Thursday, September 5, 2013

Hardcore Work Capacity Sessions


Are you preparing for SEALFIT Kokoro, GoRuck Selection, BUD/S, SFAS, or any other SOF selection? Then you may want to complete some of the following workouts, which are mostly high-rep calisthenics workouts. They are the most hardcore, brutal work capacity sessions that I have done: they are 100% beatdown, 100% hammer-time. However, once you complete any of these workouts (especially with a 40# weighted vest), you enter a whole new paradigm, a whole new realm. You realize that you can do ANYTHING and that ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE.

WARNING: DO NOT attempt these workouts (as prescribed) unless you’ve been doing CrossFit, SEALFIT, or Military Athlete for AT LEAST four months. You do not want to get severe rhabdomyolysis and end up in the emergency room.

I no longer do CrossFit (or SEALFIT or Military Athlete). I’m doing dedicated strength training (i.e. powerlifting). But if I were to resume doing CrossFit, I would build myself back up and wait at least several months before attempting any of these workouts.

WARNING: DO NOT attempt these workouts unless you can handle doing 150-200 push-ups (bodyweight) and 75-100 deadhang or kipping pull-ups (bodyweight) in a given workout. If you can manage doing only 100 push-ups and 25 pull-ups in a given workout, then DO NOT do these workouts as prescribed. Scale down.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with scaling down. You can do 75%, 50%, or 25% of the prescribed reps or rounds. For example, you can scale down Murph Tribute and the 500 Challenge as follows:

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Murph Tribute (scaled down to 50%):

For time:
Run 0.5 mile
25 DH pull-ups
50 push-ups
25 CF sit-ups
25 flutter kicks (four-count)
25 leg levers
100 air squats
Run 0.5 mile
25 DH pull-ups
50 push-ups
25 CF sit-ups
25 flutter kicks (four-count)
25 leg levers
100 air squats
Run 0.5 mile

Total:
Run 1.5 miles
50 DH pull-ups
100 push-ups
50 CF sit-ups
50 flutter kicks (four-count)
50 leg levers
200 air squats

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The 500 Challenge (scaled down to 40%):

10 rounds:
5 DH pull-ups
5 DH chin-ups
Total: 50 DH pull-ups, 50 DH chin-ups

10 rounds:
20 air squats
20 push-ups
20 sit-ups (CF or regular)
20 flutter kicks (four-count)

Total:
200 air squats
200 push-ups
200 sit-ups
200 flutter kicks (four-count)

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For the barbell movements, if the prescribed weight is too heavy, then decrease it as needed. For metabolic conditioning workouts, you should be using weights that are lighter than your 10RM (10-rep max). Your 10RM is 75% of your 1RM (one-rep max). If you don’t know your 10RM or 1RM, then just use a weight that you think you can handle for high reps. The same applies for kettlebell or dumbbell movements.

If you want to take the bodyweight workouts to the next level, I recommend an adjustable weighted vest: 20-40lb for men, 10-20lb for women, or simply 10-20% of your bodyweight. If you use a weighted vest, make sure you start light (e.g. 20lb men, 10lb women) and increase the weight gradually and progressively over time. For example, the first time you use a weighted vest, DO NOT attempt a Double Murph with a 30-40lb vest. Instead, do Half-Murph or Murph with 20lb (men) or 10lb (women).

WARNING: DO NOT do any of the following workouts on consecutive days. At most, do only one of the following workouts per week. Even if you do one of the following workouts every two weeks, you’ll still reap the benefits.

WARNING: These workouts will crush you, especially if you use a weighted vest, and so recovery is extremely important. In order to recover optimally, follow everything listed in my previous post, “The Optimal Recovery Routine.” In particular, make sure you eat fairly strict Paleo, as this will reduce soreness to a very large degree. In addition, you can always do active recovery.

Finally, if you choose to attempt these workouts, I am not liable for any injuries, rhabdomyolysis, etc. So attempt these workouts at your own risk.

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Abbreviations:

CF sit-ups = CrossFit or butterfly sit-ups
DH pull-ups = deadhang pull-ups
K pull-ups= kipping pull-ups
AMRAP = as many rounds or reps as possible
BB = barbell
DB = dumbbell
KB = kettlebell
# = lb, or pound

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Special Forces Workout (SEAL Grinder PT; modified; weighted vest optional):

For time:
100 DH pull-ups
200 push-ups
100 CF sit-ups
100 flutter kicks
100 leg levers
400 air squats

Run 400m after every 100 reps.

Do not partition. This is a chipper workout: you will do 100 DH pull-ups, run 400m, do 100 push-ups, run 400m, do 100 push-ups, run 400m, and so on.

In total, you will run 10 x 400m = 2.5 miles.

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The Protector (SEALFIT; weighted vest optional):

For time:
Run 1.5 miles
100 DH pull-ups
200 hand-release push-ups
300 squat jumps
Run 1.5 miles

Do not partition. This is a chipper workout: run 1.5 miles, do all 100 DH pull-ups, do all 200 hand-release push-ups, and so on.

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Murph Tribute (SEALFIT; modified; weighted vest optional):

Run 1 mile
50 DH pull-ups
100 push-ups
50 CF sit-ups
50 flutter kicks (four-count)
50 leg levers
200 air squats
Run 1 mile
50 DH pull-ups
100 push-ups
50 CF sit-ups
50 flutter kicks (four-count)
50 leg levers
200 air squats
Run 1 mile

Do not partition. This is a chipper workout.

Total:
Run 3 miles
100 DH pull-ups
200 push-ups
100 CF sit-ups
100 flutter kicks (four-count)
100 leg levers
400 air squats

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Double Murph (weighted vest optional):

For time:
Run 2 miles
40 rounds: 5 DH or K pull-ups, 10 push-ups, 15 air squats
Run 2 miles

Total:
Run 4 miles
200 DH or K pull-ups
400 push-ups
600 air squats

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Triple Murph (weighted vest not recommended):

For time:
Run 3 miles
60 rounds: 5 DH or K pull-ups, 10 push-ups, 15 air squats
Run 3 miles

Total:
Run 6 miles
300 DH or K pull-ups
600 push-ups
900 air squats

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Angie, Barbara, and Cindy (weighted vest optional):

Complete all three workouts. Rest 5 minutes between workouts.

Angie:
For time:
100 DH or K pull-ups (you can scale down to 50)
100 push-ups
100 CF sit-ups
100 air squats

Do not partition. This is a chipper workout.

Barbara:
Five rounds for time:
20 DH or K pull-ups (you can scale down to 10)
30 push-ups
40 CF sit-ups
50 air squats

Cindy:
20 minute AMRAP:
5 DH or K pull-ups
10 push-ups
15 air squats

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The 500 Challenge (SEAL Quest; modified; weighted vest not recommended):

15 rounds:
5 DH pull-ups
5 DH chin-ups
Total: 75 DH pull-ups, 75 DH chin-ups

25 rounds:
20 air squats
20 push-ups
20 sit-ups (CF or regular)
20 flutter kicks (four-count)

Total:
500 air squats
500 push-ups
500 sit-ups
500 flutter kicks (four-count)

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Three-Part SEALFIT Workout:

Part I:
15 rounds (weighted vest optional):
5 DH pull-ups
10 hand-release push-ups
15 jump squats

Part II:
5 rounds:
1 BB Frog Complex (65#, 85#, 3 x 105#)
Run 400m

Use 65# for the first round, 85# for the second, and 105# for the remaining rounds.

Part III:
Run 1 mile
21-15-9 reps: KB swings (55#), burpee-box jumps
Run 1 mile

Do not wear a weighted vest for parts II or III.

Rest 5 to 10 minutes between workouts.

BB Frog Complex:
Deadlift
Squat clean
Thruster (separate from squat clean)
Back squat
Press (or push-press) from the back position

One continuous movement = one rep. Six reps = one complex.

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SEALFIT Manmaker Pyramid (modified):

5-10-20-30-20-10-5 reps:
DB Manmakers (30#)
Wall ball shots (20#)
Double-unders (or 2x single-unders)
CF sit-ups

Do 5 DB Manmakers, 5 wall ball shots, 5 double-unders (or 10 single-unders), and 5 CF sit-ups. Then do 10 reps of each exercise, 20 of each exercise, and so on.

Total:
100 DB Manmakers (30#)
100 Wall ball shots (20#)
100 Double-unders (or 200 single-unders)
100 CF sit-ups

DB Manmaker:
Squat down with DB in your hands
Thrust your legs out into the push-up position
Push-up
Spread your legs wide
Right-arm DB row
Bring legs together
Push-up
Spread your legs wide
Left-arm DB row
Bring legs together
Jump back to the squat position
DB squat clean (from the ground) to thruster

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Ultimate Driving Machine (Military Athlete):

15-14-13-12-11-10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 reps:
Deadlift (185#)
KB clean and press (20kg)
GHD sit-ups (or 35# weighted sit-ups)
Back squats (135#)
5 DB renegade rows (25#)

Do 5 renegade rows each round.

So, do 15 deadlifts, 15 KB clean and presses, 15 GHD sit-ups, 15 back squats, and 5 renegade rows. Then do 14 reps of each exercise (except the renegade rows), 13 reps of each exercise, and so on.

Total: 120 reps per exercise. 75 renegade rows.

DB renegade row:
Push-up
Right-arm DB row
Push-up
Left-arm DB row

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Depletion Workout (Military Athlete; modified):

Part I:
10 rounds:
1 BB Barbell Complex (75#)
Row 200m

Part II:
15-14-13-12-11-10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 reps (weighted vest optional):
DH pull-ups
Push-ups
Sit-ups
Squat jumps
Total: 120 reps per exercise

Part III:
10 minute AMRAP:
Sandbag getups (60#)

Part IV:
Run 7 miles

Do not wear a weighted vest for parts I, III, or IV.

BB Barbell Complex:
6 deadlifts
6 bent-over rows
6 squat cleans or power cleans
6 front squats
6 push-presses
6 back squats

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100 Curtis Ps (Military Athlete):

For time:
100 BB Curtis Ps (55% BW)

The BB should be 55% of your bodyweight. For example, if you weigh 200lb, then use 105lb.

BB Curtis P:
Deadlift
Squat clean or power clean
Lunge per leg (with BB in front rack position)
Push-press

One continuous movement = one rep

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10 Barbell Complexes (SEALFIT, Military Athlete; modified):

Ten rounds:
BB Barbell Complex (95#)

Rest 2:00 or 3:00 between rounds

If you want to make the workout easier, use 45#, 55#, 65#, 75#, and 85# for rounds 1-5. These are your warm-up rounds. Then use 95# for rounds 6-10.

BB Barbell Complex:
6 deadlifts
6 bent-over rows
6 squat cleans or power cleans
6 front squats
6 push-presses
6 back squats

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