2010-06-10

bodyweight work out: leg power (lunge jumps)

WARM UP
- 200m run or 100 jump rope jumps or jumping jacks
- dynamic stretching/range of motion exercises (shoulder circles, vertical and horizontal arm swings, torso rotations, forward and side to side torso bends, forward-back and side to side leg swings)
- 10 reps: side lunges, forward lunges, push ups, crunches

SPECIFIC WARM UP
leg power: lunge jumps

Practice/Learn the lunge jump.

Do the following in 1 minute intervals:
- 15 squats
- 10 lunges
- 5 lunge jumps (1 jump per side = 1 rep)
- 5 lunge jumps
- 5 lunge jumps

WOD
Do 5 rounds for time:
- 15 tuck ups
- 10 push ups
- 10 good mornings
- 5 lunge jumps

* Lunge jumps:
- The movement looks similar to the forward lunge, but instead of just stepping, you will jump in place and switch legs in mid-air.
- From a standing position with feet shoulder width apart, start by taking a big step forward with one leg.
- Lower your hips until your rear knee almost touches the ground, then immediately jump up.
- While in mid-air, quickly switch the positions of your legs such that the forward leg becomes the rear leg and vice versa.
- Land on a lunge with the opposite foot forward, landing first with the balls of your feet and then using the lowering movement of the lunge to absorb your landing.
- Immediately jump up and switch your legs in mid-air again to land in the same lunge as your starting position. That is 1 repetition.
- Make sure that you keep you keep your back straight, chest up, and head looking forward to the horizon throughout this exercise. Also, keep the knee of your forward leg aligned with and directly above your foot. You must also land as softly as you can, and refrain from stomping your legs on the ground.
- You can make this exercise easier by shortening your lunge, but once you are comfortable with this exercise you should try to keep you lunge as long as possible.

2010-05-25

bodyweight workout: core stability (planks)

WARM UP
- 200m run or 100 jump rope jumps or jumping jacks
- dynamic stretching/range of motion exercises (shoulder circles, vertical and horizontal arm swings, torso rotations, forward and side to side torso bends, forward-back and side to side leg swings)
- 8 each of: forward lunges, squats, pushups, goodmornings, v-ups/crunches

SPECIFIC WARM UP
core stability: planks

Do 4 rounds, 15 seconds each of:
- front plank
- left side plank
- right side plank
- reverse plank

WOD
3 rounds for time:
- 400m run or 200 jump rope jumps or jumping jacks
- 10 burpees
- 15 good mornings

2010-05-14

bodyweight workout: leg strength (single leg deadlift)

WARM UP
- 200m run or 100 jump rope jumps or jumping jacks
- dynamic stretching/range of motion exercises (shoulder circles, vertical and horizontal arm swings, torso rotations, forward and side to side torso bends, forward-back and side to side leg swings)
- 8 reps: push ups, tuck ups, pyramid push ups, supermans, side lunges

SPECIFIC WARM UP
leg strength: single leg deadlift


Learn/practice the single leg deadlift.

Do the following at 1 minute intervals per set:
- 1 set x 10 repetitions of regular squats
- 1 set x 8 reps of forward lunges
- 1 set x 6 reps of backward lunges
- 3 sets x 4 reps single leg deadlifts (1 set = do 4 single leg deadlifts on the left leg, then 4 more on the right leg)

WOD:
As many rounds as possible in 10 minutes of:
- 1 push up
- 1 squat jump
- 1 good morning
- 1 crunch/sit up
- 1 squat jump
- 1 pair of forward lunges
Try to be transition dynamically from one exercise to the next (i.e. do a burpee for the pushup-squat jump, then use the momentum from the situp to roll up to the bottom of the next squat, and lunging right after landing from the jump).
Try to rest only after the lunges.

* Single leg deadlift:
- Start from a single leg balance, with your raised leg positioned a little behind you.
- Lower yourself, bending on your hip and knee, until your hands reach the middle of your shins/calves.
- Try to keep your raised leg above the ground behind you. If you lose balance, you can let it touch the ground but do not put any weight on it.
- Always maintain a straight or slightly arched back, with shoulders also pulled back. Neck should be aligned with the spine, and bending knee must always be aligned with your foot.
- You can make this more challenging by going lower and touching your feet instead of your mid-shins, or lightly touching your rear knee to the ground.


This is a good demonstration of a single leg deadlift (we won't need to use weights): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LA1n11ph_wU
Another good demo, this one touches the rear knee to the ground: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQdFpjKEjHw&feature=related

2010-04-30

weights workout: leg strength (dumbbell squat)

WARM UP
- 200m run or 100 jump rope jumps or jumping jacks
- dynamic range of motion exercises
- 10 reps: side lunges, push ups, goodmornings, v-ups/tuck ups/crunches

SKILL/SPECIFIC WARM UP
leg strength (dumbbell squat 5x5)

Practice/Learn the dumbbell squat.

Do 5x5 dumbbell squats
- 5 sets x 5 reps each set
(Rest for 2 minutes per set. Since I'm assuming that everyone is new to weightlifting exercises, everyone should start out with 10lb dumbbells. Concentrate on doing the exercise with proper form, and with full range of motion. No need for any warm up sets for now.)

WOD
Do 21-15-9 for time:
- burpees
- tuck ups
- squats (bodyweight only, no dumbbells)

* Dumbbell squat:
- Start from a standing position with feet shoulder width apart with toes pointing slightly outward, back straight or slightly arched. Dumbbells are carried on each hand either on the sides with both arms relaxed and extended downwards, or above shoulders with elbows pointing forward (dumbbells can rest on the shoulders).
- In a deliberate and controlled manner, lower yourself by starting to bend at the hips, followed by the knees, until your hips are as low as your knees. Moving through your full range of motion is crucial. Your knees can move forward to slightly beyond your toes (keep them pointed in the same direction as toes). Do not pause nor relax at the bottom of the squat.
- Right when you reach the bottom position of your squat, aggressively go right back up to full hip extension by pulling your hips upward first. Your knees must not move any further forward when you are moving upward.
- Keep your head and chest up, knees pointed in the same direction as toes, and weight on your heels. Keep your body tight and never relax at any point in the lift, specially at the bottom.
- Keep the dumbbells directly above or below your shoulders, and they must be balanced directly above your feet on your front-back/anteroposterior axis (when someone looks at you from your side, your midfoot, shoulders, and the weights must remain lined up vertically throughout the lift).

This is a description and animation of a dumbbell squat with the weights held to the sides:
http://www.exrx.net/WeightExercises/Quadriceps/DBSquat.html
This is a description and animation of a dumbbell squat with the weights held above the shoulders:
http://www.exrx.net/WeightExercises/Quadriceps/DBFrontSquat.html

2010-04-28

bodyweight workout: leg power (jumps)

WARM UP
- 200m run or 100 jump rope jumps or jumping jacks
- dynamic stretching/range of motion exercises (shoulder circles, vertical and horizontal arm swings, torso rotations, forward and side to side torso bends, forward-back and side to side leg swings)
- 10 reps: side lunges, bench dips, goodmornings, v-ups/crunches

SPECIFIC WARM UP: leg power (jumps)
Do 1 round, each within 1 minute intervals:
- 10 squats
- 8 forward lunges
- 6 jump squats
- 4 straight jumps
- 4 tuck jumps

WOD
As many rounds as possible in 15 minutes of:
- 3 tuck jumps
- 6 burpees
- 9 push ups

2010-04-26

bodyweight work out: leg strength (squats)

WARM UP
- 200m run or 150 jump rope jumps or jumping jacks
- dynamic range of motion exercises
- 10 reps: push ups, v/tuck ups, squats, side lunges

SKILL/SPECIFIC WARM UP: Leg strength (squats)
1 round, do each set within 2 minute intervals:
- 15 squats
- 10 forward lunges
- 5 backward lunges
- 5 single leg squats each leg (any variation)
- 15 squats

WOD (Workout of the Day):
5 rounds on a 3min interval of
- 100m run/100 jump rope jumps or jumping jacks
- 5 pyramid pushups
- 10 jump squats
(Record your time every round, rest until the time goes to 3 minutes, then go on to the next round. You should finish with at least 45 seconds remaining. Otherwise, reduce the run/jumping jacks/jump rope volume by half.)

2010-04-21

bodyweight workout: leg stability and balance

WARM UP
- 200m run or 100 jump rope jumps or jumping jacks
- dynamic stretching/range of motion exercises (shoulder circles, vertical and horizontal arm swings, torso rotations, forward and side to side torso bends, forward-back and side to side leg swings)
- 8 each of: forward lunges, side lunges, regular pushups, bench dips, goodmornings, v-ups/crunches

SPECIFIC WARM UP
leg stability and balance

3 rounds, 1 minute each of:
- standing leg circles (left side)
- standing leg circles (right side)
- 3 or 5 single leg squats each leg, any variation
- rest

WOD
for time:
- 20 pushups, 5 goodmornings
- 15 pushups, 10 goodmornings
- 10 pushups, 15 goodmornings
- 5 pushups, 20 goodmornings
(You can replace the goodmornings with supermans if you start having trouble keeping your back straight or arched.)

The lateral component to this lunge variation will help strengthen your hip adductors (inner thighs) more.
- Start from a standing position with legs fully extended and shoulder width apart.
- Take one leg and step to the side until your feet are around 2 shoulder widths apart, bending this leg at the knee and hip, while keeping the knee of the other leg straight. Keep the knee of your lunging leg aligned with your foot.
- Lower your hips until your range of motion allows, then rise up and step back to your starting position.
- Do the same on the other side with the other leg, and that will be one repetition.
- The foot of the lunging leg can either face forward, towards the direction of your lunge, or any angle in between, but you must keep the lunging knee aligned with the foot. Also, keep your chest up, head facing the horizon.

This is a good description of the side lunge, with illustration. This can be done, as in our case, without weights. http://www.exrx.net/WeightExercises/GluteusMaximus/BBSideLunge.html