Tuesday 1 June 2010: 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 31 May 2010: TIMED SETS CIRCUITS

TIMED SETS CIRCUITS

Perform four rounds of the following circuit.

• Round One perform each exercise for 60 seconds
• Round Two perform each exercise for 45 seconds
• Round Three perform each exercise for 30 seconds
• Round Four perform each exercise for 15 seconds
• Rest 1 minute between each set of exercises in all four rounds.

Advanced:

• Pull-ups
• Sit-ups
• Push-ups

Intermediate:

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

Basic:

• Body Rows
• Crunches
• Knee Push-ups

Post results to Comments.

Sunday 30 May 2010: REST

REST DAY

Saturday 29 May 2010: 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 28 May 2010: 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.

Thursday May 2010: 30/90 SPRINTS

The terrific, the terrifying...

30/90 SPRINTS

Advanced:

• Run 5 minutes
• Repeat five times:
  Sprint 30 seconds
  Recover 90 seconds
• Run five minutes

Intermediate:

• Run-walk 5 minutes
• Repeat five times:
  Sprint 20-30 seconds
  Recover 90-100 seconds
• Run-walk 5 minutes

Basic:

• Powerwalk 5 minutes
• Repeat five times:
  Sprint 15-20 seconds
  Recover 100-105 seconds
• Powerwalk 5 minutes

Post results to Comments.

Wednesday 26 May 2010: FIFTEEN MINUTES

FIFTEEN MINUTES

The following circuit takes fifteen minutes to complete. Intermediate and Basic trainees should take short rests between exercises as necessary. Advanced trainees should move between exercises as quickly as possible.

You may want to spend a couple of minutes warming the body before the workout by performing jumping jacks and/or basic mobility exercises.

Advanced:

• 1 minute: Max Pull-ups
• 1 minute: Max Sit-ups
• 1 minute: Max Push-ups
• 2 minutes: Max Squats
• 10 minutes: High Intensity Cardio
  (E.g. Skip rope fast, Sprints, Running, Burpees, etc.)

Intermediate:

• 1 minute: Max Partial Pull-ups or Body Rows
• 1 minute: Max Sit-ups or Crunches
• 1 minute: Max Push-ups (go to your knees if necessary)
• 2 minutes: Max Squats or Half-Squats
• 10 minutes: Intense Cardio
  (E.g. Skip rope, Sprints, Jumping Jacks, Squat Thrusts, etc.)

Basic:

• 1 minute: Max Body Rows
• 1 minute: Max Crunches
• 1 minute: Max Knee Push-ups
• 2 minutes: Max Half-Squats
• 10 minutes: Cardio
  (E.g. Skip rope, Sprints, Jumping Jacks, etc.)

Post results to Comments.

Tuesday 25 May 2010: BP - SQ-THR PYRAMID

BURPEE -- SQUAT THRUST PYRAMID

Perform a pyramid of burpees and squat thrusts for twenty minutes.

To perform a pyramid, begin by performing one rep of the chosen exercise, rest, then two reps, rest, then three reps, and so on until you reach the "top" of the pyramid. Then begin retracing the steps you took to reach that number (e.g. 10 reps, rest, 9 reps, rest, 8 reps, etc.). The "top" of the pyramid can either be predetermined (e.g. 5, 10, 15, 20 reps) or can be ascertained by the inability to complete the required number of reps for the next step (e.g. 6 reps, 7 reps, 5 reps - you missed a set). In either case, the trainee should stop building sets and "descend" the pyramid by performing decreasing sets of his/her chosen exercise.

For this WOD you should go by feel. We do not set predetermined numbers as goals on the TMFS blog, but if you have previous experience with burpees and know your limits, you may choose to do so. A better method will simply be to go by feel. If you are becoming very fatigued and are struggling to complete each set, stop increasing the reps and begin descending with the next exercise. If you complete the pyramid and have extra time left within the twenty minute time limit, go ahead and begin another pyramid until time expires.

During our workout today we will be using a more challenging exercise on the way "up" the pyramid and a less challenging exercise on the way "down." For example, an advanced trainee will perform sets of burpees (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, etc.) until he reaches the top, then he will perform squat thrusts on the way down (10, 9, 8, 7, 6, etc.).

How long should you rest? That is up to the individual. You know your level of conditioning. You should rest long enough to catch your breath and recover the strength to continue but not long enough for your heartrate to return entirely to normal levels (it should drop somewhat, however).

Advanced:

• Burpees - Up
• Squat Thrusts - Down

Intermediate - Basic:

• Squat Thrusts - Up
• Half Squats - Down

Post results to Comments.

Monday 24 May 2010: SPARTAN RUN #2

SPARTAN RUN #2

30/30 = 30 seconds work, 30 seconds rest


Advanced:

• Run 5 minutes
• Repeat twice:
  30/30 Pull-ups
  30/30 Sit-ups
  30/30 Burpees
  30/30 Squats
  30/30 Bear Crawls (substitute Crab Crawls on second circuit)
• Run 5 minutes

Intermediate:

• Run-walk 5 minutes
• Repeat twice:
  30/30 Partial, Assisted or Jumping Pull-ups
  30/30 Sit-ups or Crunches
  30/30 Squat Thrusts
  30/30 Squats
  30/30 Bear Crawl (substitute Crab Crawls on second circuit)
• Run-walk 5 minutes

Basic:

• Powerwalk 5 minutes
• Repeat twice:
  30/30 Body Rows
  30/30 Crunches
  30/30 Jumping Jacks
  30/30 Half-Squats
  30/30 Bear Crawl (substitute Crab Crawls on second circuit)
• Powerwalk 5 minutes

Post results to Comments.

Saunday 23 May 2010: REST

REST DAY

Saturday 22 May 2010: 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 21 May 2010: 90/30 CALS

90/30 CALISTHENICS:
PUSH-UP, LEG LEVER, TUCK JUMP

Today's training session involves 90 seconds of continuous calisthenics alternated with 30 seconds of rest.

Perform ten circuits in twenty minutes.

Advanced:

• 30 seconds: Push-ups (go to your knees if necessary)
• 30 seconds: Leg Levers
  (Lie on your back with your legs straight and your hands under your hips to provide lower back support. Keeping your legs straight, raise them until your legs are at a 45 degree or greater angle. Lower them again but stop short of touching your feet to the floor. Repeat.)
• 30 seconds: Tuck Jumps
  (Perform a squat jump but in midair bring your knees to your chest.)
• 30 seconds: Rest

Intermediate:

• 30 seconds: Knee Push-ups
• 30 seconds: Reverse Crunches
  (Lie on your back with your knees bent and feet flat on the floor. Lift your feet and curl your knees toward your chest.)
• 30 seconds: Squat Jumps
• 30 seconds: Rest

Basic:

• 30 seconds: Countertop Push-ups
• 30 seconds: Reverse Crunches
  (Lie on your back with your knees bent and feet flat on the floor. Lift your feet and curl your knees toward your chest.)
• 30 seconds: Half Squats
• 30 seconds: Rest

Post results to Comments.

Thursday 20 May 2010: 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 19 May 2010: 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 18 May 2010: 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 17 May 2010: 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 16 May 2010: REST

REST DAY

Saturday 15 May 2010: 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 14 May 2010: 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 BodyRows
• Push-ups, Knee Push-ups, Countertop Push-ups

Post results to Comments.

Thursday 13 May 2010: 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 12 May 2010: PU OTM

PUSH-UPS ON THE MINUTE

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

Intermediate and Basic trainees should substitute knee push-ups as necessary.

Lots of Push-ups!

Post results to Comments.

Tuesday 11 May 2010: 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 10 May 2010: TIMED SETS #4

TIMED SETS #4

• 60/60 - 60 seconds work, 60seconds rest
• 30/60 - 30 seconds work, 30 seconds rest

Repeat two times (2x):

• 60/60 Pull-ups
  60/60 Sit-ups
  60/60 Push-ups

Repeat two times (2x):

• 30/60 Pull-ups
• 30/60 Sit-ups
• 30/60 Push-ups

Substitutions for Intermediate & Basic Levels:

• For Pull-ups - Partial or Assisted or Jumping Pull-ups, Body Rows
• For Sit-ups - Crunches, Leg Levers, Flutter Kicks, other abdominal exercise variations
• For Push-ups - Knee Push-ups, Dips, other push-up variations

Post results to Comments.

Sunday 9 May 2010: REST

REST DAY

Saturday 8 May 2010: 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 7 May 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 6 May 2010: 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 5 May 2010: 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.

Tuesday 4 May 2010: 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 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 3 May 2010: 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.

Sunday 2 May 2010: REST

REST DAY