When I picked up the phone and was talking with my man David, I told him straight: burpees are where it’s at. If you want a movement that challenges you mentally, physically, and spiritually, you don’t need fancy equipment. You don’t need a gym membership. You need the willingness to drop to the floor and rise back up again.

Burpees.

That’s where this journey begins—day one of my Just Do Ten Burpee Challenge.

The Power of Ten

I started with ten burpees. That was my first set. Honestly, I’m not sure it was the prettiest set, or even if it was all that successful. My form wasn’t locked in, and my body was relearning how to flow through the movement. But that’s the beauty of starting: it doesn’t have to be perfect. It just has to be done.

After that first set, I didn’t stop. I added an additional two sets of ten, bringing my total to three sets of ten burpees—thirty total for day one.

Each rep reminded me why the burpee is the king of bodyweight movements. Every part of me lit up:

• Cardio: lungs working, breath sharp, heart rate up.
• Triceps & chest: firing during the push-up.
• Shoulders: stabilizing through the plank and press.
• Core: tight and braced, keeping me honest.
• Quads & glutes: driving the stand and jump.

It was full-body activation—no hype, just the truth you feel when you finish your reps.

The Challenge Begins

On day one, I had to throw down a challenge—not to strangers, but to men I respect who shaped my life as a competitor.

• Phillip Riley. A national champion in the hurdles. At Florida State University he was a force—discipline, precision, and speed. He set a standard.
• Corey Boushé Fuller. Back in Tallahassee, Corey was the scariest football player in Burt Reynolds Hall—not because he wasn’t cool (he was), but because he carried that gladiator energy. Vicious on the field, respectful off it. The kind of competitor who makes you raise your game.

I called them both out on day one—not to embarrass them, but because I know what they’re made of. If they accept, they’ll elevate the bar. And I want them—and you—to see what happens when you just do ten.

The Ugly Set

By the third set, it wasn’t pretty. My arms shook. My lungs begged for air. Every jump felt heavier than the last. That’s the moment where doubt creeps in—the voice that asks, “Why are you doing this?”

That moment is the reason. Fitness isn’t about looking good when it’s easy. It’s about showing up when it gets ugly and pushing through when the body says stop but the spirit says go. The third set—ugly as it was—proved this challenge is real.

Why Just Ten?

Why not twenty or fifty? Because ten is achievable. Ten breaks down excuses. Ten is the gateway. Anybody can do ten. Once you do, you’ve proven something to yourself: you can take action. You can move forward. You can choose discipline over comfort.

On day one, I went further—three sets of ten—but it started with one set. It starts with those first ten.

Closing Thoughts

Day one of the Just Do Ten Challenge is in the books: thirty burpees total—done, not perfect. That’s the point.

I challenge you—yes, you reading this right now—to begin your own journey. Don’t wait for perfect conditions. Start today. Do ten. Come back tomorrow and do ten more.

It won’t always be pretty. It won’t always be easy. But every rep, every breath, every jump brings you closer to your strongest self.

Namaste.

#JustDoTen #BurpeeChallenge #FitnessJourney