Today’s Workout:

“Tabata Something Else”

Complete 32 intervals of 20 seconds of work followed by ten seconds of rest where the first 8 intervals are pull-ups, the second 8 are push-ups, the third 8 intervals are sit-ups, and finally, the last 8 intervals are squats. There is no rest between exercises.

There are 3 things you should always consider about before you ever move. They are your stance, grip, and position. If you don’t take the time to set up properly you are setting yourself up for potential injury (whether immediate or after cumulation of microtraumas) and less efficient motion. If you can learn to master setup and earn sufficient mobility not only will you be able to do more work in less time but also you will have less chance of injury and a greater chance of moving away from existing low level aches and pains.

Stance:
Think about where you should put your feet. We use different foot positions depending upon the lift we are performing. Learn them and use them. You might not realize this, but the ground is your friend. Without it you cannot create power. You want to create the best relationship with it possible to maximize your strength and give yourself a strong base.

Grip:
You may not always need to grip something to move, but if you do this is your next priority in setting up. Pronate, supinate, mix, or hook grip depending upon the situation. If you are using a barbell always make sure your hands are centered.

Position:
Position includes stance and grip, but takes things a step further. Generally you must first organize your spine and hips, stabilize your midline, then start to move. While moving you must continue to maintain position while patterning your movement properly. At first this will take a lot of conscious thought, but if you continue to put effort into proper motion over time it will become almost instinctual and you can spend more time thinking about workout strategy or going to your happy place.