Juggling work obligations, family responsibilities, and martial arts training can be challenging. Micro workouts are one of the ways people with busy schedules keep their bodies in excellent shape without spending hours at the gym.
These five-minute workout routines are time-efficient and backed by science. This article will discuss ways to integrate micro workouts into your everyday routine.
Why 5-Minute Workouts Work
High-intensity interval training (HIIT) rapidly improves muscle strength, power, and cardiovascular fitness. A study found that only three 20-second all-out sprints (with two minutes of rest between them) three times a week improved aerobic capacity as much as doing 45 minutes of steady-state cardio three times weekly.
For fighters, micro workouts can help maintain or elevate your endurance when your schedule gets chaotic.
Exercising at a high intensity is the key to getting the most out of micro workouts. Giving near-max effort for short intervals activates fast-twitch muscle fibers, which impact how explosive your techniques are.
Also, keeping workouts short limits cortisol spikes during workouts to a minimum, reducing stress on your body while allowing your body to burn more calories hours after your workout.
6 Micro Workouts To Fuel Your Fight Game
Now that we’ve covered the basics of micro workouts, let’s dive into some circuits that will keep you in tip-top shape regardless of how busy your schedule gets.
1) Bodyweight Blast (No Equipment Needed)
This micro workout is excellent for total body conditioning. Here’s what it looks like:
- Burpees: Drop into a squat, place your hands on the ground, kick your legs back, and perform a push-up before bringing your legs back into a squat and jumping up. Keep going for 45 seconds.
- Mountain Climbers: Get into the plank position and alternate driving each knee toward your chest. Keep going for 45 seconds.
- Jump Squats: Lower into a squat and jump up as high as you can explosively. Land softly by sinking into a squat as both feet make contact with the ground. Repeat this exercise for 30 seconds.
Burpees are widely viewed as the most effective exercise for building muscle mass all over your body while increasing your cardiovascular endurance. They are part of any serious athlete’s workout routine. Mountain climbers help to strengthen your core, while jump squats build explosive strength in your legs, which translates into more powerful strikes and takedowns.
2) Shadowboxing Sprints
Here’s a fun way to improve your striking technique while getting a great cardio workout. Here’s what this circuit looks like:
- Jab–Cross Combo: Throw 1-2 combinations as fast as possible while maintaining proper form. Do this for 30 seconds.
- Switch Kicks: Alternate lead legs as you throw roundhouse kicks as fast as you can for 30 seconds.
- All-Out-Sprint: Run as hard and as far as you can for 30 seconds before taking a break.
Rest for 30 seconds before starting all over again. Repeat the circuit three times.
Shadowboxing, when fatigued, teaches you how to remain technically sharp even when you can barely stand upright. HIIT-style workouts help to increase anaerobic power, which is vital for late-fight surges.
3) Core Crusher
Here’s a circuit that will help to build an ironclad core regardless of how busy you get. It involves 20 seconds of intense work, followed by 10 seconds of rest. Try to complete this circuit eight times for a thorough core workout.
Here’s how to do it:
- Plank Shoulder Taps: Get into a high plank and tap opposite shoulders with your hands while keeping your core tight.
- Hollow Body Flutters: Get on your back and lift your legs and shoulders off the ground. Scissor your legs up and down while holding the position.
- Russian Twists: Sit on the floor with your knees bent and lean back a bit. Start twisting your body from side to side.
A strong core leads to more efficient energy transfer between your upper and lower body. A well-built core is also linked to reduced injury risks for combat sports athletes.
4) Explosive Power Circuit
This circuit is designed for grapplers to increase explosive grappling strength. Here’s what it looks like:
- Sprawl To Jump: Sprawl to the ground and immediately explode into a vertical jump. Perform as many reps as you can in 45 seconds.
- Clap Push-Ups: Get into a plank and lower yourself into a push-up. Push hard enough so you can clap your hand in mid-air as you finish a rep. Get as many as you can in 45 seconds.
- Lateral Shuffle: Shuffle from side to side as fast as possible while keeping your body low. Keep going for 30 seconds.
Take a 60-second break after completing the circuit, and aim for three sets.
Improving how quickly you can sprawl helps defend against takedowns, while clap push-ups build upper-body explosiveness for escapes. Lateral agility is key for controlling mat space.
5) Grip Gauntlet
BJJ players and Judokas are all too familiar with the importance of grip strength when grappling. This circuit is designed to develop a vice-like grip.
Here’s what it looks like:
- Towel Pull-Ups: Drape a towel over a pull-up bar and only on to its ends as you perform your reps for 45 seconds.
- Plate Pinches: Hold weight plates with your fingertips while standing tall for 45 seconds. Find weights that are challenging to hold on to with your fingertips.
- Wrist Curls: Hold a dumbbell in each hand with your palms facing up, and curl your wrists toward your forearms.
Grip endurance is crucial for securing submissions and controlling opponents on the ground.
6) Active Recovery Circuit
This circuit works well as a warm-up or cool-down after workouts. It’s also a quick way to pamper your body on rest days.
Here’s what it looks like:
- Spend two minutes performing dynamic stretches like arm circles, leg swings, and torso twists.
- Practice controlled breathing for a minute. Inhale deeply for four seconds, hold your breath for the same amount of time, and exhale slowly.
- For two minutes, perform neck rolls and calf raises to prevent muscle cramps and stiffness.
Active recovery boosts blood flow to muscle tissues, speeding up repair without overtaxing your system.
Get A Great Workout In Just Five Minutes
Don’t let your busy schedule interfere with your growth as a fighter. Use the short circuits listed above to stimulate your muscles when you can’t reach the gym and build your own circuits.
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