You finished. Beginner through Advanced. Twelve series of structured progression — from 8 sets of max pull-ups to weighted muscle-ups, from bodyweight squats to 20-rep back squats under a heavy bar, from handstand holds against a wall to Tabata handstand push-ups. That's not a small thing. But it's not the end.
The book says it directly: there is much more out there than what has been covered. The program gave you a foundation. What you build on it is up to you.
Just finished the program? Go back to any series and see how you compare: Beginner Workout Series 1 | Intermediate Workout Series 1 | Advanced Workout Series 1. New to the program? Start with Start Here: The Jocko Workout Program.
Option 1: Repeat the Program
The most straightforward path. Go back to the beginning of your level — or drop back a level — and do it again. But this time, you have benchmarks. You know what your pull-up pyramid peaked at. You know your for-time numbers. You know how high you climbed on the EMOTM. You know how the 20-rep back squat felt.
Do the program again and beat every number. Heavier weights. Faster times. Higher rep counts. Deeper discipline. The workouts don't change. You do.
This is the approach the program is designed for. Each series can be repeated indefinitely with progressive overload — more weight, more reps, less rest, better form. Track your numbers in a notebook so you have something to measure against.
Option 2: Attack Your Weaknesses
You know where your weaknesses are. The program exposed them. Maybe your overhead squat mobility limited your Squat day. Maybe your muscle-ups were inconsistent. Maybe your front rack position needs work. Maybe your pull-up pyramid peaked lower than you wanted.
Go back to the specific series that targets your weakness and spend extra time there. There's no rule that says you have to move through the program linearly. If Intermediate Series 3's grip rotation circuits destroyed you, do that series again until it doesn't. If Advanced Series 1's weighted pull-ups exposed a strength gap, stay there and build.
The program is a tool. Use it where you need it most.
Option 3: Explore New Territory
The book points to two areas worth exploring beyond the program.
Kettlebells
Kettlebells are an outstanding way to get in shape. Swings, snatches, goblet squats, high-pulls, lunge-presses, Turkish get-ups, weighted pull-ups, push-ups with rows — the list is infinite. Use them to supplement your workouts or dedicate entire training days to kettlebell work. They build strength, power, endurance, and grip in ways that barbells and bodyweight alone don't cover.
Gymnastics Movements
The muscle-up is already a staple of the Advanced program, and it's a basic movement in gymnastics. Beyond that, there are hanging leg-lifts, L-sits, V-ups, front and back levers, and all kinds of multi-plane pushes and presses. These are some of the hardest bodyweight exercises in the world. Find a gym or a coach or an online program and start working toward them. They'll build strength, control, and body awareness that transfers to everything else in your training.
The message from the book is clear: keep looking, keep experimenting, keep exploring. Keep getting better.
Option 4: Increase the Volume
Any workout in the program can become significantly harder by simply increasing the volume. The Road Warrior push-up workouts — 360 reps, 500+ reps — are proof that bodyweight work alone can be brutal when the numbers go up. Apply the same principle to any series:
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Double the set count on pull-up or push-up days
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Add a second round of the MetCon
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Increase the weight on loaded movements by 10–20%
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Reduce rest intervals between sets
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Combine two training days into one session
The program provides the structure. You control the intensity.
Keep Fueling the Work
Whatever path you choose, your body still needs fuel. The demands don't decrease when you go beyond the program — they increase. Maintain the fuel stack that matches your training level, and adjust as your needs evolve.
Quick Fuel Reference by Level
|
Level |
Stack |
|---|---|
|
Beginner |
Pre-Workout or GO + Mölk + HYDRATE |
|
Intermediate |
Add Creatine + Joint Warfare |
|
Advanced |
Upgrade to Pro Series Pre + Pro Series Protein + add Magnesium |
|
Recovery |
|
|
Travel |
GO + Protein Shakes + HYDRATE packets |
For the complete breakdown, see Fuel Your Training: The Complete Guide.
The Complete Program
Here's every post in the program, in order. Bookmark this page and come back to it.
Start Here
Beginner
Intermediate
Advanced
Supplemental
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What Comes Next: Beyond the Program (you are here)
The Final Word
The program ends. The discipline doesn't. Whether you repeat the series, attack a weakness, explore kettlebells and gymnastics, or crank the volume — the principle remains the same. Show up. Do the work. Track the numbers. Beat them next time.
Don't get comfortable. Don't get complacent. Keep getting better.
Discipline equals freedom.
Inspired by the Continued Improvement and Exploration appendix of Discipline Equals Freedom: Field Manual by Jocko Willink. Adapted for jockofuel.com with fuel pairing recommendations.
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