Benchmark WOD

Josh

The Workout

For Time: 21 Overhead Squats (95/65 lb), 42 Pull-Ups, 15 Overhead Squats, 30 Pull-Ups, 9 Overhead Squats, 18 Pull-Ups.

Primary movement: OHS/Pullups

What is Josh?

Josh honors Army Staff Sergeant Joshua Hager, killed in Iraq in 2007. The structure is a double descending ladder: 45 overhead squats and 90 pull-ups, alternating in shrinking sets. The overhead squat at 95/65 is light but demands a stable, locked-out shoulder - the exact thing 90 pull-ups steadily destroy. As grip and lats fatigue, holding the bar overhead becomes the real test. Josh rewards athletes whose overhead position survives when their pulling muscles are gone.

What is a good Josh time?

Level (Time)MenWomen
beginner22:00+24:00+
intermediate16:0017:30
advanced11:0012:30
elitesub 8:00sub 9:00

Tips & Strategy

Go unbroken on the OHS sets if at all possible - putting the bar down means snatching it back up with tired shoulders. Break the pull-ups early and often: 42 as 12-10-10-10, 30 as 10-10-10, 18 as 10-8. Grip is the shared currency between both movements; relax your hands on the squats (the bar rests on your palm heels) and chalk between sets. Keep an aggressive lockout with active shoulders on every squat rep - the moment elbows soften, the set is over.

Scaled & Beginner Versions

Scaled: 65/45 lb overhead squats and banded pull-ups or ring rows, same rep scheme. If overhead mobility is the limiter, front squats preserve the leg stimulus.

Track your Josh PR

Log every result, see your progress over time, and know exactly where you stand.