Wednesday, February 17, 2010

4-minute fitness boost with Tabata protocol

Tabata protocol is an interval training method invented by Izumi Tabata. It refers to any hard effort performed 6-8 times for max 20 seconds, interspersed with rest periods of 10 seconds.

Tabata takes only 4 minutes of your time, so it's hard to find an excuse not to do it - except if you already did it yesterday. If done properly (ie. brutally hard), you shouldn't feel like repeating any of it for about four days!

In the video below Tim VanOrden shows his Tabata leg press workout. If you don't have access to a leg machine right now, you could try pushups, situps or whatever, or go out and sprint of course.

2 comments:

KG said...

Hi Jakuko, I just started following your blog because from what I saw you had some pretty interesting posts. I wish in this particular video Tim would have used bodyweight squats because their more functional. If you've done them you know their not easy. I would say keep up the good work but it looks like you have been for quite a while.

KG

Anonymous said...

Hi Kgoose thanks for following and commenting! Yes normal (free weight not machine) squats would be my choice too. Or maybe running steep hills or climbing stairs. Whatever you do please take care not to hurt your knees or back.