The funniest workout games that will not only get you in shape but turn you from a frosty 'Iceman' into a 'Chuckle' Liddell.
Military-style trainers may try and drill into you that there's no fun in fatigue, there's no laughter in lunges and there's definitely no enjoyment in exercise.
Well, it's time to stick the proverbial middle finger up to the joy police because MMA's not all pain and drain; you can get a whole-body workout while laughing your ass off.
Even the pros will step away from the grindstone every now and again for a fun game with their gym buddies.
Not only can it boost team morale, but will also put your muscles to the test without you realizing it? For your answer, check out Wanderlei Silva and 'Shogun' Rua's cheeky faces as they're filmed on the Internet kicking back at Kings playing the 'little horse game.'
It's refreshing to see the two in hysterics as 'The Axe Murderer' clings on to Shogun's back for dear life as the pair run around trying to inflict their heaviest slaps onto their teammates’ bare backs.
Yes, the most dangerous men on the planet do have a sense of humor and can scream like girls – albeit girls who could tear you apart.
The most intriguing element is that they're working out their arms, legs, shoulders and core all at the same time.
Exercise doesn't have to be brutal, so follow the games for glory and find yourself smiling when you smackdown.
1) Chasing the Tail
Take a T-shirt or a hand towel and tuck it into the back of your shorts. The goal is to steal your partner's 'tail' from between their legs.
Maintain a deep stance to be ready to shoot and sprawl at all times.
This will develop your penetration step, sprawl, stance and foot speed. It's recommended that you wear a cup while doing this incase your partner shoots too far forward and accidentally head butts your crown jewels. You may want to punch like Mike Tyson, but you don't want a voice as high as his.
2) Hoppity hop Races
If you are old enough to have witnessed UFC 1 live and had hair on your chest at the time, then you'll fondly remember this '70s classic toy, complete with bunny-style ears and a Cheshire cat grin.
Well, the hoppity hop is making a comeback in testosterone-fueled gyms across the land. Line yourselves up like you're about to start a drag race, then simply bounce down the hall as fast as you can to the finish line.
It may be a barrel of laughs, but this is also great for the core and is effectively like doing assisted squat jumps so it builds legs of steel as well.
Try to keep the foul play to a minimum i.e. no barging your sparring partner off his/her hopper, as they might tell mother on you.
3) Bulldog/Judo Turtles/Knee Dog
While this game may have been banned by neurotic teachers in schools across the nation, you're not a red-blooded male unless you've grazed your knee on the school yard playing this at some point.
It still remains a classic and a great way of improving scrambling speed, overall fitness and basic grappling ability and agility. Perform it on your knees. This is seen in junior judo clubs all over the world.
All players stand on one side of the gym/matts and select one person to be the 'bulldog.' On the command (shout “bulldog”), everyone races to the opposite side of the mat, crawling on their hands and knees.
The bulldog has to catch as many players as they can.
The grappling twist to this game, however, is that the bulldog must turn over the other players on their backs and pin them for three seconds.
Once 'caught' in this way, the person becomes a bulldog and helps to catch more.
The idea is that the bulldogs' numbers increase and the players decrease. Try it and you'll be howling.
4) Bear-Crawl Relays
Let's face it, bear crawls are a killer! Fortunately, add a bit of competition to them and you'll quickly forget you're on all fours.
Only allowed on hands and feet, race down the gym and back to your team as fast as you can. Add to the difficulty by carrying a medicine ball in one hand.
5) Stability-Ball Races
A two-team relay race. Each member of the team adopts a push-up position with their feet on the ball then effectively wheelbarrow walks down the hall/gym space, while bringing their feet up behind them.
This is a little like the “inch worm” warm-up technique where the hands move forward a little, then the feet a little, and so on until the players reach their objective. This challenges the core, shoulder girdle and effectively warms up the body from the inside out.
Feel free to throw objects such as empty water bottles at the rival team to put them off. Note: throwing dumbbells may be taking a bit too far.
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