Today I have a guest post from a guy who is known as The Infopreneur. A pretty smart brand name if I should say so myself, but what’s NOT known is that because of his intensity, he could be my better cousin. James Richmond is a 28 year old family man from the UK and has served 10 years in the military as a physical training instructor. This guy works his ass off, is totally real and has got an attitude that only my readers would adore… So it was only natural for me to see if he wanted to do a little guest post. Well, you don’t say no to FJ, so here’s James with his military know-how. Enjoy!
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I’ve been a big fan of FitJerk for a while now – awesome information in a chill environment. My background in physical training isn’t relaxed because I spent 10 years in the military. As a Physical Training Instructor I have trained and worked with some of the fittest, bravest troops (men and women) in the world.
I have been responsible for training ‘elite’ units and insanely fit teams, most of this training was constructive part of a long term training plan. I say ‘most’ because every now and again I would spring ‘The Right of Passage’ upon them.
It comprises of certain aspects and would last on average about 3 hours, but it would be down to to me to say how long we should go for. This session isn’t designed to hurt someone, it’s designed to break them or make them. Mentally and physically exhausting, but that’s the point, the ones who give it everything and finish it, take that with them. Those who fail, fail!
The Right Of Passage Using A Plastic Destroyer
This kind of conjures up images of some planet destroying weapon, yet it’s smaller than a box of matches. The plastic destroyer is a whistle. The ‘Right of Passage’ would start with a brief from me to the troops, after they had done their rolling warm up on the way to the training field and would simple be this ‘If you finish, you can tell people, if you fail, you need to tell yourself’.
No mention of how long the session would be and I would describe what they were to do on each of the whistle blasts. 1st whistle they start running up the hill, next whistle blast they hit the deck and crawl up the hill, next up and running next crawling. I’ve been through this myself plenty of times and it hurts, big time! The hill is about 2-300 hundred metres long and of the gradient you need to learn forward while you’re walking.
So first whistle blast and they set off, fast as hell I let them go about 10 metres or so, then hit them with another blast, they start crawling forward as if under fire, belly on the floor. Now the details vary a bit, but the whistle doesn’t stop until everyone gets to the top, the one’s who do get to the top first, then crawl back down to get the stragglers at the back and motivate them to the top.
It’s relentless, no breaks for water, nothing. It get’s to the point where you can actually see people going backwards down the hill. Cold, wet, tired and in pain it’s one of those session you want to end. When your up and running, it takes that much effort to get up and shift your heavy combats up that hill you pray for another whistle. When that whistle comes and you hit the deck, you immediately start praying for another one because you literally can’t lift your arms or legs, plus you know that you can run faster than crawling so you will get to the top quicker.
What never ever went through my mind is stopping and giving up, in fact that’s not true – I constantly thought about it, but giving up and being beaten by a whistle is ridiculous. Think about it, having to go and speak to your mates who had finished the session and say ‘I failed because a whistle beat me’ Looking at exercise and life in a simple way makes it easier to complete.
For instance, I used to train and run the ultra marathon team, I used to talk about how to deal with the ‘wall’. I did a 54 mile Ultra Marathon, just to see if we could do it and I hit 3 ‘walls’ during that run. The way I got over that every time is to look at my watch and think of the run in terms of minutes and hours not miles. I wasn’t about to let a $25 dollar fake watch beat me, the bloody thing is never right and was on it’s tenth strap so I for one wasn’t about to be beaten by something so weak!
Next time you go for that extra dip, or rep on the bench, just think about the weight plate beating you and telling all the other plates you are weak. Next time you take on something in your life in which you think, it’s just too difficult, I can’t do it, remember my rubbish pathetic watch and that little plastic whistle! Life is actually really easy, it’s only you that makes it complicated.
- James Richmond | The Infopreneur
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Nice. I like the way he combined an actual routine that you can do with a buddy with something motivational. In fact, I share this similarity when I’m working out. Let’s say there is a new weight I need to lift (because it’s all about progress) and I feel a little hesitant. I mean I shouldn’t… I have a spotter, I know I’m fully recovered and I know I’ll be strong enough, but it’s the unknown that triggers fear – even if it’s a small fear.
All I do is look at those heavy ass dumbbells and whisper “I’m gona make you my 2 little bitches!” … and I go on to destroy that set. This mind over matter technique goes way beyond the gym – it can be a way you go through LIFE. Use it!
- FitJerk
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This post was mentioned on Twitter by FitJerk: New Article: A Military Workout – The Right Of Passage http://flawlessfitnessbook.com/blog/a-military-workout-the-right-of-passage/…
[...] wall. like i really wanted to quit. but hell no, i'm NOT going down without a fight. NEVER. it's mind over matter (thanks, fj's guest poster for inspiring words. i did not lose to the jumprope) i may not be a [...]