This is a concept I first learned from Bud Jeffries. I believe he outlined it inside of Twisted Conditioning 2, though I could have that mixed up.
Bud was the first guy I saw that was really doing it all. While many people were bodyweight only guys, or kettlebell guys, or clubbell people, here was Bud using every implement under the sun.
This is great as then you can get the advantages of all of those implements, not being locked into the drawbacks of anyone because that’s all you’re using.
But then there is one other possible drawback. In using everything, things may get a bit chaotic and random.
The idea of yardstick conditioning was to have some sort of workout, using one or more implements or tools, that you can use as your measurement of how your conditioning is going.
It’s a brilliant idea because much of conditioning is fairly specific. So much of endurance is about being able to relax into whatever repetitive movements you’re doing.
That means that much of your improvement in conditioning is likely coming not because you’re assisting your body’s ability to exchange gases (aka breathe better), or enhancing the energy systems, but because, basically, your skill in the movement is going up.
(Actually, this is true of ALL movements, whether strength, conditioning, flexibility and more.)
Endurance training is a great place to do a bunch of random stuff. And you can still know that you’re progressing forward when you have one or more yardsticks to measure from.
After I stopped focusing on the kettlebell snatch, I needed some conditioning exercise to keep me occupied.
That’s when the idea of the 100 Burpee Challenge began to form.
Right now, I am training specifically on it, but in time when I move on, I’ll still be keeping this on as one possible yardstick conditioning workout that I can keep on coming back to.
While I’ve done the first 100 rep set I’ve got two ways to progress now. One is to improve my time on it. The other is to amp up the difficulty. I’ll be doing both.
If you’d like to learn everything you need to know about burpees, my progressive plan for training them, technique, breathing, etc. then hop on board the Strength Health Mind Power Inner Circle membership.
The 100 Burpee Challenge is the newest newsletter that is going to print July 2nd. It’s a deep dive on what I’m doing and what you can too.
Furthermore, we’re holding this as an actual challenge inside of the private Facebook group for some added fun.