How to Train for the Endurance of a Ninja

As promised, here is an example strength endurance workout to start you on the way to building ninja-like endurance.

We will work the upper body, core, and lower body for a complete, whole body workout.

The goal of this type of training is to improve the body’s general endurance capacity so as to increase our overall resistance to fatigue.  This will enable you to train longer, harder, and more frequently, as well as improving your ability to recover between training sessions and between exercises.

Instructions

Move from one exercise to the next with no rest between exercises.  Determine rest periods at the end of each set on your own.  If no rest is required then move back to the first exercise and begin again.  Strive to perform as many sets as possible in 20 minutes.

Upper Body:

• Pull-ups – SM (submax)
• Shuto Push-ups – 20
• Fist Push-ups – 20
• Hindu Push-ups – 20

Shuto Push-up

Core: 

• V-ups – 20
• Knee Hugs – 20

For reference, these exercises are illustrated and described here.

Legs:

• Ichimonji Squats – 25 each side
• Walking Lunges– 20 per leg
• Mountain Climbers – 50 per leg

Finisher:  

• Wall Sit for time

This last exercise we will perform only once when the main work above is complete.  The idea here is to provide a final challenge to both the body and the mind.  You will already be exhausted from all the prior work, so consider this an exercise in willpower and mental toughness.  This will require the mental fortitude to push yourself just a little bit farther!

Remember, it requires more than a black costume and funny split-toe shoes to be a ninja – train hard!

Jon

Jon Haas, "The Warrior Coach" has been training in Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu for more than 25 years and is currently ranked as a Kudan (9th degree black belt) under Jack Hoban Shihan. He has also trained in Okinawan Karate, Tae Kwon Do, Russian Systema, BJJ, Krav Maga, as well as Internal Martial Arts of Yiquan and Aiki.He is a certified Underground Strength Coach-Level 2, a certified Personal Trainer as well as founder of Warrior Fitness Training Systems. In 2008, Jon wrote the book, Warrior Fitness: Conditioning for Martial Arts, and since then has created numerous other online training and coaching programs helping people around the world become the strongest, most capable versions of themselves!

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