I love Tabata workouts. I did some last week doing dumbbell punches and with pushups/pushups/squats and it was not only a challenge but fun because the rest period is so short and the intensity level has to be kept high and the timing part is cool, too. Anyhow, thougtht I would share.

Try tabata sprints. The only way I can think to describe them is fucked up.

I have never been able to complete a tabata sprints. i think iim just running too fast.

if you run at full pace it just is not physically possible to complete i think i may bneed to run very fast yet still pace my self.

^^ Not sure I follow. Each 20 second work period is 100%. Obviously your speed will decline with each interval, but you're still giving it your all.

I understand what you mean about the sprints, I think, if you are sprinting, you cannot stop yourself from running for the 10 secs rest, so it ends up like some mad fartlek session. Quite hard on the old legs!

I am developing and building up and longer and longer tabata conditioning session, the key is finding the right exercises that fit together. At the moment it looks like this.

4 non stop back to back tabata intervals - total time - 16 minutes of non stop training

1st exercise - burpees. Face to floor, 6 inch jump off floor at top, good form.
2nd exercise - plank with rotations - for 20 sec work period straight plank, for 10 second rest period, side plank, left then right then left again etc.
3rd exercise - jumping jacks
4th exercise - non stop 1-2 on heavy bag.

May not sound much, but it is a very good routine at the moment (I start it after 2 x 5 mins speed rope sprint in place.) The burpees obviously take it out of you. The rotating plank is an utter killer straight after the burpees, because you want to breath and get your breath back but cannot because of the stress of the plank - it is very much like the feeling of fatigue you get when grappling and being on the bottom for quite a while. The jumping jacks are high energy but an easier exercise and allow a slight recovery. The non stop 1-2s on the heavy bag are a good finisher at the moment. I just have to work out the next part of the jig saw to add a fifth exercise. I am open to suggestions ;-) I think it would be good to get to 8 exercises, all putting different stress on different systems. It is easy to make absolute killer routines really, too easy, I see no point in dying training though! I prefer to work hard, but have a quality element to it as well, where the form can remain decent. Please don't suggest pressups or pullups, as for me these are not good exercises for doing intervals to. I use a gymboss time btw, excellent kit.

TL.

Tabata heavy bag. Done well it makes you want to barf.

now that you have have seen how much you can do in a mere 4:00 minutes, you'll think twice before wasting that "5 more minutes.." when you wake up!

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Bridge the gap between yourself and the impossible, then simply walk across it.

You are so right, tabata sprints are fucked up, but god do i love em :0 i get funny all over when i think about doing em

Timely thread. I just tried Ross's "Sweet 16" from II for the first time. Probably the best short workout I've had.

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Training Log
viewtopic.php?f=5&t=41509

tabata on a rower is fun

im on the floor after im done panting for my life