Get A V-Shaped Body In Four Weeks

Workout
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You don’t have to be big to be tough. It’s true of most featherweight boxers and it definitely applies to this empty barbell complex. Pick up a barbell using a snatch grip and do all six moves back to back before setting it down.

“The weight might not look challenging but the moves are,” says trainer Natalie Morley (phoenix-strength.co.uk), who devised this plan. “Even with a light weight, you’ll torch calories, and the moves will develop your skill and mobility for the most technical of Olympic lifts: the snatch.”

The Plan

“Don’t underestimate the intensity of this barbell complex,” says Morley. “Keep the weight light enough to allow you to do all the moves with good form for the best results.”

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Row 0 - Cell 0 SetsRepsRest
Week 14590sec
Week 24890sec
Week 34890sec
Week 45860sec

Use the four-week plan above, doing this complex two or three times a week as a finisher to burn off belly fat and enhance your functional fitness.

The Workout

Bent-over row

Bent-over row

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Grasp the bar with hands double shoulder-width apart. Hinge forwards at your hips, keep your core braced and raise the bar towards your sternum.

Pro-tip: “Focus on squeezing your shoulder blades together,” says Morley

Deadlift

Deadlift

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Squat to lower the bar to shin height, keeping your chest up and your back straight. Then drive your hips forwards to stand tall. Reverse the move back to the start.

Pro-tip: “Pull your shoulders back and down to maintain a flat, neutral spine.”

High pull

High pull

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From standing, move your hips back and lower the bar to mid-thigh height, then drive your hips forwards powerfully and quickly raise the bar up to mid-chest height, leading with your elbows so they stay above the bar.

Pro-tip: “Keep the bar close to your body and in contact with your hips as you drive them forwards to generate power.”

Muscle snatch

Muscle snatch

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In the same way as with the high pull, drive your hips forwards and raise the bar quickly but bring it all the way up, keeping it close to your body, until your arms are locked out above you.

Pro-tip: “As the bar reaches shoulder height, rotate your hands around it and punch it overhead.”

Klokov press

Klokov press

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On the final muscle snatch, lower the bar to rest on your upper back and shoulders. Bend your legs to lower into a quarter squat, then drive up powerfully, using the momentum to press the bar overhead.

Pro-tip: “Keep looking straight ahead and avoid craning your neck forwards.”

Back squat

Back squat

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Lower the bar back onto your upper back and shoulders and sink into a deep squat, keeping your weight on your heels and your chest up. Then drive your hips forwards as you return to standing.

Pro tip: “To help keep your chest up, pull down on the bar as if you’re trying to break it in half across your back.”

Sam Rider
Contributor

Sam Rider is an experienced freelance journalist, specialising in health, fitness and wellness. For over a decade he's reported on Olympic Games, CrossFit Games and World Cups, and quizzed luminaries of elite sport, nutrition and strength and conditioning. Sam is also a REPS level 3 qualified personal trainer, online coach and founder of Your Daily Fix. Sam is also Coach’s designated reviewer of massage guns and fitness mirrors.