Bootcamp workouts have gained immense popularity in recent years, captivating fitness enthusiasts of all levels with their intense and dynamic approach to exercise. Combining elements of traditional military training, high-intensity interval training (HIIT), and functional movements, bootcamp workouts offer a unique and challenging fitness experience. In this article, we will explore the benefits and growing popularity of bootcamp workouts, shedding light on why they have become a favorite choice for individuals seeking to achieve their fitness goals in a fun and motivating group setting.

One of the primary reasons for the surge in bootcamp workout popularity is the multitude of benefits they provide. Bootcamps offer a comprehensive full-body workout, targeting multiple muscle groups and incorporating cardiovascular exercises to enhance endurance. With a focus on functional movements and varied exercises, bootcamp workouts improve overall strength, agility, and flexibility. Furthermore, these workouts often incorporate high-intensity interval training, which has been proven to boost metabolism and maximize calorie burn both during and after the workout, making it an effective option for weight loss and body composition improvement. The group atmosphere and camaraderie found in bootcamps also contribute to their appeal, fostering a sense of community and support among participants, motivating them to push beyond their limits and achieve their fitness potential.

Why Bootcamp Workouts?

Bootcamp workouts are fun. You work out with other people in a challenging, rugged setting. There’s a real sense of accomplishment and camaraderie completing a tough workout with others whether you are competing to be first, encouraging others to keep going, or need the encouragement yourself!

Bootcamp workouts are a great workout routine. They involve large functional full body movements that activate a lot of muscle mass. You can get a great aerobic (cardio), anaerobic, and strength training workout all at the same time. You will also burn an average of 10 calories per minute. 

Bootcamp workouts can be performed virtually anywhere and require very little (if any) work out equipment. You don’t need an expensive gym membership or any fancy machines. Bodyweight exercises are perfect for military style bootcamp workouts.

Bootcamp Workout Circuit

How to Create a Bootcamp Workout 

Step 1: Find a location to workout.  

One with natural obstacles is perfect. The average public park is excellent (just make sure you don’t break any city ordinances). Look for obstacles such as:

Note: Be courteous of families and children and schedule your bootcamp when you will have the park to yourselves. 

bootcamp workouts park

Step 2: Select the boot camp exercises to perform.

Click on the infograph on the right for a free Periodic Table of Bodyweight Exercises. The exercises are arranged horizontally by muscle group and vertically by difficulty.

Pick several exercises for each muscle group and choose a difficulty that will be appropriate. If you aren’t sure how to perform an exercise correctly, click on the image, and you will get free workout videos of Sergeant Volkin demonstrating each exercise.

Step 3: Design your obstacle course. 

Choose a location for performing each bodyweight exercise and make sure there is an obstacle between locations. For example:

  • Run up a hill and then do some pushups
  • Run backwards down the hill.  When you get to bottom, do jump squats
  • Run up the stairs and do vertical crunches
  • Run down the stairs and do tuck jumps
  • Do a burpee, climb over the picnic table, do a burpee

Use your imagination, be creative, and take advantage of natural obstacles.  Anything that involves moving your body upwards against gravity is potentially a great exercise.

Remember to keep your circuit short enough that everyone will remember the exercises.  You can do multiple laps to get the desired workout length.

Step 4: Use a stopwatch. 

Whether exercising by yourself or with others, competition is very important. Everyone will push themselves harder and gain more from the workout if they are racing the clock.

Step 5: Warm up and go for it!  

Make sure everyone warms up properly.  A great warm up is to have everyone perform a “trial run” of the obstacle course at a slow pace.  This makes sure everyone understands the course and exercises at each station.  Warm up until you are sweating lightly, and then start the clock and go for it!

How to Create Bootcamp Workouts

SS52 Cards

Want an even easier way to design an authentic military bootcamp workout? Use Strength Stack 52 Bodyweight Exercise Cards. Each card is a bodyweight exercise designed by a military fitness expert and actually used by the US military. With Strength Stack 52, designing a bootcamp is as easy as 1, 2, 3:

Step 1: Find a park or outdoors pace with natural obstacles

Step 2: Shuffle the Stack 52 deck and draw as many cards as you need for your bootcamp

Step 3: Place the cards at various stages in your bootcamp location.

  • Place a few cards on top of a hill. Run up the hill and perform those cards.
  • Place a few cards at the top and bottom of a flight of stairs. Run up the stars to do a few cards and run down the stairs to do other cards.
  • Place a few cards behind a picnic table. Climb over (or crawl under) the table and perform those cards.
  • Place cards a few dozen yards apart. Sprint to the cards, perform the exercises, and then sprint to another group of cards.

Be creative, the possibilities are endless!

Conclusion

Bootcamps can be an awesome way to meet people, build friendships, and encourage and motivate each other to accomplish your fitness goals. Bootcamp workouts are tough, but the feeling of accomplishment stays with you and helps you realize that all challenges in life can be met and vanquished.

Your workout can be fun, effective, and truly enjoyable even though it’s difficult.  Fitness is a lifestyle, and the secret to fitness is enjoying the process.  Your workout can make you fit, keep you healthy, empower you physically, mentally, and emotionally, and connect you with some amazing friends.  My workout is the best part of my day.  Yours can be too.

Disclaimer

Bootcamp workouts can be strenuous, and you should consult your doctor before starting any exercise program.  Inherent risks are present in any physical activity.  It is your responsibility to warm up and stretch properly, perform each movement correctly, and ultimately to decide whether or not you are capable of performing the exercise/workout without sustaining injury.  It is your responsibility to evaluate your bootcamp workout circuit for safety hazards.  Ultimately you are responsible for your own safety.

This article was written by Kurt Boyd, fitness fanatic, and director of Strength Stack 52, a unique way to transform bodyweight exercises into fun, competitive workouts that can be performed anywhere.