Stew Smith Fitness News

Your Athletic History Determines How You Should Train for Special Ops Selection: A Guide for Former Athletes  If you are a former athlete setting your sights on a special ops selection program, you're likely finding the prospect both motivating and daunting - especially before you start your training and do your research on your future career. The challenge lies not just in excelling at one or two athletic events, but in mastering a comprehensive range such as —endurance (run, ruck, swim), strength, power, speed, pace, agility, muscle stamina, flexibility, mobility, and grip. While your athletic background offers a valuable foundation,...

DUDE - You are NOT in Swimming Shape You may be able to run or ruck for days or play high-speed sports, but when you are new to swimming - stand by.  It takes time first to learn the technique and then get into swimming shape - maybe months.  Every week a new athlete joins my local training group seeking to improve his/her PST scores.  We teach the basic Combat Swimmer Stroke and fix the typical (any not so typical) errors with this military / spec ops swim stroke.  For consistency purposes, I am speaking about a 25 yd pool...

Running Programming is NOT One Size Fits All If you're looking to improve your running for military special ops training, you've come to the right place. Running is a vital component of the physical demands of special ops, and it's essential to be well-prepared for the variety of running challenges you'll face.First and foremost, mastering sprinting and agility is crucial for navigating the short obstacle courses you'll encounter during your training. Incorporate a mix of sprinting and agility drills into your training regimen to improve your speed, quickness, and coordination. Additionally, incorporate grip training exercises to ensure you have the...

Don't Short-Sight Your Spec Ops Preparation or You May Be Another Attrition Statistic Photo by D McBurnett - www.dmcburnett.com or McTeams3842 It is no secret that attrition rates are historically high among the Special Ops units across the military and SWAT Teams. Becoming a tactical athlete is a requirement for any tactical profession, as the job tends to be physically demanding, and the members are placed in dangerous situations. Life-or-death situations are common in the tactical professions (military, police, firefighters, EMT), and your fitness level may be THE determining factor in someone (or you) living or dying. So, fitness and your ability...

Military, Police, Fire Fighters… Learn to Treat Yourself Like an Athlete Back in the 90’s, before there were terms like “tactical fitness” or “tactical athlete”, I remember stating that one of the biggest problems in the public service (tactical) communities is few consider themselves athletes, nor do they come close to treating their bodies like an athlete would. Obviously, you do not have to be an athlete when serving your country or community. However, taking care of your health, wellness, and ensuring your physical abilities are up to being able to do your job and successfully recover from the personal,...