I tried Miles Teller's Top Gun bodyweight workout — here's what happened

a photo of miles teller
(Image credit: Instagram/topgunmovie/Getty/ Joseph Okpako / Contributor)

I don’t know about you, but one of my priorities when traveling is to fit in a good workout the day I arrive — research has found evidence that exercise can help negate the negative effects of jetlag or shift work. As I looked for inspiration for a bodyweight circuit to do in the (slightly limited) hotel gym on a recent trip to New York, I stumbled upon Miles Teller’s Top Gun bodyweight workout, so I unrolled an exercise mat and gave it a go. 

Miles Teller stars in the new Top Gun: Maverick film alongside Tom Cruise. The film was highly delayed due to Covid and was actually shot pre-2019, so Teller was able to bulk up for his role as Bradley ‘Rooster’ Bradshaw the traditional way — lots of time in the gym with a personal trainer. Teller trained with Jason Walsh, a PT with a phonebook full of Hollywood clients, including the likes of Matt Damon and Brie Larson (here’s what happened when I tried Brie Larson’s Captain Marvel workout). 

That said, in an interview with Men’s Health, Teller revealed the bodyweight workout he does when he’s on the move. In fact, he’s currently on location in Australia for Spiderhead with Chris Hemsworth, who is also a fan of a bodyweight circuit (here’s what happened when I put Hemsworth’s bodyweight workout to the test).

Read on to find out what happened when I tried Teller’s circuit, which can be done from just about anywhere. 

Of course, it goes without saying, what works for Teller might not work for you. While this circuit can be adapted for beginners (try completing fewer reps or only do the circuit once through), if you’re totally new to the exercises themselves, it’s worth asking a PT to check your form to ensure you’re not putting yourself at risk of injury. 

What is Miles Teller’s bodyweight workout? 

Ready to get started? Here’s the workout: 

Warmup run: 800 meters
Flutter kicks: 40 reps
Bench dips: 20 reps
Bodyweight squats: 20 reps
Feet-elevated push ups: 25 reps
Alternating reverse lunges: 25 reps 

Complete the circuit two or three times through to get the full Top Gun experience. 

I tried Miles Teller’s bodyweight workout — here’s what happened 

As I’ve already mentioned, I’m no stranger to a weird workout challenge — you can find out what happened when I did 100 deadbugs a day for a week, or added a plank to my morning routine here, but after an early start and a day of traveling, I wasn’t sure what to expect with this one.

This Miles Teller workout is a great reminder that you don’t need tons of equipment or a fancy gym membership to get a great workout in.

The hotel gym had everything I needed for this workout — a treadmill, a bench, and an exercise mat. This could easily be adapted to a home workout by swapping the run for a 10-minute cycle on one of the best exercise bikes, or heading out for a run before doing the rest of the workout in your garden using a step or a wall for the bench dips. 

After the 800m run, I got stuck into the bodyweight section of the workout and pushed myself to get through the exercises as quickly as possible, without compromising my form. As I’ve mentioned in workout stories before, I suffer from sciatica after a horse riding accident in my teens, so have to be mindful of my lower back in a lot of ab exercises. For the flutter kicks, I kept my legs at a 45-degree angle, rather than allowing them to drop too low to the floor. 

The bench dips and bodyweight squats got my heart rate up, before the elevated press-ups really torched my upper body. I’m not a fan of push-ups at the best of times, but raising my feet onto a bench made the move even harder. Obviously, if you’re a beginner, these could easily be swapped out for a push-up on your knees — here’s how to do a push-up, the benefits, and how to modify the exercise.

After the reverse lunges (here’s what happened when I did 100 lunges a day for a week), I went straight back into a second circuit, including the run to keep my heart rate raised, and then went for a third. After three circuits I finished with a gentle stretch.

The entire workout took me about 30 minutes (although this would have been shorter if I hadn’t repeated the warm-up each time) — I worked up a sweat and felt great afterward. While it won’t be for everyone, it’s a great reminder that you don’t need tons of equipment or a fancy gym membership to get a great workout in. I’ll definitely be doing this one again, although preferably without the jet lag next time. 

TOPICS
Jane McGuire
Fitness editor

Jane McGuire is Tom's Guide's Fitness editor, which means she looks after everything fitness related - from running gear to yoga mats. An avid runner, Jane has tested and reviewed fitness products for the past five years, so knows what to look for when finding a good running watch or a pair of shorts with pockets big enough for your smartphone. When she's not pounding the pavements, you'll find Jane striding round the Surrey Hills, taking far too many photos of her puppy. 

Read more
Man holding one of the best kettlebells up to his shoulder using left arm against a grey backdrop
I tried this 4-move kettlebell workout to build full-body strength — here's what happened to my body
a photo of a woman doing a bear crawl exercise
Skip the treadmill — try this 5-move bodyweight workout to build endurance and boost your metabolism instead
a woman performing a dumbbell squat in an empty gymspace
I ditched the gym for this 25-minute dumbbell workout — here's what happened to my body
Man doing a sit-up
I didn’t want to do this 8-minute workout but I’m glad I did — here’s what happened to my abs
a photo of a woman doing mountain climbers
You don't need squats or lunges — I tried this 30-minute standing HIIT workout, and here's what happened to my body
woman doing plank exercise
Who needs weights? This bodyweight workout strengthens your whole body in 20 minutes
Latest in Fitness
a person with muscular calves running
Physio says runners need these 3 calf strength variations in their training — here’s why I’m finally listening
a photo of a woman doing a plank outside
I did 70 walking plank push-ups every day for one week — here’s what happened to my upper body
Adidas sneakers in front of a wall
Mega Adidas sale is live from $8 at Amazon — 21 deals I’d buy now on sneakers and apparel
Walking workout man and woman walking up stairs
I'm a personal trainer — these are my 3 'non-negotiables' for building mental stamina
high angle view of young sportsman with bare chest doing abs exercise on fitness ball at gym
I did this 7-minute abs workout that makes you stick to the beat — here's what happened to my core
Woman walking on the WalkingPad Z1
Quick! This popular WalkingPad treadmill is $96 off ahead of Amazon's Big Spring Sale
Latest in News
Apple Watch Ultra 2
Apple Watch Ultra 3 just tipped for two major upgrades
NYTimes Connections
NYT Connections today hints and answers — Tuesday, March 25 (#653)
A first look at Amazon's Fallout TV series coming to Prime Video
‘Fallout’ season 3 plans are reportedly being made — while season 2 is still filming
Surface Laptop 7 from the front
Amazon just gave Surface Laptop 7 a 'frequently returned' label — here's what's going on
New emojis with iOS 18.4 beta release.
iOS 18.4 beta brings 8 new emoji to your iPhone — here's all the new options
23andME box
23andMe has declared bankruptcy — here's how to delete your data now