Burpee

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

For the seed company, see W. Atlee Burpee.

For the museum of natural history, see Burpee Museum of Natural History.

The burpee is a calisthenic exercise performed to increase strength and explosiveness. Performed in repetitions it also improves cardio-vascular fitness.

1. Start in a push up position.
2. Jump feet forward to a squatting position just like in a squat thrust.
3. Jump clear of the ground, bringing your knees up to your chest.
4. Land with feet together, on the balls of your feet..
5. Drop back to a squat.
6. Jump feet back to position #1.
7. Repeat many times.

This exercise can be performed in a relatively small area. Many variations can be added, such as performing a push up between steps #1 and #2. In one variation of the exercise called "whoopee jumps," a loud shout is added, which can help build endurance.

The burpee is one of a series of exercises common in a soccer player's circuit training, along with the split jump and squat thrust. It is anecdotally popular in prisons, where exercise time, equipment, and space are all limited.