I've written a few times in past articles about what it means to be in shape (Check the resource page and past blogs to learn more). I won't go into great detail again, but I'll give you the gist about what being fit is when speaking in terms of the tactical athlete. Being "in shape" is being prepared physically, mentally and spiritually for missions and operations. Missions have a way of putting the combat athlete in situations where a very unique set of skills are needed. Some of the unique skills needed are indeed physical. Just because you possess the skill of bench pressing 500 lbs., can run a marathon in super human time, or got really sick during your last workout doesn't mean that you are totally prepared to handle the rigors of your mission. A physically unprepared warrior will also be unprepared mentally and spiritually, and may be a liability to himself and his team.
A few weeks ago, I was working with a group of combat athletes that were doing fitness testing. One of the athletes present was an ultra-marathon runner. Believe me when I tell you, the fact that this guy is able to do something like that is absolutely amazing to me and is something I respect very much. It takes an incredible amount of mental fortitude, physical prowess and spiritual strength to finish or even compete in something like that. The only issue that I had was the fact that it became very apparent that he was not operationally ready.
The particular testing protocol that he was required to complete had been designed to determine whether or not he had the correct physiological mechanisms and potential to handle the physical needs of the job. Throughout the testing, he was required to pass strength tests, anaerobic endurance tests, explosive strength tests and an aerobic endurance test. As it turned out, he was not able to pass any of the strength, anaerobic endurance or explosive strength tests. He passed the aerobic endurance test with flying colors. Yes, he's fit, but not fit for the job.
As I said, being in shape, or fit, can have many different implications. It is important that the tactical athlete choose the correct exercise program in order to become operationally fit. The human body will adapt, we just have to be sure we're stressing it in the correct way to get the required outcome. Just because the workout is hard and you thought you might "throw up" during the workout, doesn't necessarily mean you're getting the correct training stimulus to develop the correct physiological mechanisms. It's not that easy (even though some coaches may lead you to believe that). Science is telling us something quite different. I'm not making this stuff up, it's science.
The key to all this is developing the correct physiological mechanisms. Again, science has shown us the way to develop those mechanisms. I am getting ready to launch a series of articles that will help you understand the correct way to design your programs in order to bring about the correct adaptations that you need. You are a combat athlete. You have different needs than a football player, wrestler or marathon runner. There is no such thing as a one-program-fits-all workout.
Here is a list of the topics to look out for:
- Specificity of training
- Needs analysis
- Periodization
- Undulating periodization vs. Linear periodization
Stayed tuned. I'm going to walk you through this process step-by-step and offer you ways to become the best tactical athlete that you can be.
God bless.
Mike Sanders
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