20-minute bodyweight “winter arc” workout

I stepped outside yesterday morning, and had to put on a jacket for the first time!

And I look forward to this time of year.

There’s something about the cold air and quiet mornings — the constant movement, the trips, the tournaments, the chaos … all of it quiets.

And that’s when:

You lock in.
You disappear for a while.
You rebuild.

No one sees the work — and that’s the point.

The “winter arc” is about discipline for its own sake — and emerging in spring a different animal than you were when the leaves started falling.

And if you want to start your own winter arc, here’s a 20-minute bodyweight-only workout you can do anywhere — no gym, no gear, no excuses:

Get as many rounds as you can in 20 minutes of:

— 50 Seal Jacks
— 8 Bodyweight Renegade Rows (per side)
— 15 Total Body Extensions
— 12 Plank Jacks
— 10 Alternating Reverse Lunges (per side)
— 8 Burpees

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If you like this kind of short, minimalist training that gets real results, I’ve got something brand new for you.

It’s called the Mission Ready Conditioning System — a complete set of bodyweight and minimalist workouts designed to keep you strong, lean, and capable through the winter arc and beyond.

Inside are programs like:

– The Road Warrior Workout (for tight spaces and schedules)
– Zero Equipment Fat-Loss Plan
– Firebreather Conditioning (hybrid HIIT, hills, and circuits)
– Mission 100 Push-Ups (from zero to triple digits)
– Kettlebell + Bodyweight Beatdown (optional single-bell training)
– Functional Flexibility Secrets (mobility and recovery)

Right now it’s in fire-sale launch mode — starting at $30 and going up $1 for every 10 people who join.

If you want to jump in early and lock your rate, you can check it out here:
–>> Get the Mission Ready Conditioning System here

— Forest

Kettlebell STKT method – How to Build More Strength with Less Weight

Here’s something most lifters over 40 eventually learn the hard way:
you can’t out-lift your recovery.

After 25+ years of training — from pro football to coaching thousands of clients — I found that the guys who keep progressing into their 40s, 50s, and 60s aren’t chasing heavier weights… they’re chasing better tension.

That’s the foundation of what I call Smart-Tension Kettlebell Training — or STKT.

It’s how you build real muscle and strength without beating up your joints.

Here’s how to use it starting today:

1 – Control the Tempo

Instead of exploding through every rep, take 3–4 seconds on the lowering phase and 1 second up.
Try this with your KB RDLs or 1-arm rows — you’ll feel the difference instantly.
You’ll recruit more muscle fibers without adding weight.

2 – Use the “Stretch Principle”

This comes straight from muscle-growth research:
your muscles respond best when trained under tension in a lengthened position.
With kettlebells, that means movements like Bulgarian split squats or RDLs — where you feel the muscle stretch under control, then contract back through full range.

3 – Track Density, Not Load

Don’t just add weight.
Add work done per minute.
For example: perform 6 reps of KB RDLs every minute on the minute for 5 minutes — next week, try 7.
That’s progressive overload, joint-friendly style.

That’s STKT in action — controlled tempo, stretch-based tension, and smart progression.
It’s how I (and my 40+ clients) keep building muscle and strength without wrecking our backs, knees, or shoulders.

If you want a plug-and-play plan built entirely around these methods,
check out my 28-Day Ageless Warrior GAINZ Challenge.

Start GAINZ Now ->>

— Forest

Most people ruin their kettlebell swing (here’s how to fix it)

Here’s a simple kettlebell swing hack that’ll change everything:

Your kettlebell should float at the top of the swing — for just a split second.

If your arms and shoulders feel tense, you’re probably muscling it instead of driving it with hip power.

The swing isn’t an arm exercise — it’s a power exercise.

Once you master that snap from the hips, everything clicks:

  • Your back stops aching
  • Your cardio skyrockets
  • You burn more fat in less time

Now — quick heads up:

I’m opening a few 1-to-1 Ageless Warrior Kettlebell Coaching spots for mid-month.

(We work on small, individualized things that drive significant results – like today’s swing tip – in this program, all the time.)

This 12-week private coaching program teaches you the fundamentals of effective kettlebell training, helping you build strength and lean muscle while potentially losing up to 12% of your body weight.

All that to say, this isn’t a $29 quick fix program.

It’s for men and women 40+ who are serious about making real change and ready to commit time, effort, and resources into the process.

If that’s you, just hit reply and I’ll send the details.

..and make it a great week!

– Forest
MS, Human Movement
Certified Kettlebell Instructor
FVT Warrior Wellness

5-Minute Hip Reset Flow for KB Lifters 40+

If your hips are tight, locked up, or just off, everything else pays the price.

That’s because most back pain, stiff knees, and nagging injuries don’t actually start where they hurt… they start with hips that aren’t moving the way they’re supposed to.

Your hips are the power center of your body. When they lose mobility, everything else starts compensating.

That’s why I created the 8-Minute Hip Fix — a 28-day program designed for people 40+ to unlock hip mobility quickly.

You’ll get short, follow-along routines that relieve pain, build strength, and boost performance in just 8–10 minutes daily.

Check it out here -> Daily 8 Minute Hip Fix

5-Minute Hip Reset Flow
Try this quick routine before your next workout to loosen your hips and activate the right muscles:

  • Glute Bridges – 10–12 reps, hold/squeeze at the top
  • Bird Dogs – 6–8 reps per side, slow and controlled
  • Cossack Squats – 4–5 per side, keep chest tall
  • Hip Airplanes – 3–4 per side (hold wall for support if needed)
  • Banded Good Mornings – 15 reps, hinge + glute drive

Just 5 minutes can reset your hips for stronger, safer training.

Get the full 28-day program here -> 8-Minute Hip Fix

– Forest
MS Human Movement | CPT | RYT-200
ForestVanceTraining.com | KettlebellBasics.net

5-Minute Kettlebell Warm-Up (flash sale inside)

Next year, I’ll need to recertify my kettlebell certification, which, for me, means hitting 100 snatches with a 63 lb bell in 5 minutes.

Obviously, the #1 thing I need to do is… work on KB snatches. But I also know that if I want to stay healthy, recover faster, and keep training consistently, I have to focus on mobility and prep.

That’s where my Regenerate 2.0 program comes in — and it’s on flash sale this weekend. Honestly, I use this program as much as any other I’ve ever created. The short 3–6 minute routines make a huge difference.

Here’s one example warm-up I’ve been using before kettlebell sessions (not just snatches — it works for any KB workout):

5-Minute Kettlebell Warm-Up

  1. Cat-Cow with Breath – 30 sec
  2. Hip Flexor Rock-Backs – 5 reps per side
  3. Shoulder Openers (Thread the Needle) – 5 reps per side
  4. Glute Bridge with Reach – 8 reps
  5. KB Halos (light bell) – 5 each direction
  6. Overhead KB Hold (light bell) – 15 sec per arm

Takes about 5 minutes. Gets you moving, primed, and ready to go.

The truth is, if I only did this once in a while, it wouldn’t do much. The magic is in daily mobility and flexibility practice — 3 to 6 minutes a day, consistently. That’s why Regenerate 2.0 has been one of my best-selling programs ever (and why I just brought it back for a weekend-only sale).

-> Click here to grab Regenerate 2.0 while the flash sale is live

Stay strong, stay mobile,
Forest Vance
M.S., Human Movement
Certified Kettlebell Instructor

Bodyweight “Century Test” (could you pass?)

Back around 2015, I took something called the Progressive Calisthenics Certification.

To pass, you had to complete The Century Test: 100 total reps across four fundamental calisthenic moves — in 8 minutes or less.

Here’s the men’s version:

  • 40 squats (full depth)
  • 30 push-ups (strict form)
  • 20 hanging knee raises
  • 10 full pull-ups or chin-ups

The women’s version:

  • 40 squats
  • 30 kneeling push-ups
  • 20 hanging knee raises
  • 10 inverted rows

Rules: you had to do them in this exact order, each exercise in one unbroken set. You could rest between moves, but not mid-set. Form had to be clean — no half-reps, no kipping, no cheating.

Even just reading through that list, you probably started asking yourself: Could I do it?

That’s why it’s such a powerful benchmark — simple to understand, tough to execute, and a great standard to train for.

For me — I’m a big dude, not naturally great at bodyweight stuff — it took some serious prep to nail all the standards. But I did it. And I still think it’s a great benchmark almost anyone can work up to.

If you want a structured plan to get there, that’s exactly what my Project Bodyweight³ program is built around.

It’s based on the same principles I learned through the PCC, Convict Conditioning, my yoga teacher training, and 20+ years in fitness.

It’ll help you shred fat, gain lean muscle, and build the strength + mobility to crush challenges like this.

Check out Project Bodyweight³ here (back by popular demand)

– Forest

Herschel Walker Zero-Equipment Routine (workout inside)

Back in high school, I stumbled across how Herschel Walker got so shredded — and it wasn’t gym time.

He used only bodyweight stuff: push-ups, sit-ups… and some uphill sprint repeats on a dirt road. No fancy gear, just grit and consistency.

Here’s the twist — as he got stronger, he dialed it way up:

  • Hundreds (or more) of push-ups and sit-ups per day
  • Mixes like one-arm push-ups, diamond variations, dips, pull-ups, and pistol squats
  • Sprinting hills, martial arts, dancing, even farm chores — basically, anything to move

What you can steal from this:

  • Start simple, like he did: push-ups, sit-ups, sprints.
  • Keep adding volume or variation to challenge yourself.
  • Mix it up — variety builds real athleticism.
  • And stay consistent — even when nobody’s watching — that’s where results come from.

That mindset formed the root of Project Bodyweight³. It’s how I took 17 lbs of fat off, gained lean muscle, and stayed athletic — without stepping foot in a gym.

Want to see how to structure it into a full 6-week plan?

Check it out here

– Forest

PS – Herschel-Inspired Bodyweight³ Workout (try this today):

1. 8-min AMRAP (as many rounds as possible)

  • 5 burpees
  • 5 pull-ups (or 15 inverted rows)
  • :20 handstand hold on the wall (or floor pike holds)

2. 8-min Ladder
Start with 4 reps each → then 6 → then 8… keep climbing:

  • Walking prisoner lunges (each side)
  • Close grip push-ups

3. Sprint Intervals (x5)

Rest = whatever time’s left after your run
(Ex: Run in 45s → rest 45s. Run in 60s → rest 30s.)

Run ~200 yards

Start a new set every 90 seconds

30-second pull-up test

The special pricing for my Zero-to-20 Pull Up Plan ended last night, but I wanted to share something valuable with you regardless.

Here’s a simple test: Can you hang from a pull-up bar for 30 seconds with good form?

If not, you’re not ready for full pull-ups yet. And that’s totally fine!

Try this instead:

Week 1-2: Focus on dead hangs. Work up to 30 seconds.

Week 3-4: Add slow negatives (jump up, lower down slowly over 5-8 seconds)

Week 5-6: Try assisted pull-ups (small jump to help)

This foundation work isn’t “cheating” – it’s smart training that prevents injury and builds real strength.

Most people skip this and wonder why they never progress. Don’t be most people.

By the way, my “Operation Pull Up” Zero-to-20 Pull Up Plan is still available if you want the complete system with all 6 tracks, video demonstrations, and exact progressions.

-> Get Operation Pull Up

Your strongest days are ahead of you!

-Forest Vance – creator, Operation Pull Up

P.S. Remember, 30-day guarantee. If this doesn’t dramatically improve your pull-up strength, full refund.

6 kettlebell hacks + Over 50 KB Revolution original pricing expires

Time is running out to get “The Kettlebell Revolution for People Over 50” at the original pricing.

Since this is your last chance, let me remind you exactly what you’re getting:

✓ Complete kettlebell system designed for men and women 50+
✓ Proper progression that won’t wreck your joints
✓ Recovery protocols that actually work at our age
✓ Real-world schedules (not 2-hour gym sessions)
✓ Safety modifications for common 50+ issues

Get the program here -> The Kettlebell Revolution for People Over 50

6 “kettlebell hacks” from the program:

Swing secret: Your kettlebell should “float” at the top for a split second – that means you’re using hip power, not arm muscle

Goblet squat depth: Hip crease and knee should be at the same level – you’re shooting for at least parallel depth

Get-up hack: Each position should feel stable enough that someone could bump into you – stability beats speed

Clean tip: Keep the kettlebell tight to your body with a close arc to minimize impact on your forearm

Snatch technique: Actively punch your hand through – don’t let the bell passively hit your forearm, be active to reduce impact

Press foundation: A good press starts with a good rack position – kettlebell resting on your forearm, elbow tight to your ribs

Get the program here -> The Kettlebell Revolution for People Over 50

The original pricing is about to expire.

— Forest Vance
Over 50 Kettlebell Expert

22-Min Isometric Workout + Final Day to Join Warrior Flow

Centuries ago, elite warriors used static holds, breath control, and intentional movement to build strength, power, and resilience—often without lifting a single weight.

They trained to be battle-ready using principles derived from martial arts, yoga, and strength disciplines long before barbells were invented.

That same style of training—grounded, controlled, and brutally practical—is at the heart of Warrior Flow Isometrics.

This is my 28-day program designed to help you:

  • Build lean, functional muscle
  • Protect your joints and stay injury-free
  • Train anywhere, anytime with zero equipment
  • Recover faster while still getting stronger

Today is the final day to grab it at the launch price, and with all the bonus programs included.

Here’s a free 22-minute sample workout from inside the program:

22-Minute Warrior Flow Isometrics Workout [Free Sample]

Hold each exercise for 30 seconds total—10 seconds in each position. Do all 5 moves back to back. Rest 1–2 minutes. Repeat the full circuit 3 times.

  1. Squat Hold
    High squat → Mid squat → Deep squat
  2. Plank with Knee Lift Hold
    High plank → Right knee lift → Left knee lift
  3. Reverse Snow Angel Hold
    Arms overhead → T position → Arms by hips, squeeze upper back
  4. Three-Point Bridge Hold
    Full bridge → Left leg extended → Right leg extended
  5. Hollow Body Hold (Core)
    Basic hollow → Extended hollow → Full hollow

It’s simple. It’s low impact. And it’s surprisingly effective.

If you want the whole experience, you can still grab Warrior Flow Isometrics today only and get the complete plan plus three powerful bonuses:

What you get:

  • Warrior Flow Isometrics – 28-Day Program
  • 28-Day KB Tabata Conditioning Plan (Value: $29)
  • Unbreakable – 7-Day Anti-Inflammatory Meal Plan (Value: $19)
  • Flexibility / Mobility Cheat Sheets (Value: $15)

These bonuses are only included through tonight, and the program is still just $19 for launch week.

-> Get Warrior Flow Isometrics + all four bonuses here

– Forest Vance, MS
Corrective Exercise Specialist | RYT-200
ForestVanceTraining.com

PS – It’s the last day to grab the full program and bonus stack.