Tabata: Get fitter with a 4 minute workout

Tabata is the latest in a LONG list of interval training workouts which promise great results in only a few minutes.  The regime was developed working closely with Japanese Olympic speed skaters and by combining martial arts technique with high intensity exercise it promises to be as effective as an hours cardio training.

The great thing about Tabata is this is a home based workout program, there’s no need for a fancy gym or expensive equipment.  The workout comprises of 8 short blasts of intense exercise lasting 20 seconds followed by 10 seconds of rest.  The concept pushes both your aerobic and anaerobic systems to the limit.  The key to success is putting your ALL into the 4 minute session, you should not be able to push out another second by the end of it.

Start with a good warm up to really get your muscles and joints loosened up.  There are 4 separate exercises and by the end of your session you should have complete each once twice:

• Rotating Lunge
• Frog Jump
• Single Arm Kick Through
• Single Leg Burpee

Thanks to the ‘afterburn effect’ you will continue to burn calories in the 12 hours that follow the workout.