Tuesday 1 December 2009: B-CIRCUITS

Today's agony brought to you by Bryce Lane, a major inspiration for this site and creator of the infamous...

 

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 mucles)

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 30 November 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.

Sunday 29 November 2009: REST

REST DAY 

Thursday - Saturday 26-28 November 2009: WEEK'S END WORKOUTS

WEEK'S END WORKOUTS

 

Thursday 26 Nov 2009: CRAWL...SPRINT #2

 

Friday 27 Nov 2009: PULL, PU, CRAWL

 

Saturday 28 Nov 2009: RUN FOR DISTANCE 

 

Post results to Comments for this post.

Thursday 25 November 2009: PULL LADDERS + PU

PULL-UP LADDERS + SET OF PUSH-UPS

For today's workout, you will be performing pull-up ladders supersetted with sets of push-ups.

To do ladders: perform 1 pull-up, then a set of 2 pull-ups, then a set of 3 pull-ups, and so on until you miss a set (i.e. you should have done 6 pull-ups but only managed to do 5). After you miss a set, start building again at 1.

Insert a set of push-ups between each set of pull-ups. The push-ups don't have to be done in ladder format. Simply crank out a reasonable number that will provide a nice counterbalance to the pulling exercise without burning yourself out. Continue performing sets of each exercise for twenty minutes.

Advanced:

• Ladders of Pull-ups/Chin-ups
• Sets of Regular Push-ups

Intermediate and Basic:

• Ladders of Partial or Assisted Pull-ups or Body Rows
• Sets of Regular, Knee, or Countertop Push-ups

Post results to Comments. 

Tuesday 23 November 2009: J-SQ + BW-SQ #1

JUMP SQUATS, BODYWEIGHT SQUATS #1

Today's workout uses the 30/30 interval pattern (30seconds work, 30seconds rest, repeat).

Advanced - Intermediate:

• 10 minutes - 30/30 Squat Jumps
  (e.g. half, full, jump-overs, etc.)
• 10 minutes - 30/30 Bodyweight Squats
  (e.g. Hindu, Sumo, Deep Knee Bend, etc.)

Basic:

• 5 minutes - 30/30 Jumping Jacks
• 5 minutes - 30/30 Half-Squats
• 5 minutes - 30/30 Jumping Jacks
• 5 minutes - 30/30 Half-Squats

Post results to Comments. 

Monday 23 November 2009: SPARTAN RUN #3

Get ready. This one is tough.

SPARTAN RUN #3

 

Complete the following circuit in twenty minutes.

• Max Pull-ups in 1 minute
• Run 2 minutes
• Max Sit-ups in 1 minute
• Run 2 minutes
• Max Push-ups in 1 minute
• Run 2 minutes
• Max Pull-ups in 30 seconds
• Run 2 minutes
• Max Sit-ups in 30 seconds
• Run 2 minutes
• Max Push-ups in 30 seconds
• Run 2 minutes
• Max Pull-ups in 30 seconds
• Max Sit-ups in 30 seconds
• Max Push-ups in 30 seconds
• Run 2 minutes

Intermediate and Basic trainees should substitute as necessary:

• Partial/Assisted Pull-ups or Body Rows for Pull-ups
• Crunches for Sit-ups
• Knee Push-ups for Push-ups
• Powerwalking for Running
• 30/30 or 15/15 Calisthenic Intervals for 1 minute or 30 second assigned Intervals
  (E.g. 30/30 Bodyrows instead of 1 minute Pull-ups; 15/15 Knee PU instead of 30 seconds Push-ups)

There are no assigned rest intervals in this WOD except as modified above. Your body will learn to recover "on the run" (literally). Pace yourself as necessary.

 

Post results to Comments. 

Sunday 22 November 2009: REST

REST DAY 

Saturday 21 November 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 20 November 2009: MAX SETS - PULL

MAX SETS: PULL-UPS

Complete five max sets of pull-ups at five minute intervals. Perform sets at 0, 5, 10, 15, and 20 minutes.

 

These are max sets but not to muscle failure. Perform the maximum number of repetitions possible while maintaining good form, but stop short of actual muscle failure (you may go to failure on the last set if you prefer).

 

Advanced: Pull-ups and/or Chin-ups

 

Intermediate: Partial or Assisted Pull-ups or Body Rows

 

Basic: Body Rows

 

Post results to Comments. 

Thursday 19 November 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 18 November 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. 

Tuesday 17 November 2009: LOWER BODY STRENGTH

LOWER BODY STRENGTH

 

Complete ten of the following circuits in twenty minutes.

 

Advanced:

• 45/15 Squats
• 45/15 Lunges

Intermediate-Basic:

• 30/30 Squats
• 30/30 Lunges

45/15 = 45 seconds work, 15 seconds rest
30/30 = 30 seconds work, 30 seconds rest

 

Post results to Comments. 

Monday 16 November 2009: 3 POWER CALS

Physical Culture Classics

 

THREE POWERFUL CALISTHENICS

 

Repeat the following circuit for twenty minutes.

 

Advanced - Intermediate:

• Dive Bomber or Hindu Push-ups
• Reverse or Hindu Squats
• Atlas Push-ups
  Atlas Push-ups: Place your hands in the seats of two chairs. With your body held straight, dip yourself between the chairs. This exercise is similar to a countertop push-up, but it stretches and utilizes more of the chest muscles.

Basic:

• Yoga Push-ups
  Yoga Push-ups: Transition between Upward Facing Dog and Downward Facing Dog continously while keeping your arms straight (but not locked).
• Reverse or Hindu Squats
• Countertop or Atlas Push-ups

Post results to Comments.

 

Today's exercises can be found in many manuals on physical training. The above arrangement, however, was adapted from Pushing Yourself to Power by John E. Peterson. PYTP is a comprehensive collection of Dynamic Visualized Resistance and Dynamic Self Resistance exercises and includes many Isometric and Power Calisthenic exercises. 

Sunday 15 November 2009: REST

REST DAY 

Saturday 14 November 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 13 November 2009: 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 12 November 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 11 November 2009: PULL OTM

PULL-UPS ON THE MINUTE

Perform a set of pull-ups at the top of every minute for twenty minutes.

Intermediate and basic trainees should substitute partial, assisted, or jumping pull-ups or body rows as necessary.

Post results to Comments. 

Tuesday 10 November 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 9 November 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. 

Sunday 8 November 2009: REST

REST DAY 

Friday-Saturday 6-7 November 2009: END OF WEEK WORKOUTS

Saturday 7 November 2009:

RUN FOR DISTANCE

Advanced:
Run for twenty minutes.

Intermediate:
Run-walk for twenty minutes.

Basic:
Powerwalk for twenty minutes.

Post results to Comments.

 

Friday 6 November 2009:

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 5 November 2009: SPRINT PYRAMID

SPRINT PYRAMID

Today's workout may look complicated, but it really isn't. Run sprints of 10, 15, 20, 30, 20, 15, and 10 seconds with 1 minutes recovery in between (90 seconds on each side of the 30 second sprint).

• 5 minutes - Run or Run-walk
• 10 seconds – Sprint
• 1 minute – Recovery
• 15 seconds – Sprint
• 1 minute – Recovery
• 20 seconds – Sprint
• 90 seconds – Recovery
• 30 seconds – Sprint
• 90 seconds – Recovery
• 20 seconds – Sprint
• 1 minute – Recovery
• 15 seconds – Sprint
• 1 minute – Recovery
• 10 seconds – Sprint
• 1 minute – Recovery
• 5 minutes - Run or Run-walk

Post results to Comments. 

Wednesday 2 November 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 3 November 2009: ANIMAL CONDITIONING

ANIMAL CONDITIONING

Today's workout mimics various animal movements to facilitate cardio-strength conditioning.

• 30/30's - 30 seconds work, 30 seconds rest, repeat
• 15/45's - 15 seconds work, 45 seconds rest, repeat

Advanced:

• 5 x 30/30 Tiger Prowl (3x forward, 2x backward)
  (Bend forward to walk on your hands and feet as in a Bear Crawl. Bend your arms to ninety degrees and lower your body so that it hovers 3-6 inches above the ground. Walk in this position keeping your body low.)
• 5 x 30/30 Crab Crawl (3x forward, 2x backward)
  (Sit on the ground with your feet on the ground, knees bent, and your palms on the ground resting slightly behind your hips. Lift your pelvis so that your bodyweight is supported on your hands and feet. Walk on your hands and feet with your stomach pointed toward the sky.)
• 5 x 30/30 Kangaroo Jumps
  (Perform a Half-Squat. From the crounched position, swing your arms and leap forward with both feet. Continue for reps.)
• 5 x 15/45 Sprints
  (Okay, so this isn't exactly an animal movement. Pretend like you're sprinting for your life away from the Tigers, Bears, Crabs, and Kangaroos you have been imitating.)

Intermediate and Basic:

• 5 x 30/30 Bear Crawl (3x forward, 2x backward)
  (Bend forward and walk on your hands and feet.)
• 5 x 30/30 Crab Crawl (3x forward, 2x backward)
  (Sit on the ground with your feet on the ground, knees bent, and your palms on the ground resting slightly behind your hips. Lift your pelvis so that your bodyweight is supported on your hands and feet. Walk on your hands and feet with your stomach pointed toward the sky.)
• 5 x 30/30 Kangaroo Jumps
  (Perform a Half-Squat. From the crounched position, swing your arms and leap forward with both feet. Continue for reps.)
• 5 x 15/45 Sprints
  (Okay, so this isn't exactly an animal movement. Pretend like you're sprinting for your life away from the Tigers, Bears, Crabs, and Kangaroos you have been imitating.)

Post results to Comments. 

Monday 2 November 2009: PFT

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.