Will these tabatas be effective?

[Butters Stotch]

I want to add in tabatas to my schedule for the added aerobic/anaerobic benefit.

I was thinking something like

20 sec. jumping squats
10 sec. rest
20 sec. pull ups
10 sec. rest
20 sec. push ups
10 sec. rest
20 sec. sit up
10 sec. rest

X2

This way I could hit the whole body, but my only concern is that I'll be robbing myself of the benefits by giving my legs for example way too much time to recover before going back to jumping squats. Also, is one 4 minute session of tabatas efficient? It looks easier that it probably is, but do most people do a few sets?

thanks

[Sonny]

It all depends on how hard you go for each interval. If I choose to stack tabatas (i.e. do 3x4 minute cycles) then I will hold back a little at the beginning. But if you're going to do traditional tabatas which are only 4 minutes then you have to go as hard as you can during each interval/sprint.

[Jake Martin]

Personally, I think part of what makes Tabatas as hard as they are is that you don't switch exercises.

Not that it wouldn't be rough, but a traditional tabata (100% effort, one exercise) is one of the hardest things I can think of, and it's because of the rest to work ratio and the lactic acid buildup.

At least that's how I see it.

edit: I wouldn't even bother with sit-ups in a tabata format, but that's just personal experience. Give it a shot and tweak it to what works for you.

[Sonny]

Originally Posted by Shotokan777

Personally, I think part of what makes Tabatas as hard as they are is that you don't switch exercises.

Not that it wouldn't be rough, but a traditional tabata (100% effort, one exercise) is one of the hardest things I can think of, and it's because of the rest to work ratio and the lactic acid buildup.

At least that's how I see it.

edit: I wouldn't even bother with sit-ups in a tabata format, but that's just personal experience. Give it a shot and tweak it to what works for you.

Agreed. Tabatas are better if you use the same exercise, and the movement you use should be simple. That's why I don't really like tabata burpees, too much extra movement involved. Tabata squats, push ups, thrusters, sprints, bike sprints are where it's at.

[Monger]

I'm also in agreement on sticking to one exercise. Personally, I've found thrusters and burpees to be the hardest exercises I've done so far with Tabata.

[juanlawnmower]

Go really hard. It will work, but like Monger said, it makes sense to do all of 1 exercise for tabatas.

[JRT6]

I was under the impression that when doing the sweet sixteen you were supposed to do each tabata set all out which was why the program was so challenging. I admit that I hold back a tad but I still end up in the max HR zone.

I usually do run, elitpical, bike, punchouts. Burpies are done on a differnet day and I do the 30/30 format with punchouts.