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Competition: Best Group Fitness Drill Using Cards (Episode 5)

Episode 5

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Today we’re running a community competition!

The way this episode works is we’ll set some parameters for designing a drills (For example: For this competition it must use a deck of cards.) and then we’ll put it out to you to see who can design or has already designed the best drill.

The winner will get a copy of Dale’s new ebook featuring 13 Card Games that have been converted into fun bootcamp drills.

To submit just post your drill in the comments section. We’ll announce the winner at the next competition in episode 10. (If you win we’ll notify you before that)

Don’t limit yourself to just a standard deck of card games either, you can use any card game (go fish, old maid, hearts, snap) or new game like Cards Against Humanity or Exploding Kittens.

We’ve shared 3 drills each to get you thinking:

  1. UNO
  2. Black Jack
  3. Poker
  4. Big Spender
  5. Deck of Cards Finisher
  6. Cards and Cones

Download a PDF our 6 drills below.

Links mentioned:

  • Rip Deck App
  • Downloadable PDF of card drills (pop your email in below)

Podcast: Download

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  • Pat Carr

    Hi guys,
    I have a card game that I use with my clients, but forgive me if it is an old/used one. To be honest I don’t remember where I got it from, so Kyle it could even be from one of your e-books!
    The rules in this game are similar to deck of cards finisher, in that each suit corresponds to a different exercise, and the number is the number of reps.

    In my game I used the following:
    Hearts = Pushups (pushup claps for adv.)
    Diamonds = Dumbbell bicep curl to shoulder press
    Clubs = Lunge jumps (L+R=2 for beg, L+R=1 for adv)
    Spades = Burpees (half burpees for beg, chest to ground for adv)

    Jacks = Bear crawl 20m and back
    Queen = broad jumps 20m and back
    King = Pick up weights and do 40 punches out in front
    Ace = 400m run
    Joker = 10 of each exercise

    Here is how the game works. Each member gets a turn where you flip a card for them. They can then choose to do that card, or the next one (not knowing what the next one will be). The twist is, that the rest of the group have to do the card they don’t choose.

    Example – John goes first and gets shown the 8 of hearts. He passes on that exercise and the next card is an Ace. John then runs 400m while the rest of the group does 8 pushups.
    This game can get fun, and you can encourage banter between your members as someone might flip a difficult exercise (like a joker), then it is up to them to ‘take a bullet’ for the group, or they could be selfish and let the group take the hard card.

    Often you will find members who would normally whinge about doing a hard exercise, or having to do burpees, will get flipped a card and actually be more inclined to do it, as they are helping out the rest of the group. I find their mindset changes quite a bit when they feel they are saving others from doing a certain exercise.

  • Emailed in from Cathy Gretch:

    SET UP: Write on whiteboard
    ACES = OPPOSING TEAM TO RUN TO LIGHT POLE
    PICTURE CARDS = 20 REPS
    NUMBER CARDS = 10 REPS
    Create 2 equal fitness teams (Red and Blue)
    Place 2 decks of cards at bottom of drive in boxes

    AIM:
    To be the first team to collect a full set of cards- i.e. finish the deck.

    METHOD:
    One member from each team takes it in turns to run and pick up a card. They bring it back to their team and everyone from the team performs the exercise. E.G. If a Jack of Hearts is selected, the team would do 20x star jumps. Take it in turns to select a card.
    Each team must try to collect a full set of each number.e.g. All of the Jacks. When they collect a full set they only have to do half as many reps on the next card selected.

    NOTE:
    Change up the exercises after every 7 mins.
    Round 1: Write the first exercise of each suit on the white board
    Pick your 2 teams of equal fitness beforehand to save time

    HEARTS = CARDIO
    • STAR JUMPS
    • 3 STEP TOUCHDOWNS / FF T DOWNS
    • BURPEES / SKATERS
    • SKIPPING
    DIAMONDS = UPPER BODY
    • DB SHOULDER PRESSES
    • DB UPRIGHT ROWS
    • DB TRICEP EXTENSION
    • DB REVERSE FLYES
    SPADES = CORE
    • DOUBLE LEG LIFTS
    • SUPER CRUNCH
    • DB REACH FOR FEET / REV CURLS
    • SIDE HOVER RAISE
    CLUBS = LOWER BODY
    • COMMANDO SQUATS
    • PULSING LUNGE
    • DIRTY DOG
    • 1 LEG PELVIC THRUST

  • Rob Gaskell

    For my workout i use one suit of cards. Assign a specific exercise to each card value. I.e. ace is burpees, two is windsprints etc. Have your clients line up and place the cards face down about 50 m away. Class members do an exercise (eg squat and hold) while the first person sprints to the cards picks up one and runs back to the group. Whatever that exercise is, the group does for a 1 minute interval. Once completed the group does the same exercise again and the 2nd person in line sprints to get a card. Continue until all the cards are gone.