The The MTI SBGU 80/80/10 Challenge:
80 Sandbag Get-Ups. 80 Pounds. 10 Minutes. Meet the Standard. Earn the Patch.
The Sandbag Get Up is one of MTI’s most notorious exercises. This total body movement is applicable to all athlete types that MTI works with and has stood the test of time in developing work capacity and durability. We’ve frequently used a 10-minute, max rep effort as a foundational work capacity assessment. Over the years, the 80x reps seem to be the gold standard—an elite benchmark that separates the highly conditioned from the rest. Now, we’re challenging you to put your fitness to the test.
- Complete 80x or more Sandbag Get Ups in 10 minutes (AMRAP) using an 80# sandbag
Whether you’re a tactical athlete, a mountain sports competitor, or someone looking to push their limits, this challenge will test your grit, endurance, and durability. Hit 80+ reps? You’ve joined the ranks of MTI’s best.
The Reward
All athletes who complete 80x (+) Sandbag Get Ups at 80# will earn an MTI SBGU Challenge velcro patch and an official MTI SBGU Badass certificate from Rob Shaul, MTI’s Founder.
Leaderboard
We will publish a leaderboard to see the top male and female athletes who meet and exceed the standard.
Meet the Standard – Sign Up for our Free Sandbag Get Up Improvement Plan
Want to take on the Sandbag Get Up Challenge but can’t meet the standard? We’re offering a free Sandbag Get Up Improvement Plan to anyone who wants to train for it.
How to get the plan
- Click on your preferred social media
- Share the MTI SBGU 80/80/10 Challenge post
- Comment #SBGU
- We’ll DM you the link to the training plan.
This structured program is designed to help you build the strength, endurance, and technique needed to hit the benchmark of 80 reps in 10 minutes with an 80-pound sandbag.
No matter where you’re starting from, this plan will guide you toward achieving the standard. Sign up, commit to the work, and see how far you can go.
Sandbag Get Up Movement Standards, Technique, and Background
Movement Standards
- The sandbag should be shouldered when the timer starts.
- The athlete drops to the ground and the upper back must make contact with the ground
- The athlete executes the sandbag bag get up returning to a full standing position with hips and knees extended, and feet together, shoulder width apart.
- Athletes can switch shoulders as needed, or not at all.
If you’re doing MTI programming you’re likely acquainted with the Sandbag Get Up. For those who have not spent time under a sandbag getting to and from the ground, you are now on notice that the holy grail does exist. It is the most simple and real-world useful exercise in the playlist. It sucks! It isn’t sexy and bragging about your numbers won’t give you much street cred but it will improve every facet of your game.
The first time you do a max rep, 10-minute set is a spiritual event. You’ll be deep down the rabbit hole of suck breathing uncontrollably, seeing tweety birds wondering which side of the Great Divide you’re on. The next time getup day rolls around though you focus on controlling your breathing. It still sucks mightily, but you can control your breathing with the heart rate clicking somewhere north of 180. The tweety birds are at bay, getting up and down and up again becomes the sole focus in this moment. You have control of your response to the suck. Improvement. Then the next time around Rob programs for you to hit the same rep total with less time or gives you another 20 pounds in the bag. →Stimulus Response. Embrace the suck.
In the end, we’re talking about a bag full of sand, rocks, legos, or other assorted crap you repeatedly lie down and stand back up with. There are no infomercial gadgets or magical pills here. It is absolutely Sisyphean in nature just like a hundred other things we do in life. We suck it up, we do them, they get easier and we get harder. Do hard shit → get hard.
How to Compete
Competition Window
Permanently Open
Submission Guidelines
Video Requirements:
- Must be a single, unedited, continuous video (no cuts).
- Sandbag weight must be verified on a scale in the video.
- Video’s will be published to MTI’s website and social media accounts
Submission:
- Drop your video in this Google Drive Folder.
- Please title the video file with your full name and number of reps completed (Ex: JohnSmith87)
- Input your name and mailing address for the SBGU 80/80/10 Challenge in this form