In 2003 I had the pleasure to be part of the NCAA Men's Ice Hockey National Championship while at the University of Denver. As a team, we were invited to the White House to meet President Bush and celebrate our victory. As you can imagine, we were all extremely excited by the opportunity to see the White House (from the inside) and meet the commander-in-chief. As it turned out, we were scheduled to meet the president in the afternoon in one of the secured rooms. We were there early and were able to walk around to some of the rooms in the White House. One of the rooms we were allowed into was a library that had a glass case that contained George Washington's sword. Long story short, we met the president (I got to shake his hand and almost ran over our goalie to get to him) and had a little press conference in which we gave President Bush a hockey jersey.
After we left the White House, we were let out on our own to see the sites. It would be getting dark soon, and the general advice for tourists in Washington, D.C. is to stay away from the National Mall after dark. We decided not to listen to this advice because we had about 15 hockey players, trainers, equipment managers and strength coaches and felt pretty safe. We ended up walking to every monument that night. We went to the Vietnam Wall, the World War II monument, the Washington Monument, etc. The next day we were able to go to Arlington Cemetery and got to see the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
As we were walking, checking out the sites, something started eating away at me. I can't really explain the feeling I was experiencing, but the longer we walked and the more I saw, the stronger this haunting feeling began to grow in me. I started to realize that I had feelings of exhilaration and depression, feelings of sadness and happiness, and feelings of remorse and even some guilt. The monuments really got me thinking about the amount of selfless sacrifice that American citizens have put forth in order for the rest of us to enjoy the freedoms and the things we enjoy. Most Americans don't even realize how blessed we are to have the freedom's we have. Worse yet, many Americans complain and don't truly appreciate our fortune.
I started to think to myself, "I have done nothing with my life. What am I doing to deserve the freedoms I enjoy? What am I doing to pay back the people that sacrificed so much?" This got me thinking about making career changes. I thought about following in my father-in-law's footsteps and becoming a fire fighter. Maybe I could join the military or become a police officer. It's something that I wrestled with a lot over a few years but couldn't pull myself away from what I enjoy so much, exercise science.
Two years later, my wife and I were back in D.C. for a conference. I couldn't wait to take her around during our downtime and show her the sites. This time we went during the day, a smarter idea. Again, we went to the Vietnam wall, Arlington, Lincoln's Monument, etc. We had been walking all over D.C. for most of the day and decided to head back to the hotel after getting something to eat. I wanted to stop at the WWII Monument one more time before we went back. As I stood there, I looked over and saw this little old man standing up top leaning over the railing of the monument. With his service hat on his head, he just stood there looking out at the water. I wondered what he was thinking as he looked. This is the same reflection pool that, in my opinion, represents the tranquility that we were blessed with after so much violence, bloodshed and sacrifice that occurred during the war. This tranquility was being disrespected and stomped all over by people who were running around in the water and ignoring the signs that asks otherwise. I was greatly angered by these people and their lack of respect and understanding for what our citizens have been through; I wondered what the little guy must be thinking as he watched these people disrespect what his monument stood for.
I walked up to this little old man and asked him if he had served. "Yes," he answered. I thanked him for his service and asked him what branch of the military he was part of. He began explaining to me that he was stationed on a ship during the war and was part of a major battle against the Japanese in which fellow country men and friends were lost. Then he began to get teary eyed and said that he knew the bomb (atom bomb) was a terrible thing, but there were a lot of people that breathed a sigh of relief the day it was dropped because they all felt the end of the war was near.
I asked him if I could take a picture with him, shook his hand, thanked him for his time and walked away. As I walked away, I commented to my wife that that little guy deserves so much more than what he has been given. He deserves more money, medals, thanks, appreciation, love, respect, etc. He deserves more!
Again, I began to think about how I could help. How could I give something back?
Fast forward a couple years. I began thinking of ways that I could take the talents that I already had and began thinking about how I could offer them to our police and military. I thought it would be great to take exercise science and research and design exercise protocols for tactical athletes. I voiced my thoughts to my friend and co-founder of Tactical Physiology Associates, Mark Stephenson. Mark had already been involved in working with tactical athletes and suggested that we take our expertise and start a website. Lo and behold, TACSOF was born.
Thanks to all that sacrifice so much for our country and our freedoms, both currently and in the past. You put yourselves on the line for the rest of us, and just know that there are people who appreciate all your sweat, blood and tears. It is my goal to do what I can to help you all become the best warriors that you can be.
God bless,
Mike Sanders
January 14, 2009
January 05, 2009
FAITH FOR WARRIORS
THOUGHT FOR NOW...UNTIL NEXT TIME.
One of my daily goals is to get up a little early before work and read the bible. I find it a good way to start my day. This morning I was reading in Luke 21: 1-4. The passage is as follows:
"As he looked up, Jesus saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. "I tell you the truth," he said, "this poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on."
As I was jumping rope this morning I was thinking about that passage and also about my stage in life when something came to me. As I was contemplating this passage, I started to think about it in a different way. The passage talks about a widow who is giving a small amount of money to God. The passage suggests that she is poor and doesn't have much to give. Jesus appreciated the fact that she was giving everything she had even though, to the outside world, it didn't look like much. I started thinking about this, not in monetary terms, but rather it terms of talents.
We all have talents. These talents were given to us by God. Many of us may believe that our talents are nothing special, and that we can't have an impact on helping others for the glory of God. God thinks differently. God's goal for us all is to live to our full potential. It's up to us, with His guidance and help, to be the best we can be for His glory. We're here to love and help each other grow. Every one of us has something to offer others. It is our duty as human beings to offer up our talents for the betterment of the world.
None of us is better or worse than anyone else. When we compare ourselves to others, one of two things happen: we either think we're better than someone else or we feel inferior to them. We all need each other, and we need to learn to depend on each other. That way we grow through each other for the glory of God.
That's my thought for now...until next time.
One of my daily goals is to get up a little early before work and read the bible. I find it a good way to start my day. This morning I was reading in Luke 21: 1-4. The passage is as follows:
"As he looked up, Jesus saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. "I tell you the truth," he said, "this poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on."
As I was jumping rope this morning I was thinking about that passage and also about my stage in life when something came to me. As I was contemplating this passage, I started to think about it in a different way. The passage talks about a widow who is giving a small amount of money to God. The passage suggests that she is poor and doesn't have much to give. Jesus appreciated the fact that she was giving everything she had even though, to the outside world, it didn't look like much. I started thinking about this, not in monetary terms, but rather it terms of talents.
We all have talents. These talents were given to us by God. Many of us may believe that our talents are nothing special, and that we can't have an impact on helping others for the glory of God. God thinks differently. God's goal for us all is to live to our full potential. It's up to us, with His guidance and help, to be the best we can be for His glory. We're here to love and help each other grow. Every one of us has something to offer others. It is our duty as human beings to offer up our talents for the betterment of the world.
None of us is better or worse than anyone else. When we compare ourselves to others, one of two things happen: we either think we're better than someone else or we feel inferior to them. We all need each other, and we need to learn to depend on each other. That way we grow through each other for the glory of God.
That's my thought for now...until next time.
November 17, 2008
Welcome to TACSOF.com!!! We're extremely excited at the opportunity to bring military and law enforcement professionals the latest in fitness, nutrition and injury prevention. TACSOF is an ancronym for Tactical Special Operations Fitness. The goal of this website is to educate tactical athletes with the latest science from the world of strength and conditioning. It is our policy to offer no-nonsense, scientifically based programming and theory to you. Our team consists of leading experts in the field of strength and conditioning who are commited to helping tactical athletes develop their bodies and minds.
Until recently, the world of strength and conditioning has mainly been something that high school, collegiate and professional athletes have had available to them. S & C is designed to prepare the athlete physically and ensure that they are better able to handle the stress that is placed on them through their respective sport. We believe that this should be brought to the doorsteps of law enforement agencies and military. Recently, I was speaking to a S.W.A.T. officer who commented that he viewed himself and his fellow officers as professional athletes. I commented back that I could not agree with him more. The biggest difference between the law enforcement indvidual and the college hockey player are the stakes involved. When you lose at hockey you pick yourself back up and do better next time. In many cases, military and law enforcement individuals do not have this luxury. I know the science available in strength and conditioning can be applied to law enforcement and military to improve the tactical operations they perform. It is our goal to make that information available to you.
Which brings us to some of the topics we'll cover. We're going to cover topics such as, Olympic Lifting, Power lifting, anaerobic vs. aerobic conditioining, injury prevention and care, nutrition, human power, human strength, etc. We're going to talk about what it takes for you to be in shape and prepared for what you do.
The definition of being "in shape" can range in many ways. What is being "in shape" and what does it take for an individual to attain it? Being "in shape" is being prepared mentally, physically and spiritually for what is is that an individual is being challenged with. In other words, if you are a long distance runner and you train properly for it, it doesn't take a genius to figure you're going to get better at running a marathon. On the other hand, if you are a strongman competitor and spend your time carry and lifting heavy objects, your going to get really good at carrying and lifting heavy objects, but you have to stress your body the correct way in order to improve physically. Conversely, if you are a S.W.A.T. officer or Special Operations Operator , you have a whole different set of needs that are much more complex compared to the marathon runner and strongman, so you better train the proper way in order to get ready for your operations.
With that said, TACSOF will be a source to explain the different aspects of tactical preparedness. Thanks for visiting. Please check the website for more information and start getting yourself ready to develop your body so that you can use speed, diversion and surprise to make the world a safer place.
Thanks for all that you do. God bless.
Mike Sanders
Until recently, the world of strength and conditioning has mainly been something that high school, collegiate and professional athletes have had available to them. S & C is designed to prepare the athlete physically and ensure that they are better able to handle the stress that is placed on them through their respective sport. We believe that this should be brought to the doorsteps of law enforement agencies and military. Recently, I was speaking to a S.W.A.T. officer who commented that he viewed himself and his fellow officers as professional athletes. I commented back that I could not agree with him more. The biggest difference between the law enforcement indvidual and the college hockey player are the stakes involved. When you lose at hockey you pick yourself back up and do better next time. In many cases, military and law enforcement individuals do not have this luxury. I know the science available in strength and conditioning can be applied to law enforcement and military to improve the tactical operations they perform. It is our goal to make that information available to you.
Which brings us to some of the topics we'll cover. We're going to cover topics such as, Olympic Lifting, Power lifting, anaerobic vs. aerobic conditioining, injury prevention and care, nutrition, human power, human strength, etc. We're going to talk about what it takes for you to be in shape and prepared for what you do.
The definition of being "in shape" can range in many ways. What is being "in shape" and what does it take for an individual to attain it? Being "in shape" is being prepared mentally, physically and spiritually for what is is that an individual is being challenged with. In other words, if you are a long distance runner and you train properly for it, it doesn't take a genius to figure you're going to get better at running a marathon. On the other hand, if you are a strongman competitor and spend your time carry and lifting heavy objects, your going to get really good at carrying and lifting heavy objects, but you have to stress your body the correct way in order to improve physically. Conversely, if you are a S.W.A.T. officer or Special Operations Operator , you have a whole different set of needs that are much more complex compared to the marathon runner and strongman, so you better train the proper way in order to get ready for your operations.
With that said, TACSOF will be a source to explain the different aspects of tactical preparedness. Thanks for visiting. Please check the website for more information and start getting yourself ready to develop your body so that you can use speed, diversion and surprise to make the world a safer place.
Thanks for all that you do. God bless.
Mike Sanders
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