Burpee is a compound exercise targeting the full body: several joints work together, it takes heavy loading well and belongs at the start of a session. Secondary muscles: chest, legs, core, shoulders, glutes. Equipment: bodyweight. Difficulty: intermediate, add it once the basics are solid. It takes 5 steps; the most common mistake is covered in the tip below.
Step-by-step
- Stand tall with your feet shoulder-width apart.
- Squat down and place your hands on the floor at shoulder width.
- Jump your feet back into a push-up (plank) position and, if you like, perform a push-up.
- Jump your feet back up next to your hands and return to the squat position.
- Explosively jump straight up while reaching your arms overhead, then return to the start.
Coaching tip
Caution
How to program it
Sets × reps and rest by goal; load and long rest matter most on compound lifts. Start at the bottom of the range in week one; add 2.5–5% when you hit the top with clean form.
| Goal | Sets × Reps | Rest |
|---|---|---|
| Strength | 4 × 4-6 | 180 s |
| Muscle gain | 3 × 6-10 | 150 s |
| Fat loss / conditioning | 3 × 10-15 | 90 s |
FitCi applies this table to your age and goal automatically and writes weekly progression.
Alternatives
- At home, no equipment: Inchworm
- Same muscle, different equipment: Barbell Deadlift, Barbell Power Clean, Barbell Clean and Jerk
More full body exercises
Add this exercise to your program
Build your own program in FitCi, pick an expert template, or photograph the plan your coach gave you; the app tracks sets, reps and weight.