Burpee

Drop to the floor, chest down, stand and jump. No equipment, scalable, and it raises the heart rate faster than almost anything else you can do in a small space.

DIFFICULTY
Beginner
EQUIPMENT
Bodyweight
PRIMARY MUSCLES
Quads · Chest · Abs
ALSO WORKS
Triceps · Deltoids · Glutes · Diaphragm
HOW TO DO IT
  1. 01Stand tall, then squat down and place both hands on the floor in front of your feet.
  2. 02Jump or step the feet back to a plank and lower the chest and thighs to the floor together.
  3. 03Push back up to plank, keeping the ribs down and the hips level.
  4. 04Jump or step the feet back under the hips into a squat.
  5. 05Stand and jump, landing softly with bent knees before starting the next rep.
COACHING CUES
  1. 01Chest and thighs hit the floor together.
  2. 02Hips do not sag on the push-up.
  3. 03Land soft, do not slam the knees straight.
COMMON MISTAKES
  1. 01Letting the hips drop on the way down, which extends the lumbar spine repeatedly under speed.
  2. 02Snaking the chest up before the hips, which skips the push-up and loads the low back instead.
  3. 03Landing stiff-legged on the jump, which sends impact through the knees for every rep of a long set.

Note: Reference material, not a prescription. Load, volume and whether this movement suits you at all depends on your assessment — if something hurts, stop and get it looked at.

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