MARCH 1, 2013-Sure, the definition of “fit” varies; powerlifters and marathoners have different views. Still, every man should be able to meet certain standards before he can call himself “in shape”. And then there’s MH Fit. Take these tests to see how you measure up. If you don’t clear our admittedly high bar, don’t sweat it—we have tips from top experts to help bring you up to speed.
1. Jump at least 8 feet
The scorecard: MH fit: 8 feet or more, Above average: 6 to 8 feet, Ordinary: less than 6 feet
Everyone from strength coaches to drill sergeants uses the standing broad jump to gauge raw power-for good reason: It calls on several muscle groups throughout the body to fi re at once. The stronger and more explosive you are, the more force you’ll generate and the farther you’ll jump. And that means better performance in the weight room-and more air on the basketball court”.
The test
Stand with your toes on a line and your feet shoulder-width apart. Dip your knees, swing your arms, and jump as far as you can. Have a friend measure the distance from the starting line to the back of your heels.
Improve your power
Power is a combination of strength and speed, so if you come up short, work on both. Start by doing squats and hip thrusts each week in separate workouts. During week one, go heavy with the hip thrusts (three to fi ve sets of 5 reps using 85 per cent of your one-repetition maximum) and light with the squats (six sets of two fast reps with 50 per cent of your one-rep max). The following week, fl ip the set-rep scheme, going heavy with squats and light with hip thrusts. Continue alternating for four to six weeks. To build even more explosiveness, also do three sets of 10 kettlebell swings twice a week.
Barbell hip thrust
Sit on the floor with your back against a bench, knees bent, feet fl at on the fl oor, and a padded barbell across your hips. Push through your heels and raise your hips until they’re in line with your knees and shoulders. Squeeze your glutes hard at the top and return to the starting position.
Barbell squat
Using an overhand grip, hold a barbell across your upper back and stand with your feet shoulder-width apart. Keeping your lower back naturally arched, push your hips back, bend your knees, and lower your body until your thighs are parallel to the floor. Pause, and slowly return to a standing position.
Kettlebell swing
Hold a kettlebell in both hands using an overhand grip, and let it hang at arm’s length in front of you. Keep your lower back naturally arched, bend at your hips, and swing the kettlebell between your legs. Squeeze your glutes, thrust your hips forward, and swing the kettlebell up to chest level as you rise to standing. That’s one rep. Continue swinging the bell without pausing.
2. Squat, curl and push press 20 times in a minute
The scorecard: MH fit: 20 reps in 1 minute, Above average: 18 reps, Ordinary: 16 reps
Anaerobic endurance refers to your ability to work at near maximal intensity in bursts of 20 to 60 seconds. “Anyone can sprint or punch hard for 10 seconds,” says Deckline Leitao, CSCS and MH fitness expert. “But if you can sustain high levels of muscle force beyond that time, you’ll gain a huge advantage over your competitors.” Anaerobic endurance refl ects the stamina of your fast-twitch (type II) muscle fi bres, which generate energy in the absence of oxygen.
The Test
Use dumbbells that total roughly 30 per cent of your body weight (that’s a pair of 30-pounders if you weigh 90 kg) and hold them by your sides with your feet shoulder-width apart. Keeping your back arched, push your hips back and lower your body until your thighs are parallel to the fl oor. As you stand up, curl the dumbbells to shoulder height and then press them straight overhead using your legs in the eff ort. Return to the starting position and repeat for one minute.
Increase your muscular stamina
Perform two sets of the drill twice a week, resting 90 seconds between sets. If you can’t do at least 16 reps on your fi rst set, lighten the load. “Each time, add an extra rep to your fi rst set,” says Leitao. “Once you reach 20 reps with the lighter weight, grab slightly heavier dumbbells and work your way up to 20 reps again.” Continue the slow increase until you can hit the Men’s Health goal.
3. Perform one controlled wall squat
The scorecard: MH fit: Full squat in control, Above average: Halfway down, Ordinary: Less than halfway
Mobility is a quality great athletes hone but most regular guys ignore. The more mobile you are, the better you can move your joints through their full range of motion and the less likely you are to be injured. This test will expose limitations in your ankles, hips, neck, and upper back-places where most men are bound up. Most fail this test because they have a rounded back or infl exible ankles.
The test
Stand facing a wall with your feet shoulder-width apart and toes two inches from the baseboard and turned slightly out. Keeping your feet fl at, chest up, and back naturally arched, see how far you can lower your body without touching the wall or falling backward.
Boost your mobility
Loosen your back with self-massage. Lie on your back with a foam roller placed perpendicular to your spine just below your shoulder blades. Bend your knees so your feet are fl at on the fl oor. Support your head with your hands, and move your head, neck, and upper back forward and backward over the foam roller four to six times. To loosen tight ankles and calves, try the ankle mobility lunge. Stand in a split stance with your front foot about six inches from a wall. Now bend your front knee to touch the wall without letting your front heel leave the fl oor. Do this eight to 10 times. Switch legs and repeat.
4. Score level 12 on the beep test
The scorecard: MH fit: Level 12, Above average: Level 11, Ordinary: Level 9
Cardiovascular endurance isn’t just a sign of your 10-K potential; it’s an indicator of how long you’ll last in any athletic endeavour, from a 48-minute basketball game to an afternoon of backyard football. And people who play aerobic endurance sports have a higher life expectancy than those who do not, according to a recent German study review.
The test
Download the Beep Test app for your iPhone (Beep Test Solo) or Android device (Beep Test). Place two cones 20 metres apart on a track or fi eld, hit the start button on the app, and run from one cone to the other. When you hear the beep, run back. Continue until you can’t reach the opposite cone before the next beep sounds. (The time between beeps will shorten as you progress through the test.) Then hit the “record score” button. This is the best way to test aerobic endurance. Its escalating intensity is a good measure of your body’s ability to deliver oxygen to working muscles-your “peak aerobic capacity”.
Improve your endurance
Repeat the beep test once a week.
Just repeating the drill can help boost your peak aerobic capacity. On two other days each week, do sprint intervals. Sprint at 85 per cent of your maximum eff ort for a minute and then rest for two minutes. Do that fi ve to eight times total. Over and over, intervals have been shown to be the fastest way to improve your VO2 max, the maximum amount of oxygen your body can process at once, which is a powerful indicator of your aerobic fitness level.
5. Deadlift 1.75 times your body weight
The scorecard: MH fit: 1.75* body weight, Above average: 1.5 * body weight, Ordinary: Body weight
The muscles of your posterior chain provide the power behind many of the most important skills in sports-consider them your “go” muscles. These include your lower back, glutes, hamstrings, and calves-lots of muscles that may not be visible in the mirror but are vital to overall fi tness. And no exercise hits them harder than the deadlift does. “It’s arguably the purest test of strength there is,” says Leitao. Your goal: lift just a little bit less than twice your body weight.
The Test
Load a barbell with the maximum amount of weight you can lift once, and bring the bar close to your shins. Bend at your hips and knees and grab the bar using an overhand grip that’s just beyond shoulder width. Keeping your lower back naturally arched, pull your torso back and up, squeeze your glutes, thrust your hips forward, and stand up with the barbell. Reverse the movement to lower the bar to the floor, keeping it as close to your body as possible.
Pull more weight
Add the deadlift to your weekly routine using a weight that allows you to do three sets of five reps. That’s right, only five reps each set. Keeping the rep count low allows you to do two things: concentrate on form and go heavy. When you can complete two extra repetitions in your last set for two consecutive workouts, it is time to move up in weight. Retest your one-rep max every two to three months.
6. Do 10 clapping pushups
The scorecard: MH fit: 10 clapping pushups, Above average: 5 clapping pushups, Ordinary: No clap
A powerful upper body doesn’t just look good shirtless; it helps transfer force to the world around you. And that gives you an edge in most sports, whether you’re trying to stiff -arm an opponent in football or spring off the mat in jujitsu. The clapping pushup-which requires explosiveness as well as strength-is an old-school move that many still consider the ultimate test of upper-body pushing power (thanks in no small part to Rocky).
The test
Assume a pushup position, with your body straight from head to ankles. Lower yourself until your chest is three inches from the fl oor. Push yourself back up explosively so your hands leave the fl oor. Maintain a straight body as you clap in midair and land back in the starting position.
Push Harder
Can’t clap? Add the exercise to your weekly routine but perform it with your hands elevated on an aerobics step, which reduces the load. Shoot for three sets of fi ve reps, lowering the step as the exercise becomes easier. For an even greater power boost, also do kneeling medicine ball throws: kneel facing a wall and hold a medicine ball against your chest; throw it directly forward against the wall. Catch it on the rebound and repeat, doing three sets of 10 reps. The goal is maximum power, so start with a ball you can throw at least 12 feet.
7. Hold a plank for more than 3 minutes
The scorecard: MH fit: More than 3 minutes, Above average: 2 to 3 minutes, Ordinary: 1 minute or less
A chiselled core makes you stronger in everything you do, from carrying groceries to mastering the deadlift. It enables you to produce, stabilise, and transmit force throughout the body. But that armada of muscles is “on” whenever you’re upright, so stamina is key.
The test
Assume a pushup position but with your weight on your forearms instead of your hands. This is plank position. Your body should form a straight line from shoulders to ankles. Brace your core by contracting your abs as if you were about to be punched, and hold the position for as long as you can. When your hips sag or your knees touch the floor, it’s over.
Increase Your Core Endurance
Fall short? No problem. You can more than double your score in a matter of weeks. Alternate among these three exercises in a week.
1. Three-point tennis ball toss Hold the top position of a single-arm pushup (feet slightly beyond hip width, body straight from head to heels, weight supported on one hand) and bounce a tennis ball off a wall. Catch the ball and immediately bounce it back against the wall. Do two sets of 15 reps each arm.
2. Plank push/pull Assume a plank position with a weight plate between your forearms. Lift your right arm, push the plate forward as far as possible, and then pull it back. Do two sets of 10 reps with each arm.
3. Swiss ball “stir the pot” Assume a plank position with your forearms on a Swiss ball. Make small circles with your elbows, switching directions every 10 circles till you’ve done 40. That’s one set. Do two.
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