Tabata training is the hipster of the fitness world. Pioneered by Dr Izumi Tabata, it had athletes doing high-intensity intervals long before they were cool. How it works is simple: You do 20 seconds of all-out effort, then rest for 10 seconds. You repeat this pattern eight times, which takes you to four minutes. Then you find a quiet corner to curl up and cry because it is that intense.
Burn fat like a furnace
Since Izumi Tabata first published his findings back in the mid-90s,
numerous studies have confirmed that Tabata’s super-short, intense
workouts improve cardio fitness and help you burn fat by revving your
metabolism for hours after you leave the gym. In fact, test subjects
following the Tabata Protocol consistently get better cardio fitness
gains than control groups doing steady-state cardio. But don’t try and
train like this every day – your body needs time to recover from working
so intensely, so two or three times a week max.
How it works
While the treadmill or stationary bike are obvious choices, you can use
Tabata Protocol with any exercise that lends itself to intense
repetitions. The trick is you have to go all out for those 20 seconds –
no holding back. “This is HIT, high-intensity training – there’s no
second ‘I’ in there, you don’t get rest intervals,” says Ceri Hannan,
national product development manager at Virgin Active. We tested this
Tabata bodyweight circuit as part of Virgin Active’s Grid Test class.
The exercises are based on the seven primal movement patterns for
humans, so you’re not only getting a killer cardio workout, you’re also
getting full-body muscle activation.
Do it
You’ll need: A timer, a TRX suspension trainer or low bar, a box, a grid
marked out on the floor (about 2m x 1.5m). Set up all your equipment in
advance, so you can move between stations quickly.
Do the exercises in order. For each exercise, do as many reps as you can
for 20 seconds. You then have 10 seconds to get to the next station and
in position. Once you’ve completed all exercises, you’re done –
literally and figuratively! Count your reps and try to do more next
time.
Your moves
1 Bodyweight Row
Hold the bar or handles of the TRX with an overhand grip, palms down,
arms extended. Tighten your tummy and bum cheeks to keep your body in a
straight line and squeeze your shoulder blades together as you pull your
chest to your hands. That’s one rep. TIP: Use a rowing machine instead
and count calories burnt as your score.
2 Hand Release Push-Ups
Get in the top of a push-up position, hands in line with your shoulders,
tummy and bum cheeks tight. Lower your chest all the way to the floor
and briefly lift your hands. Push back up to start, keeping that body
straight. That’s one rep.
3 Grid Corners
Starting in one corner of your grid, sprint to the diagonally opposite
corner and touch the ground. That’s one rep. Continue sprinting between
corners.
4 Box Jumps
Stand in front of a box that’s about knee height. Lower into a half
squat and swing your arms for momentum as you jump, landing with both
feet simultaneously on the box. Drop into a squat as you land, then
immediately stand up in a full extension. Step back to start.
5 Hand-Release Burpees
From standing, squat down and put your hands on the floor, then jump or
step your feet back into push-up position. Lower your chest to the
floor, briefly release your hands, then reverse the movement back to
start. That’s one rep. Aim for a fluid, continuous movement.
6 Grid Sprints
Standing on one line of your grid, sprint across the opposite line, then
jog backwards across the line you started on. That’s one rep.
7 Split Squats
With hands on your hips or holding weights at your sides, take a big
step forward with one leg. Keeping your tummy tight and torso upright,
bend your knees to lower your body until your back knee touches the
ground. Push back to start. That’s one rep. After 10 seconds, swap legs.
8 180-Degree Jumps
Straddle one line of your grid. Jump up, twisting in the air so you land
facing backwards. That’s one rep. Reverse the movement back to start.
This article was originally published on www.womenshealthsa.co.za