sets of pull-ups and push-ups, performing one set at the beginning of every second minute. These sets should be close to muscle failure, stopping one or two reps short.

 

You will perform five sets of each exercise. Do a set of pull-ups on the 20th, 16th, 12th, 8th, and 4th minutes. Perform a set of push-ups on the 18th, 14th, 10th, 6th, and 2nd minutes.

 

Options

 

Advanced Trainees:

• Pull-ups, Chin-ups, Rope Pull-ups, etc.
• Push-ups, Feet Elevated Push-ups, Dips, etc.

Intermediate and Basic Trainees:

• Partial, Assisted, or Jumping Pull-ups or BodyRows
• Push-ups, Knee Push-ups, Countertop Push-ups

Post results to Comments.