What is Tabata and why do we use it?

25 Aug 2012

Tags: bootcamp brisbane, bootcamp melbourne, bootcamp sydney, sydney bootcamp,

Tabata was founded in Japan by Izumi Tabata. He conducted tests on two groups of athletes; comparing moderate high intensity training with high intensity interval training.
The results were that the athletes training in high intensity interval training improved their aerobic systems as well as their anaerobic system. The athletes who did the moderate high intensity training only improved their aerobic system and had little to no increase in their anaerobic system.

Any exercise can be incorporated into the Tabata training. However the basic outline of the Tabata training method are as follows:

4 minutes long (whole Tabata Session)
20 seconds of intense training
10 seconds of rest
Total of 8 sessions or rounds

Tabata training will raise your metabolism and heart rate up in no time. Because you are performing these exercises at a very high intensity, your body will have to work much harder to keep up. This will cause your heart to pump faster and your metabolism to rise; which you want if you are planning on losing fat. Your metabolism will stay at a high not only during the workout, but after the workout as well. This means that your body will be burning fat even when you aren’t doing anything.
You can get much more done in less time in Tabata training than you can in long distance running. BONUS!