A barbell complex is any series of movements performed back-to-back with a barbell in which the set number of reps is completed for each movement before moving on to the next. It also means—and this is what makes barbell complex workouts so tough—that the barbell never leaves the athlete’s hands until all the lifts and reps are completed.
Barbell complexes are great for building endurance, adding strength-based cardio to your workouts, and torching fat!
Try this Complex to mix up your go-to circuit workouts and build huge muscle.
To choose your weight for each complex, you’ll need to figure out a weight you can feasibly use for the prescribed number of reps of your weakest lift. That will be your weight for the entire complex.
Keep your rest short between exercises (you’ll have some rest between rounds), and do not drop the bar.
1. Complete 1 rep of each exercise, 2-3 times without putting the bar down. For example: You would do 1 rep each of the Squat Clean, Lunge, and Lunge then immediately repeat those 5 movements 2 more times before putting the bar down. Try 4 sets like that.
2. Complete 4-6 reps of each movement before moving on to the next, resting only when you’ve completed all the movements. In complex that would mean you complete 4 to 6 reps each of squat clean, lunge, lunge before you put the bar down. Work up to 4 rounds.
3. Change the rest time. Begin with 2 minutes rest between rounds, and gradually reduce to 60 seconds to increase the metabolic burn.
4. For complex vary the weight. Start with an empty bar to make sure you know how to execute each lift, and add weight as you feel comfortable.
