It starts today! Challenge?

[Nighthawk]

So, in the spirit of this thread, I would like to introduce the Golden Eagle Shotokan Karate School 30 second workout (given the fact that increasing muskle mass helps burn calories). In the school, we do 4 pushups and 5 situps as our basic exercise regimen. For the pushups, the 4 positions are:

Hands out at a 45 degree angle, hands straight forward, hands in at 45 degrees, and diamond in front of you about 8 inches stretched from your forehead. For each rep, you drop until your upper arms are horizontal and hold there for a count of 30 seconds.

The situps:

Start out on your back (of course!) and hold your feet about 6 inches in the air. Crunch at your abdominal muscles until your shoulders are off the ground. Next, put your feet flat on the floor with your legs apart and crunch at the middle so your shoulders are off the ground. Third, stick your feet in he air, keeping them together, about 45 degrees to your waist. Get those shoulders off the ground. After that one, roll to one side, bend your legs at the knees, lift your feet about 6 inches off of the ground, and reach for your toes. If you're on your left side, reach with your right hand, or if you're on your right side, reach with your left hand. Roll over and repeat on the other side. Hold each one for a count of 30 seconds.

Think it sounds easy? Let me know how you all like this in about 2 weeks when you start to notice the muscle definition in your arms and the hardening of your abs. It's incredible- my instructor is a genious.

***EDIT*** I just finished my pushups. I should mention that if your muscles aren't trembling from strain, then you're not down far enough, or crunched up high enough. Your muscles should burn.

Thank you ChubRock! I am in for 36! I just talked it over with BamBam (my son) and he is in for 15. He is breaking out our kettlebells as we speak. Man, there is a lot of dust on those things...

Wat the heck are those?

[be da veva]

and diamond in front of you about 8 inches stretched from your forehead.

Cannot SEE that one in my mind..... Diamond I get, but the positioning of said diamond...



So where do I put my hands??

[Nighthawk]

Cannot SEE that one in my mind..... Diamond I get, but the positioning of said diamond...



So where do I put my hands??

Get into a normal pushup position with your thumbs and forefingers forming the diamond right below your face, and then slide your hands about 8 inches or so in front of you. (If you still can't visualize it, I'll post pictures- I'm not exactly sure how to describe it! I did struggle with this one in my description!)

It also just occured to me that I should also mention that you should do the 30 second workout every other day until you build up those muscles. The muscles in your abdomine heal quickly, but your arms will be sore the next day and will need time to heal. I personally do it every day, but I've been doing it now for almost 8 months. Take it slowly at first.