Hello Matt,

I’m writing to ask if you are still holding the ultimate royal court challenge? I think you gave out awards for the Combat Conditioning Athlete of the Year if I’m not mistaken. Your book has helped tremendously with my physical fitness!

Thanks!

Mike

Mike,

I haven’t had the Ultimate Royal Court Challenge in many years. It was a great event to hold, with additional prizes for Best Hindu Pushups, Best Hindu Squats, and so on. One year the deciding factor was a sumo wrestling match, albeit with your hands behind your back. Glad to hear Combat Conditioning has helped you so much. Keep on squattin’ on.

Matt

Hi Matt,

I’ve been a fan of yours for about 25 years now. Thanks for everything that you’ve done for calisthenics and giving us something beyond chinups and pushups. You’ve definitely broadened our horizons.

I was wanting to start doing hindu squats every day but was wondering about the health of this for my joints. Would 1000’s be ok for most people, even assuming you would build up to that? Thank you so much for everything you’ve done for us.

-Clay

Dear Clay,

Holy Hindu Squats! 25 years of fandom is quite a stretch of time. Much appreciated.

To answer your question, “1000’s” of Hindu squats would NOT be an appropriate goal for most, as so many peoples’ bodies are almost ready for the scrap heap with orthopedic surgeons licking their saws and hammers to help out the cause.

My goal, in the beginning, was getting to 100-straight Hindu squats, then 150, then 200, and ultimately 500 each day (in under 15 minutes).

Back on December 31, 1999, in order to ring in the New Year, I did 2,000 in a row. It took me one hour and 18 minutes – AND – I NEVER did that again. Once was enough.

If most people would do at least 10 Hindu squats per day, their bodies would benefit enormously. In fact, recent studies bear this out. Yet sadly, many people today can’t even do that many, as they sit around texting and scrolling all day. Oddly enough, if you want your joints to wear out quickly, activity is not required. Just sit around restin’ and the rust will get you.

For YOU, though, because you are not the norm, you could probably benefit from the following method:

First, find out what your baseline is, i.e. the max number you can do in a row – which is usually when your legs throb with lactic acid build up. For reasonably fit people, this is usually around 40 repetitions.

Second, begin doing sets that are around 50% of your baseline max. If your baseline is 40, do a set of 20-25 repetitions, then rest a minute or two. Then do another set, and rest again. Continue doing sets this way until you’ve done 100 repetitions.

Third, as you gain momentum over a period of weeks, you will naturally begin making your sets longer. Test yourself every 14 days to see where your baseline currently is, then make adjustments to your sets accordingly.

Fourth, when you get to the point where you can hammer out 100 in a row without your legs being fried, start to add in the Hindu jumper squats. Do 80 regular Hindu squats, followed by 20 jumpers in each set. After this, take a rest, then do another set.

Fifth, over time, the rest period in between sets will get shorter and the number of reps you can do consecutively will get longer. At some point you won’t need to rest at all because you’re able to do five sets of 80 Hindu squats, followed by 20 jumpers, over and over again.

In fact, when you change from regulars to jumpers, even without a moment’s rest, as far as your brain, nervous system, and body are concerned – this will constitute and feel as though it was a rest.

This schedule, can take you to 500-straight Hindu squats in six months to a year.

Keep me posted on your progress. I’m in your corner.

Remember, you can pull this goal off even if you don’t currently believe you can. In fact, after you do 500-straight Hindu squats the first time, you might proclaim, “Holy Hindu Squats! I can’t believe I just DID 500 in a row!”

Matt Furey

Note: For the proper technique on Hindu squats and Hindu jumpers, my Combat Conditioning book and DVDs will serve as your guide. Click the link shown above for more.