It’s been said before that if you want to LOOK like an athlete, you have to train like an athlete. If you want to be lean, be strong, and function powerfully then you need to train like those who are. Speed, Agility and Quickness, or SAQ, drills are some of my favorite things to do, both as an athlete and as a trainer. The best thing about SAQ drills is that you can get very creative and they will not only increase your speed, coordination, balance and strength, but will also help shed unwanted body fat.
One particularly fun tool of SAQ drills are agility ladders. You can buy these, many sporting goods stores sell them, or you can construct your own (read written instructions; watch the video). You can even use duct tape, or chalk on a side walk!
Here is a sample workout to get your heart pounding (and calories burning).
Fun, Fast & Fat Burning Workout
Warm Up
5-8 minutes of your usual warm up routine
Agility Ladder Workout
Perform as a circuit (complete each exercise one after the other with no rest between exercises; rest 60 seconds between sets; repeat the circuit 5-10 times).
Hop Scotch (down and back)
High Knees + Sprint (1 pass down + 1 sprint; jog back for next one)
Single Leg hops (hop down on left leg, hop back on right leg)
Carioca Steps (4 passes, 2 leading left, 2 leading right)
High Knees + Sprint (1 pass down + 1 sprint; jog back for next one)
Squat Jumps (down and back)
Walking Plank through ladder (3-6x each direction)
High Knees + Sprint (1 pass down + 1 sprint jog back for next one)
Cool Down
Your usual cool down and stretching.
Notes:
Clean eating + strength training + cardio = great results!
Exercise Disclaimer
In the interest of your safety, it is important to check with your physician before beginning any exercise program and to exercise according to your fitness level and capabilities. If you have any questions, please seek the guidance of a health professional.
The Exercises:
Hop Scotch
Stand with feet straddling the first box. Hop into the box bringing your feet together. Jump forward and with feet back out straddling the box. Repeat down the entire ladder.
High Knees + Sprint
Do high knees down through the ladder, making sure you get each foot in each box once. When you hit the end of the ladder take off as fast as you can for 50-100 yards.
Single Leg Hop
Start with your right side facing the end of the agility ladder. Stand on your right leg. Jump sideways into each box down the line staying on the same leg until you reach the end of the ladder. Switch legs to go back down the ladder to the starting point.
Carioca (aka Grapevine)
Start at one end of the agility ladder, moving laterally to your left by stepping left with your left foot. Then, bring your right foot in front, then step out sideways again with your left foot, then step your right foot behind it. Continue this sequence for the length of the ladder.
Squat Jumps
Stand with feet shoulder-width apart facing the agility ladder. Squat down, jump up and land in the first box of the agility ladder. Continue down through the ladder.
Walking Planks
Face the ladder perpendicular. Get into pushup position, and then walk yourself into the next box of the ladder. Continue the length of the ladder.
So go ahead and give SAQ drills a try. They’re fun. They’re fast. They’re mentally stimulating and engaging and frankly they beat boring old steady state cardio any day!
Exercise Videos
Enjoyed this workout? Let us know in the comments section below!
Connie Bechtel has been in the health and fitness field for over 15 years. She has a Master’s degree in Exercise Science and Health Promotion with a concentration in Performance Enhancement. She has numerous personal training and group exercise certifications, including: National Strength and Conditioning Association- Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (NSCA-CSCS), National Academy of Sports Medicine- Performance Enhancement Specialist (NASM-PES), National... Read More
Me
This is cardio, right?
And I was wondering if strength training just means using weights or if it is squads, push ups and that stuff too?
FitBodyHQ
@Me 🙂
Yes, this is predominantly a cardio (a.k.a. aerobic) workout. (For a better idea: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aerobic_exercise)
Strength training (a.k.a. anaerobic training) typically uses weights, but it doesn’t have to, bodyweight exercises like squats and push ups can also be considered strength training depending on the intensity (i.e. how challenging they are for you).