The burpee, a squat thrust with an additional stand between repetitions, is a full body exercise used in strength training. The movement itself is primarily an anaerobic exercise, but when done in succession over a longer period can be utilized as an aerobic exercise.^[1][2]

The basic movement as described by its namesake, physiologist Royal H. Burpee, is performed in four steps from a standing position and known as a "four-count burpee":^[3]

1. Move into a squat position with your hands on the ground.
2. Kick your feet back into an extended plank position, while keeping your arms extended.
3. Immediately return your feet into squat position.
4. Stand up from the squat position.

One modification is to step back into a plank instead of kicking back.

Moves 2 and 3 constitute a squat thrust. Many variants of the basic burpee exist, and they often include a push-up and a jump.^[4]

The exercise was invented in 1939 by US physiologist Royal Huddleston Burpee Sr., who used it in the burpee test to assess fitness.^[5][6] Burpee earned a PhD in applied physiology from Teachers College, Columbia University in 1940 and created the "burpee" exercise as part of his PhD thesis as a quick and simple fitness test,^[7] which may be used as a measure of agility and coordination.^[8] The original burpee was a "four-count burpee" consisting of movements through four different positions, and in the fitness test, the burpee was performed four times, with five heart rate measurements taken before and after the four successive burpees to measure the efficiency of the heart at pumping blood and how quickly the heart rate returns to normal.^[6]

The exercise was popularized when the United States Armed Services made it one of the ways used to assess the fitness level of recruits when the US entered World War II.^[3] Although the original test was not designed to be performed at high volume, the Army used the burpee to test how many times it can be performed by a soldier in 20 seconds^[3] – 8 burpees in 20 seconds is considered poor, 10 is fair, 13 or more excellent. The Army also considered that a soldier fit enough for the rigor of war should be able to perform 40 or 50 burpees non-stop in an easy rhythm.^[6]

This section needs additional citations for verification. (August 2021)

Box-jump burpee

The athlete jumps onto a box, rather than straight up and down.^[9]

Burpee broad jump

A burpee followed by a stationary two footed distance jump.^{[citation needed]}

Burpee push-up

The athlete performs one push-up after assuming the extended plank position.^{[citation needed]}

Dumbbell burpee

The athlete holds a pair of dumbbells while performing the exercise.^[10]

Devil-press burpee

The athlete performs a non-jumping burpee with dumbbells and then overhead presses the dumbbells.^{[citation needed]}

Eight-count push-up^[11] or double burpee

The athlete performs two push-ups after assuming the plank position. This cancels the drive from landing after the jump and makes the next jump harder. Each part of the burpee might be repeated to make it even harder.

Hindu push-up burpee

Instead of a regular push-up, do a Hindu push-up.

Jump-over burpee

The athlete jumps over an obstacle between burpees.^[12]

Knee push-up burpee

The athlete bends their knees and rests them on the ground before performing the push-up.

Long-jump burpee

The athlete jumps forward, not upward.

Muscle-up burpee

Combine a muscle-up (a variation of a pull-up) with the jump or do a muscle-up instead of the jump.

One-armed burpee

The athlete uses only one arm for the whole exercise including the push-up.

One-leg burpee

The athlete stands on one leg, bends at the waist and puts hands on ground so they are aligned with shoulders. Next jump back with the standing leg to plank position. Jump forward with the one leg that was extended, and do a one-leg jump. Repeat on opposite side.^[13]

Pull-up burpee

Combine a pull-up with the jump or do a pull-up instead of the jump.^{[citation needed]}

Side burpee

The athlete bends at waist and places hand shoulder-width apart to the side of right or left foot. Jump both legs out to side and land on the outer and inner sides of your feet. Jump back in, jump up, and repeat on opposite side.^{[citation needed]}

Burpee mountain climber

The athlete does a full regular burpee, when the chest and thigh are on the ground, the athlete completes a full mountain climber (split-squat thrust)^{[citation needed]}

Tuck-jump burpee

The athlete pulls their knees to their chest (tucks) at the peak of the jump.^{[citation needed]}

• Sun Salutation - a sequence of yoga postures that bears some similarities.