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.
(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
Banded-Assisted Cross-Pull Scap Retraction
Session One
A.
For 60 seconds, perform one set of each:
Kettlebell Ankle Pulse x 30 seconds (right leg)
Kettlebell Ankle Pulse x 30 seconds (left leg)
Followed by. . .
for 60 seconds, perform one set of:
Alternating Pistol Squat x max reps
Rest 60 seconds, then. . .
Every 30 seconds, for 6 minutes (3 sets) of:
Interval 1 – Weighted Pistol Squat Negative (1 second pause at horizontal) x 4 reps @ 50A0 (right leg)
Interval 2 – Weighted Pistol Squat Negative (1 second pause at horizontal) x 4 reps @ 50A0 (left leg)
Interval 3 – Pistol Balance Pulses x 8 reps (right leg)
Interval 4 – Pistol Balance Pulses x 8 reps (left leg)
*Pistol Balance Pulses should be controlled and raise the hips to parallel before a controlled descent.
B.
If you are not familiar with the Butterfly 4 Step, please watch this VIDEO.
One set of:
Strict Pull-Up x 10 reps
*You may break up this set as necessary.
Followed by. . .
Every 30 seconds, for 2 minutes (2 sets) of:
Interval 1 – Baby Butterfly Pull-Ups x 8 reps
Interval 2 – Lazy-L to Kipping Pull-Up x 4 reps
Rest 60 seconds, then. . .
For 60 seconds, perform one set of:
Butterfly Pull-Ups x max reps
*If you have never been able to string a series of Butterfly Pull-Ups together, this is your opportunity to perform your greatest set.
C.
Every 45 seconds, for 6 minutes (2 sets) of:
Interval 1 – L-Sit Flutter Kicks on Kettlebells x 20 seconds
Interval 2 – Seated Piked Double Leg Lifts x 20 reps
Interval 3 – L-Sit Hold on Parallettes or Kettlebells x 20 seconds
Interval 4 – Supine GHD Hold x 40 seconds
Session Two
A.
Spend 2 minutes working on Handstand Marching.
Followed by. . .
Every 10 seconds, for 60 seconds (3 sets) of:
Interval 1 – One Arm Handstand Hold on Wall x 10 seconds (right hand)
Interval 2 – One Arm Handstand Hold on Wall x 10 seconds (left hand)
Followed by. . .
Every 30 seconds, for 4 minutes (4 sets) of:
Interval 1 – Kick to Handstand on Wall (with hands turned out) x 5 reps
*Hit the wall as softly as possible with feet together.
Interval 2 – Handstand Walk to Wall x 6 meters
Followed by. . .
Every 30 seconds, for 3 minutes (6 sets) of complex:
Handstand March x 10 reps + Handstand Walk x 3 meters
Rest 60 seconds, then. . .
Three sets of:
Handstand Walk x 40 seconds (max distance)
Rest 20 seconds between sets.
*Handstand Walks do not have to be unbroken. Accumulate as much distance as possible in the minute as possible.
B.
Every minute, on the minute, for 6 minutes (3 sets) of:
Interval 2 – Wide Grip Push-Ups x 21 reps
Interval 3 – Kettlebell Push-Ups x 15 reps
Interval 1 – Double Bamboo Shoulder Press x 9 reps
*If you do not have access to the equipment needed for the double bamboo shoulder press, substitute the movement with Box Bridged Handstand Push-Ups to 8″ Deficit x 9 reps.
Session Three
A.
If you graduated to this level for Rope Climb from Level One, please start at (**)
If you are not familiar with the Rope Foot Hold technique, please watch this VIDEO.
Every 90 seconds, for 3 minutes (2 sets) of:
Rope Climb x 3 reps
Followed by. . .
Every minute, on the minute, for 2 minutes (2 sets) of:
Rope Climb x 2 reps
Followed by. . .
**Every 10 seconds, for 60 seconds (3 sets) of:
Interval 1 – Rope Pull-Up Taps x 2 reps (right arm)
Interval 2 – Rope Pull-Up Tabs x 2 reps (left arm)
Followed by. . .
Every 45 seconds, for 3 minutes (4 sets) of:
Rope Climb x 1 rep
Followed by. . .
One set of:
Towel Hang x 60 seconds
B.
Every 15 seconds, for 2 minutes (8 sets) of:
Swinging Knees-To-Bar x 1 rep
Followed by. . .
For 60 seconds, perform one set of:
Bar Muscle-Up x max reps
Immediately followed by. . .
Every 30 seconds, for 3 minutes (3 sets) of:
Interval 1 – Air Chair Swing x 2 reps
This should feel similar to the Swinging Knees-To-Bar but with a shorter kipping swing.
Interval 2 – Target Reach Swing + Toes-To-Bar x 3 reps
Followed by. . .
Every 30 seconds, for 4 minutes (2 sets) of:
Interval 1 – Kipping Bar Muscle-Up x 1-4 reps
Interval 2 – Deep Bar Dips x 3 reps
Session 2 B. Pressing Work WG Pushups = 3 x 21 UB KB Pushups = 8/7, 10/5, 10/5 (LOVED THESE!!!) Banded Shoulder Press = Tried to simulate by putting bands around feet and doing presses A. HS Work HS Marching Practice = Best was 7 reps UB One-Arm HS Hold = UB Kick to HS on Wall = 80% were very quiet. This is improving! HS Walk to Wall = Only went 8 feet each time, but all 4 rounds were UB HS Marching + HS Walk – Turned this into a 5:00 AMRAP and completed 3 rounds – HS… Read more »
Brandon, what materials were you missing for the double bamboo press?
Great work on all of this. Sorry for the delay on response.
No worries! These are the holidays and you are more than deserving of time off with your family!!!
I only have 1 kettlebell at each weight in my home gym. I think that the bands were effective in providing unstable resistance.
If that works for you that’s great! If you have 4 dumbbells of the same weight you could also use those, or plates.