How to Do a Burpee for Stronger Abs: A Step-by-Step Guide

Woman doing a burpee

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If you’re looking for a full-body exercise that can help you get stronger and leaner, burpees are a great choice. This high-intensity move targets multiple muscle groups, including your abs, chest, arms, and legs. But if you’re not doing them correctly, you might not be getting the most out of your workout. In this article, we’ll show you how to do a burpee for better abs and overall fitness.

Burpees are a compound exercise that combines a squat, plank, push-up, and jump. To perform a burpee, you start in a standing position, then squat down and place your hands on the ground.

From there, you jump your feet back into a plank position, do a push-up, jump your feet forward, and then jump up explosively. This move engages your core muscles throughout the entire exercise, making it a great way to strengthen your abs. However, if you’re not engaging your core properly, you might be missing out on some of the benefits.

Understanding the Burpee

The burpee is a full-body exercise that targets multiple muscle groups, including the abs, legs, chest, and arms. It is a popular exercise that is often incorporated into workout routines for its effectiveness in improving strength, endurance, and cardiovascular fitness.

To perform a burpee, start in a standing position with your feet shoulder-width apart. Then, follow these steps:

  1. Lower your body into a squat position, placing your hands on the ground in front of you.
  2. Kick your feet back into a plank position, keeping your arms extended.
  3. Lower your body into a push-up, keeping your elbows close to your body.
  4. Push your body back up into a plank position.
  5. Jump your feet forward into a squat position.
  6. Jump up into the air, reaching your arms overhead.

The burpee is a high-intensity exercise that can be modified to suit your fitness level. For example, you can perform a modified burpee by eliminating the push-up or jumping portion of the exercise.

Incorporating burpees into your workout routine can help improve your overall fitness level. They are an effective way to improve your cardiovascular endurance, as well as your strength and power. Plus, they can be done anywhere, making them a convenient exercise for those who don’t have access to a gym.

Overall, the burpee is an excellent exercise to incorporate into your workout routine for better abs and overall fitness. It is a challenging exercise that can help improve your strength, endurance, and cardiovascular fitness.

Breaking Down the Burpee Form

If you want to improve your abs with burpees, it’s important to have proper form. Breaking down the burpee form can help you understand how to do the exercise correctly.

Here are the steps to follow for proper burpee form:

  1. Begin in a squat position with your feet shoulder-width apart.
  2. Place your hands on the ground in front of you.
  3. Jump your feet back to a high plank position, keeping your core tight.
  4. Lower your body to the ground, keeping your elbows close to your body.
  5. Push up to a high plank position.
  6. Jump your feet back to your squat position.
  7. Stand up and jump, reaching your arms overhead.

It’s important to pay attention to your form throughout the entire exercise. Here are some key points to keep in mind:

  • Keep your knees in line with your toes during the squat position.
  • Engage your hip muscles as you jump back to the high plank position.
  • Keep your shoulders over your hands in the plank position.
  • Tighten your abs and back muscles as you lower your body to the ground.
  • Keep your core tight in the high plank position.
  • Engage your arms and core muscles as you push up from the ground.
  • Keep your feet shoulder-width apart as you jump back to the squat position.
  • Use your arms and core muscles to jump up at the end of the exercise.

By following these steps and paying attention to your form, you can get the most out of your burpee workout and improve your abs.

The Benefits of Burpees

If you’re looking for an efficient exercise that targets multiple muscle groups, look no further than the humble burpee. Burpees are a full-body exercise that can help you achieve better abs, among other benefits.

Cardio Workout and Burning Calories

Burpees are a high-intensity exercise that can get your heart rate up quickly, making them an excellent choice for a cardio workout. By doing burpees, you can burn a significant amount of calories in a short amount of time, making them an efficient exercise for weight loss and fat loss.

Muscle Tone and Muscular Endurance

Burpees are a compound exercise that works multiple muscle groups, including your chest, shoulders, triceps, abs, glutes, quads, and hamstrings. By doing burpees regularly, you can improve your muscular endurance and tone your muscles, including your abs.

Upper and Lower Body Strength

Burpees are a great exercise for building both upper and lower body strength. The push-up portion of the exercise targets your chest, shoulders, and triceps, while the squat and jump portions work your glutes, quads, and hamstrings.

Blood Flow and Blood Pressure

By doing burpees, you can improve your blood flow and help lower your blood pressure. This is because burpees are a high-intensity exercise that gets your heart pumping and your blood flowing.

In summary, burpees are an efficient exercise that can help you achieve better abs, improve your cardiovascular health, burn calories, tone your muscles, and build both upper and lower body strength. By incorporating burpees into your workout routine, you can achieve a full-body workout that targets multiple muscle groups and provides numerous health benefits.

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Burpees are a great exercise for building strength, endurance, and burning calories. However, doing them incorrectly can lead to injury and ineffective results. Here are some common mistakes and how to avoid them:

Lack of Proper Form

One of the most common mistakes when doing burpees is not maintaining proper form. This can lead to injury, especially in the joints. Make sure to keep your core engaged, your back straight, and your feet shoulder-width apart. Also, make sure to land softly on your feet and avoid locking your knees when you jump.

Not Keeping Tension in Your Abs

Another common mistake is not keeping enough tension in your abs. This can lead to a weak core and ineffective results. To avoid this, make sure to keep at least 20% tension in your abs throughout the exercise. This will help maintain a rigid spine and prevent injury.

Improper Hand Placement

Placing your hands too far apart or too close together can also lead to injury. Make sure to place your hands shoulder-width apart and keep your elbows close to your body. This will help maintain proper form and prevent strain on your shoulders and wrists.

Going Too Fast

While it may be tempting to go as fast as possible when doing burpees, this can lead to ineffective results and injury. Make sure to take your time and focus on proper form. This will help you get the most out of your workout and prevent injury.

By avoiding these common mistakes, you can ensure that you are getting the most out of your burpee workout while also preventing injury. Remember to maintain proper form, keep tension in your abs, place your hands correctly, and take your time. With practice, you will be able to do burpees effectively and safely.

Variations of Burpees

If you want to target your abs while doing burpees, there are several variations you can try. Here are some modifications you can make to the standard burpee to make it more challenging and effective for your abs:

  • Mountain climber burpee: In this variation, you perform a mountain climber after the pushup. Start in a plank position, perform a pushup, then bring your right knee towards your chest, return to plank, then bring your left knee towards your chest. Repeat this sequence for the desired number of reps.
  • Jump squat burpee: This variation adds a jump squat after the pushup. After performing the pushup, jump your feet towards your hands, then jump up into a squat. Repeat for the desired number of reps.
  • Lunge burpee: In this variation, you perform a lunge after the pushup. Start in a plank position, perform a pushup, then bring your right foot forward into a lunge position, return to plank, then bring your left foot forward into a lunge position. Repeat this sequence for the desired number of reps.
  • Weighted vest burpee: Adding a weighted vest to your burpee can increase the intensity and challenge your abs even more. Start with a light weight and gradually increase as you get stronger.
  • Dumbbell burpee: Holding a pair of dumbbells during your burpee can increase the resistance and make it more challenging for your abs. Hold the dumbbells at your sides during the pushup and jump, then bring them up to your shoulders for the squat and press.
  • Medicine ball burpee: Holding a medicine ball during your burpee can add an extra challenge and help engage your abs even more. Hold the medicine ball at your chest during the pushup and jump, then lift it overhead during the squat and press.
  • Kettlebell burpee: Holding a kettlebell during your burpee can increase the resistance and challenge your abs. Hold the kettlebell by the handle during the pushup and jump, then bring it up to your chest for the squat and press.

Remember, burpees are already a high-intensity exercise that can help you burn calories and build strength. Adding these variations can help you target your abs even more and make your workout more challenging.

Incorporating Burpees into Your Workout Routine

If you’re looking for a full-body exercise that can help you get better abs, burpees are a great option. Burpees are a compound exercise that targets multiple muscle groups, including your core, chest, legs, and arms. Incorporating burpees into your workout routine can help you improve your cardio fitness, cardio endurance, and overall strength.

One way to incorporate burpees into your workout routine is to use them as a warm-up exercise. Doing a few sets of burpees before your workout can help you get your heart rate up and prepare your body for more intense exercises. You can also use burpees as a standalone workout or incorporate them into a high-intensity interval training (HIIT) workout.

When doing burpees, it’s important to maintain proper form to avoid injury and get the most out of the exercise. Start by standing with your feet shoulder-width apart, then lower your body into a squat position. Place your hands on the ground in front of you and kick your feet back, so you’re in a plank position. Do a push-up, then jump your feet back up to your hands and stand up.

To make burpees more challenging, you can add a jump at the end of the exercise. Instead of standing up after jumping your feet back to your hands, jump into the air with your hands above your head. You can also add weights or resistance bands to make the exercise more difficult.

Burpees are a popular exercise in CrossFit workouts, and for good reason. They’re a great way to improve your cardio endurance, build strength, and get better abs. Whether you’re looking for a standalone workout or a way to incorporate burpees into your existing routine, this exercise is a great option.

Getting Professional Guidance

If you’re new to burpees or want to improve your technique, getting professional guidance can be helpful. A personal trainer or fitness editor can provide step-by-step instructions and tips to help you do burpees correctly and safely.

A personal trainer can assess your fitness level and tailor a burpee routine to your specific needs and goals. They can also provide feedback on your form and technique, helping you to avoid injury and get the most out of your workout.

If you don’t have access to a personal trainer, a fitness editor can be a great resource. Look for reputable fitness websites or magazines that offer detailed instructions and videos on how to do burpees. These resources can help you to understand the proper form and technique, as well as common mistakes to avoid.

When seeking professional guidance, it’s important to choose someone who is knowledgeable and experienced. Look for credentials such as certifications from reputable fitness organizations. You can also ask for recommendations from friends or read online reviews to find a qualified professional.

Remember that while professional guidance can be helpful, it’s important to listen to your body and avoid pushing yourself too hard. Start with a few burpees and gradually increase the number as your fitness level improves. With consistent practice and proper technique, you can strengthen your abs and improve your overall fitness.

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