If you've seen Divergent already (or even just the promos), you know that Shailene Woodley is one fit and powerful star. So it's no surprise that she and the rest of the actors went through an insane training regimen to shape up for their roles.
Shailene and the other actors trained with fight coordinator J.J. Perry for a month before filming even began. He instructed them to do 20 minutes of cardio first thing in the morning at their hotel gym (so basically, you have no excuse not to stay fit while traveling—you might see a celeb at the fitness center!). Then Perry had them spend three hours a day working out and learning the fight choreography.
Sounds intense, right? Here's a closer look at how those three hours broke down:
The Warm-Up
First, Shailene and the others warmed up with light jogging and stretching. Then they did four three-minute rounds of jump rope, which was great prep for the fighting footwork they would be doing next.
Martial Arts
Shailene's martial arts training consisted of striking, hitting punching bags, low kicks, and other fight choreography. "Shailene had to fight more than anyone in the movie," says Perry. "And we were detailing her striking work because it needed to look like there was a progression in the movie [as she got better]."
Strength Training: Legs and Abs
Perry had the actors do the strength-training portions of their workouts together to mimic the fact that they were a class of new recruits in the movie. "I made it like a basic training," says Perry. For legs they did squats while standing back-to-back and linking arms. Then they did squat kicks and low kicks and were instructed to aim within one foot of their partner. "It teaches you that when you get fatigued, you need to still not hit each other," says Perry. Crunches also became a team activity, as Perry would have them link legs or face a partner in a sit-up chain. And of course, no workout would be complete with plenty of burpees.
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Strength Training: Arms
For arms, Shailene did pushups (including several variations of pushups) and as many pullups as possible. "We put her in the 'up position' in the beginning and had her hold it as long as she could, then let herself down slowly," says Perry. "Then she developed the strength to do the pullups. (That smart strategy is the same one featured in our six-week chinup challenge!) And of course, Shailene rocked those pullups. "Her work ethic is what got her through it, and I was not easy on them," says Perry.
So how did our girl Shailene do overall? "Out of everyone, she worked the hardest," says Perry. "She had a long way to go to get there and she went there—and went a little further than the rest of them." All we have to say is, we're insanely impressed!
MORE: Shailene Woodley's Inspiring Attitude About Food
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