Burpee Mania

If you are one of the many dedicated members of Physiques by Damon Reio Personal Training or St. Pete Boot Camps, you are more than familiar with the “B” word and probably cringe as the two syllables form out of my mouth for your next exercise routine – (Burr-pea) Burpee. But, the reason why I recommend and prescribe this exercise in my workouts and personally love them is because the body movement is integrative and totally effective in terms of improved motor skills, increased metabolism and body sculpting.

By far, the Burpee is considered the “most challenging bodyweight exercise.” The reason is because there is nothing “isolation” about it, as with a squat or sit-up. In order to perform this particular exercise, your individual muscles become a “team” performing squats, pushups, planks and interconnect with one another thus requiring you to work more body parts simutaneously leading to faster fatigue but quicker fat shedding and results! So, just before you sigh and lable your fitness coach as a “manic depressive/masicist who takes his personal issues out on you, consider the benefits your body is reaping:

Tighter stomach
Firm butt
Stronger shoulders and upper body
Defined calves
Better back posture
Fitter looking arms
Increased agility and physical performance
A symetrical and sexier physique
Greater endurance and much, much more…

The Origin of the Burpee

The exercise may have been originated by a man named Lieutenant Thomas Burpee who lived from 1757-1839. He was an officer in the New Hampshire Militia during the American Revolutionary War and was described as “having the innate “Burpee” fondness for martial exercises” in A History of the Town of New London, Merrimack County, New Hampshire. Lt. Burpee may have used the combination of pushups and squat thrusts as a means of drilling, conditioning, and disciplining the troops under his command. In addition, the exercise was also been used by the troops as a way to stay warm during the winters in wartime New England. There you have it, how does it feel to train like a soldier?

Enough said, let us get to business!

After you have mastered the Burpee, here is a routine you can do at the gym or in the comfort of your own home that adds a little variation to the exercise. It requires, very little equipment. In fact, all you need is a dumbell, medicine ball or some sort of resistant weight such as a telephone book. ARE YOU READY FOR THIS 24 MINUTE ROUTINE?:

Perform each station for 2 minutes. After completing the entire circuit (6 stations), rest for only 45 – 90 seconds. Repeat the circuit for two sets. You are a bad a@# if you go for three.

1. Plyometric Burpee
2. Burpee Prone/Row
3. Burpee Upright Row
4. Burpee KB or DB/TB Swing
5. Burpee MB Squat/Shoulder Press
6. Burpee Arm Curl

MB= Medicine Ball
DB=Dumbell
TB=Telephone Book
KB=Kettle Bell

Make It Happen!!

As always, subscribe to my blog, post a comment or question regarding this workout or your fitness concerns and they will be addressed and answered.

Thank you Mindy, Vixen and Che for the footage and your continuous committment – sorry for the redundancy : )

See ya at the North Shore on Valentine’s Day Boot Camp!

Tags: Burpee, burpee workout, valentine's day, valentine's day boot camp