Subject: Be ready for any terrain

Life won’t always meet you on level ground. Figuratively and literally.

 

The following special lunge protocol from the All-Terrain ConditioningTM arsenal will improve your balance and mobility and prepare your ankles, knees, and hips for navigating varied terrain with confidence.

The author of today’s newsletter, Kenneth Bolyard,
StrongFirst Certified Team Leader

How to perform the Lunge Complex

  1. Reverse lunge (left leg)—Step back, then return to standing.

  2. Reverse lunge (right leg)—Step back, then return to standing.

  3. Forward lunge (left leg)—Step forward, then return to standing.

  4. Forward lunge (right leg)—Step forward, then return to standing.

Loading options

  1. Hold two kettlebells at your sides as in a farmer’s carry.

  2. Hold a single kettlebell in the rack; alternate sides each set.

  3. Unloaded: bodyweight only, focusing on perfect control and balance (great when you are travelling).

Programming


Perform ladders of (1, 2, 3) when loaded, or (2, 3, 5) when unloaded.


Choose a weight that allows you to move with control and precision, keeping the effort around an RPE of 5–6. Challenging, yet sustainable.


Rest for 2-3min between sets and 3-5min between ladders.

 

Use the following algorithm to program your sessions’ volume. Roll a die:

Integration with your other training

 

Incorporate the Lunge Complex into your weekly training twice per week, pairing it with upper body movements such as pushups, pullups, kettlebell presses, or dips.

 

Alternate between sets of lunges and upper body exercises.

 

On alternate strength training days, you may replace the Lunge Complex with double kettlebell front squats to add variety and maintain a robust lower-body strength stimulus.

 

Continue performing your regular kettlebell swing or snatch conditioning sessions on the days between days of strength work.

 

Be ready for any terrain, because when the ground shifts, only the prepared stay standing. That is the vision behind StrongFirst’s two-day in-person All-Terrain ConditioningTM seminar.

 

We will guide you from the fundamentals of general conditioning to advanced methods used by professional athletes. You’ll learn how to:

  • Develop an aerobic base that supports everything you do.

  • Apply anti-glycolytic principles so you can train harder without burning out.

  • Integrate strength and endurance in a way that builds resilience rather than compromises it.

 

Beginners will leave with the tools to start their journey on solid ground, while advanced athletes will uncover new strategies to sharpen their edge.

 

When the path ahead becomes steep or uneven, you’ll be glad you prepared for it.


Train smart. Condition with purpose. Become unstoppable.

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