Please Note: Mobility and General Information for how to best use this programming can be found below Session Three at the bottom of this page.
For full tutorials, click the movement link at the bottom of each section (if applicable).
Session One
A.
Pistol Squat Progressions –
One set of:
Kettlebell Ankle Pulse x 20 reps (each leg)
Followed by. . .
Every 30 seconds, for 3 minutes (2 sets) of:
Interval 1 – Alternating Pistol Half Squat x 6 reps
*Bottom of pistol squat should be as close to parallel as possible.
Interval 2 – Pistol Balance Pulse x 6 reps (each leg)
*Top of the pulse should be as close to parallel as possible.
Interval 3 – Pistol Balance Leg Lift x 6 reps (each leg)
Followed by. . .
Every 45 seconds, for 3 minutes (2 sets) of:
Interval 1 – Banded Single Leg Hip Bridge x 20 reps (10 reps each leg)
Interval 2 – Weighted Alternating Pistol Squat (medium weight) x 10 reps
B.
Pull-Up Progressions –
Every 10 seconds, for 2 minutes (6 sets) of:
Interval 1 – Strict Pull-Up x 2-3 reps
Interval 2 – Butterfly Pull-Up x 3 reps
Rest 60 seconds, then. . .
Every minute, on the minute, for 4 minutes (4 sets) of:
Weighted Pull-Up x 5 reps
Additional information and tutorials –
Lat Insertion Pull-Up Tutorial
Kipping Pull-Up Tutorial
Butterfly 4 Step
The Lazy L Bar Mount
Starting from a Dead Hang
C.
L-Sit Progressions –
Every 30 seconds, for 6 minutes (4 sets) of:
Interval 1 – L-Hang Flutter Kicks x 15 seconds
Interval 2 – Straight Body Ceiling Reaching Crunches x 15 reps
Interval 3 – Hollow Body Sit-Up Press to L-Sit x 6-8 reps
Session Two
A.
Handstand Walk Progressions –
For the following, set a measured distance for handstand walks that you know you can do unbroken.
Every minute, on the minute, for 4 minutes (4 sets) of:
Handstand Walk x (chosen distance)
*This will give you plenty of rest time so concentrate on straight body positioning with the body stacked over the shoulders.
**Count your steps and seek consistency throughout the sets. It is important for competitive purposes to know how many steps you need to take to get from one point to another. Instead of having to lift your head to see your finish line, by having an idea of how many steps it takes to get there you can allow your neck to relax throughout your handstand walk, then as you know you are approaching your rep line you can look up to finish and be ready for the next movement, (hopefully) less fatigued due to walking with a more comfortable body position.
Rest 60 seconds, then. . .
Every 30 seconds, for 3 minutes (3 sets) of complexes:
Interval 1 – Handstand Walk x 2-5 meters to Wall + Strict Handstand Push-Up x 2-5 reps
Interval 2 – Freestanding Handstand Marching x 15-20 reps
Immediately followed by. . .
Every 30 seconds, for 3 minutes (3 sets) of:
Interval 1 – Wall-Facing Single Leg Thigh Taps x 20 reps (fast)
Interval 2 – Back-To-Wall Donkey Kicks x 5 reps
*Control the descent of the donkey kicks to land as softly as possible on the floor.
Rest 60 seconds, then. . .
For 2 minutes, perform one set of:
Nose-To-Wall Handstand Hold x 2 minutes (or max effort if less than 2 minutes)
Additional information and tutorials –
Breaking Down the Handstand Walk
Proper Hand Positioning for Handstand Work
Gas Pedal/Brake Pedal for the Ramp
Rocking Vs. Waddling for Handstand Walk and Marching
B.
Ring Handstand Push-Up Progressions –
Every 20 seconds, for 4 minutes (6 sets) of:
Interval 1 – Strict Muscle-Up + Shoulder Stand x 2 seconds
Interval 2 – Ring Handstand Push-Up Negative (low rings) x 2 reps @ 41A1
*Maintain tension in the shoulders at the bottom of the handstand push-up negative.
Followed by. . .
Two sets of:
Double Bamboo Shoulder Press x 6-8 reps
Rest 45 seconds between sets.
Session Three
A.
Rope Climb Progressions –
For 60 seconds, perform one set of:
Rope Climb x max reps (with or without legs)
Rest 60 seconds, then. . .
Every 20 seconds, for 2 minutes (3 sets) of:
Interval 1 – Legless Rope Climb x 1 rep
Interval 2 – Rope Hang Scissor Kicks x 10 seconds
Followed by. . .
Every 30 seconds, for 4 minutes (4 sets) of:
Interval 1 – Rope Pull-Up Taps x 5 reps (right arm)
Interval 2 – Rope Pull-Up Taps x 5 reps (left arm)
*Utilize the Rope Climb Mount to get on the rope. From this position you should start your rope pull-up taps.
Additional information and tutorials –
B.
Bar Muscle-Up Progressions –
For 60 seconds, complete one set of each:
Target Reach Swing + Toes-To-Bar x 4 reps
Air Chair Swing x 4 reps (contiguous)
Strict Chest-To-Bar Pull-Up x 4 reps
Rest 60 seconds, then. . .
6 minute AMRAP: Complete as many rounds and reps as possible in 6 minutes of:
Movement 1 – Bar Muscle-Up x 3 reps
Movement 2 – Dynamic Push-Ups on Floor x 5 reps
Movement 3 – Kipping Toes-To-Bar x 10 reps
Movement 4 – Strict Handstand Push-Up to 8″/4″ Deficit x 5 reps
Followed by. . .
Every 45 seconds, for 3 minutes (4 sets) of complex:
Air Chair Swing x 3 reps + Bar Muscle-Up x 1-2 reps
Followed by. . .
For 60 seconds, perform one set of:
Reverse Snow Angels x max reps
Additional information and tutorials –
Bad Cheerleader Jump to Bar
Target Reach Swing Tutorial
Breaking Down the Bar Muscle-Up
Connecting Bar Muscle-Ups – The Drop
Bar Muscle-Up Tips – Knees Up!
Slack is Bad
Starting from a Dead Hang
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
General Information:
Session Duration:
Each session, for each level, is 20 minutes in duration if all equipment is at hand and the athlete stays on task.
Mixing Levels:
Each section (part “A”, “B” or “C”) of each session is focused on a particular movement. You may need to read the programming to know which movement that section is focused on. Mixing levels to create a somewhat “personalized” program for each athlete is highly recommended. For example: If section “A” is focused on handstand walks, section “B” is focused on bar muscle-ups, and section “C” if focused on ring dips, an athlete can use section “A” from Level Two, section “B” from Level One, and section “C” from Level Three, all while keeping the day’s session at the standard 20 minutes of gymnastics work.
Options:
When “Options” are listed they are in the order of difficulty from easiest to most difficult. For example:
Option 1 – (Easiest)
Option 2 – (More difficult)
Option 3 – (Most difficult)
Choosing the right level for a particular movement:
Level One is focused on building strength and fundamental movement patterns specific to each movement. This level is focused to help you grow the ability to perform the skill in a safe and comfortable manner. You will occasionally be asked to “test” a skill, though you may experience your first completed movement (such as a Bar Muscle-Up) during your regular training or while playing around at the gym. The Invictus Gymnastics Program is focused on helping give an athlete the tools to do their skills, but it is the athlete’s responsibility to test their skills on their own time.
Level Two is for the athlete who can already perform their movements successfully but lack volume, consistency or technique. Level Two will provide useful strength and technique drills along with information to better your skill knowledge base while making sure you are performing your very best during your WOD or competitions.
Level Three is designed around the advanced competitive athlete, ranging from local competitions to Regional level competitions. The athlete following this level should be able to perform the section’s focal movement in high repetitions and with consistency. Level Three may also add skills into the workout that are not the focal movement to better compliment the athlete’s body, add an appropriate amount of fatigue, and demand an athlete to be able to think clearly while performing complicated movements. Not all of the movements in this level are typical of functional fitness competitions but will better prepare an athlete for the unexpected for competition purposes.
Tempo – What does 30X0 mean?
If you are not familiar with tempo and how to read it in your programming, watch this VIDEO. If you would like more in-depth information regarding tempo and it’s benefits, read this great ARTICLE written by Head Coach and Founder of Invictus, C.J. Martin.
Getting Coach’s Feedback:
Join the Invictus Gymnastics Facebook Group. You can ask questions, post video, make friends from around the world and support other athlete’s efforts with the program. Video submission or questions posted while tagging the coach will result in direct help.
Mobility:
Stretching on a daily basis is a necessity for gains in mobility and injury prevention. Please note that the stretches listed below are to be utilized as often as possible even though they aren’t necessarily a part of your daily programming. Additionally, a low-impact and light warm-up is always recommended before stretching, e.g. Assault Bike, a light jog, Bear Crawls, Wall Ball Shots, etc.
Please take a look at the recommended stretches and try to include them in your daily warm-up if at all possible. The stretches/warm-ups are listed in what we would consider order of importance, yet depending on the skills you are working on for the day and your own personal needs the list may (and should) change.
Banded Scarecrow (Upper Anterior Chain Opener)
Rocking Box Bridges (Thoracic Mobility)
OR
*Overhead Barbell Underarm Stretch + Wall Bridge
Straddle and Pike Stretch (Adductor and Hamstring Mobility)
Band-Assisted Lat and Hip Flexor Stretch
Single Arm Hang from Bar (Lat and Pec Stretch)
Over the Shoulder Barbell Stretch
Calf and Hamstring Combo Stretch
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