Burpees: They are that universally challenging but all-around effective move that works most major muscle groups and ups your cardio endurance.
How to: The basic burpee is a four point maneuver. From standing position, drop into a squat with hands on the ground in front of your feet. Next, kick your feet behind you into a solid plank position then jump your feet back towards your hands. Jump up into the air, then do it all over again.
This exercise is no joke. Since it’s a combo move, the exerciser should have a good master of the plank and good mobility to be able to deep squat.
You’ll notice that arms, back, chest, core, glutes & legs are fired-up as your heart rate raises. The full-body/full-cardio maneuver is super effective at burning fat and building muscle. This is a perfect at-home exercise as no equipment is needed: high intensity interval training anytime & anywhere.
Believe it or not, there actually was a Dr. Burpee who invented this infamous move. Exercise physiologist Royal Burpee created “the burpee” in the late 1930’s as a multi-part exercise for a fitness test – part of his “seven tests of physical capacity.” Its origins were for a WWII military-fitness test where participants were asked to do as many burpees as they could in 20 seconds then 60 seconds.
If you are looking to get into shape quickly for functional everyday living or sport specific training, this is the move for you. Even 90 years after its inception, it’s a training staple.