Squat Thrust for a Total Body Workout

When I was a cadet in a military school, I always loathed doing the "Squat Thrust" also known as "Burpees" - the only difference is that Burpees are more challenging because of the jump at the end. It was given as a form of punishments not just a one-count repetition but almost infinite counts to the point that your body feels exhausted making you gasp for more air.

According to Oxford Dictionary Online, Burpee exercises was named in the 1930s after the American physiologist Royal H. Burpee, who developed the "burpee test". It was further popularised in 1944 when it was adopted as one of seven exercises used by the US Army in its new toughening up programme which is I described as hellish and exhausting.

Now I realized the reason why the armed forces, fitness boot camps, cross fit trainers and martial arts classes around the world incorporate it into their training regimens. Simply because it is a full body exercise used in strength training and as an aerobic exercise which improves aerobic endurance, strengthens both muscles and bones, create lean muscle mass that raises the metabolism and, of course, help keep you fit and healthy.

When done correctly and arduously, it combines the feelings of breathlessness, elevation of the chest wall, forced expiration, higher heart rate and the legs will have a feeling of a burning sensation due to the increase of lactic acid. With each repetition, it forms the chest, arms, calves, front deltoids, thighs, hamstrings, abs and most importantly strengthens your cardio endurance. I personally used this exercise whenever I have upcoming major hikes that requires full assault and seemingly endless trails.

***The blogger do a 3 sets of squat thrust 25 repetition per day.