Stew Smith Fitness News

Weird Names But Fun and Effective Challenges(Push Perceived LImits / Even Tap Into Mental Toughness) One thing these type of workouts do is make you dig deep and ask yourself, how bad do you want to finish this 10 minute test? Expand them to 15 or 20 minutes and you are taking this challenge to the next level. Check out these three fun challenges that sound much tougher than they are.  Anytime someone names a workout and uses the word "death" in it, it has a way of turning people off for some reason. (?) In reality the three rather...

Seasonal Tactical Fitness Periodization Options- Spring / Summer Season Options - Spring and Summer Cycles tend to focus more on calisthenics and cardio with some supplemental lifts placed into the progressive running plan.    2019-2020 Cycle vs 2021 & 2022 Cycle Seasonal Tactical Fitness Periodization vs Seasonal TF Block Periodization The workouts above are similar with a slight difference in the way they supplement adding weight training strength maintenance into a challenging progression of calisthenics, running, swimming, and rucking (aka military cardio).  Both have a steadily progressing mix of calisthenics and running, swimming, and rucking too, but the way the added...

Tactical Groundhog Week = Assessment Week When going from the Winter Lift Cycle when you focused more on strength / power / speed / agility, you should assess yourself as the time toward Spring gets closer and closer. Your scores may justify another 3:1 cycle of lifting depending where your strengths and weaknesses are after such a week of testing.  Here is what we are doing prior to making the switch to Spring / Summer Cals / Cardio / Running Progression Cycle: Day 1:  Your Fitness Test - For instance, the PST / IFT Test (500yd or 500m swim, pullups, pushups,...

Winter Bulking Season is Over!  Time to Make a Change Spring is just around the corner and if you purposely went on a Winter Lift Cycle and added some needed mass or by "accident" you picked up some extra weight being less active than normal, it is time.  Time for a change of pace. Every year for the past 23 years, our Winter lift cycle and blossomed into a Spring Training Cycle where we shift from heavier weights and less running to more calisthenics / less weights, and a running progression that peaks in the late Summer / Early Fall. ...

3 Weeks Cals / Cardio Focus with 1 Week Strength(deload from running miles - high reps) Focus New Spring Training Version of the 3:1 Block Periodization System similar to the Increase Strength and Crush the PST / IFT Winter Lift Cycle just completely opposite.  This Spring Summer Training program has a 3 week cycle of progressively more difficult Calisthenics and Cardio focusing on muscle stamina and endurance (PST plus Longer Timed run, rucks, swim) with a 1 week strength / running / high repetition deload.  This program is four cycles of these 4 week (3:1) progressive sets for a total...