The Soldier Challenge: Bastardos til you drop

ABF The Soldiers’ Charity is running a money-raising urban adventure challenge dubbed The Soldier Challenge in central London on 26 March 2011.

Squads, or teams, of 2-4 people from all walks of life will compete in a high-adrenalin set of 35 challenges across the capital, including the chance to access major military landmarks in a way never normally available - such as an obstacle course in the moat at the Tower of London - all related to the skills required to be first-class soldier.

To get you up to speed for the Soldier Challenge, the Rat Race Urban Gym has created Konkura challenges for you to test your fitness.

Everyone who takes part in the Konkura challenges will get a chance to win a free team place, worth up to £140 for a team of 4, for themselves and their friends in the main event on 26 March. The more challenges you and your friends enter, the more chances you have to win.

The winner will be announced on 7 March. If you’re not the lucky winner, but want to take part in the greatest fitness challenge of 2011, visit the Soldier Challenge website to sign up.

This challenge is simple: how many bastardos can you complete in succession without stopping?

A bastardo is simply a burpee with a press up at the bottom of the movement, so one bastardo is as follows:


Start in the upright standing position

Squat down to touch your hands on the floor near your feet

Kick your feet out behind you, leaving you in a press up position

Perform press up

Return your legs to the squat position performing a squat thrust

From this position perform a squat jump (feet at least a foot off the floor please!)


So what are you waiting for? Demonstrate your fitness and see if you can win your team's place in the Soldier Challenge. If you can, make sure you video your entry and post it when you add your score so everyone can check out your performance.