By now, you guys probably know that I’m a pretty big fan of MovNat, which is why I was ecstatic when one of MovNat’s top instructors agreed to an exclusive interview just for you. I want to introduce you to Clifton Harski, who is a MovNat Master-Level Instructor. Clifton is involved with many aspects of the MovNat mission, but he’s particularly well-known for conducting workshops around the country. In this interview, he shares a lot of great insight about the MovNat system. Enjoy! Continue reading Interview with MovNat Master Instructor – Clifton Harski
Nate Damm on the Golden Gate Bridge. (click for larger)
From sea to shining sea. That’s where one man walked, departing from Cape Henlopen State Park in Delaware and ending on Ocean Beach in San Francisco, CA. Nate Damm, a 23 year old from Maine, crossed the USA on foot, walking a total of 3400 miles in less than 8 months. He just finished on Saturday (Oct 15). I could blab on and on about what I think about such a grand adventure, but I’m going to let Nate do all the talking. It turns out that walking across America comes with a little bit of life wisdom, and Nate shares a wealth of it in this interview.
Just one thing to keep in mind: Nate offers up more than a dozen nuggets of wisdom in this interview (at least that I caught), and each one could have an entire book devoted to it. Actually, many books have been written on the subjects Nate touches on in both success and personal development literature. But Nate doesn’t beat around the bush and doesn’t need a whole volume to make his point. He just comes out and says what he’s learned in a very matter-of-fact style – sometimes in just one sentence. So, my advice to you is to take your time reading through his responses and pay attention to the way he speaks to better understand the transformation that has taken place in his life. The choice of his words will give you an inside peek into the mindset of a master.
Today, I’m very pleased to bring you an interview with Caleb (name and rank removed), who has been a friend of my family since childhood. Caleb has had a dream of becoming a Navy SEAL since he was in middle school, and has been seriously preparing for this daunting career for over a decade. Having just graduated from the United States Naval Academy with orders to arrive for the first phase of SEAL training later this year, I wanted to get together with him to discuss his preparation before he leaves.
John and Caleb atop Mt. Lafayette (June 2011).
For those who aren’t familiar with Naval Special Forces, SEAL training is the most physically demanding profession in our nation’s military (and arguably, among every military force in the world). Long, cold swims, beach runs in combat boots and BDU pants, and hours upon hours of physical training daily are just a small part of Basic Underwater Demolition SEAL school (BUD/S). Many fit, young men sign up for a chance at SEAL training and are quickly humbled, dropping out in the first several weeks. There is a very high attrition rate, no doubt, because of the extremely difficult physical conditions, among other things. Classes of over 200 may dwindle down to less than 50 in the first several weeks of training – and even fewer graduate.
Navy SEAL’s are our nation’s top special operators. These are the men who take on the work that nobody else wants to do – the work that most soldiers would consider impossible. It should go without saying that only the most committed men become Navy SEAL’s – the men who want it badly enough. This goes well beyond physical conditioning, as you will learn from Caleb in this interview.
In a speech given to the graduates of BUD/S class 224, the SOCOM Chief said:
Very few ever get to where you are today. You only graduate from BUD/S training once. It marks the completion of the toughest military training in the world. In a society where mediocrity is too often the standard, and too often rewarded, there is intense fascination with men who detest mediocrity, who refuse to define themselves in conventional terms, and who seek to transcend traditionally recognized human capabilities. This is exactly the type of person BUD/S is meant to find. The man who will find a way to complete each and every task to the best of his ability. The man who will adapt and overcome any and all obstacles. -From the Class 224 Graduation Speech Given by the SOCOM Chief
Caleb embodies this description, and has done so with humility for many years. Some would say that he was born this way, but I know the truth. Caleb has worked extremely hard to get to where he is today. This opportunity was not handed to him on a silver platter. He had to earn it, and it has taken years of hard work and many sacrifices to get to this point. In my mind, it’s only a matter of time before he becomes a Navy SEAL.
Interview with Caleb (name and rank removed) – future Navy SEAL
Caleb is a man whom we could all learn a lot from, and he shares some invaluable lessons in this candid and informative interview. Some topics covered in this interview include:
How to train like a Navy SEAL
What it really takes to have a good chance for graduating BUD/S (way beyond the minimum requirements)
The difference between conditioning and caring
Why desire is infinitely more powerful than any quantifiable fitness standard
The secret to overcoming almost any physical trial
Pickup truck fitness VS sports car fitness (or the difference between specialized and generalized training)
Insider tips for those with an interest in a career in Naval special forces
TACGYM is a program that I’ve been eagerly awaiting since I first started practicing biomechanical exercises (aka basic acrobatics) from the BodyFlow system back in 2006. Yep, that’s before TACGYM was even a thought. I guess my wish is coming true after all!
Scott Sonnon, the creator of the TACFIT Fitness System
Tactical Fitness is the next evolution in physical training for the fitness industry. In a nutshell, tactical fitness makes every element of a training program relevant to the needs and goals of the practitioner. It incorporates everything that is necessary, and only what is necessary to succeed. Thus, being “tactical” about your approach to physical activity.
Scott Sonnon is at the center of the tactical fitness revolution, and is spear-heading the message with his TACFIT system.
I’ve been training under Scott’s guidance since 2006, and interviewed him all about his Circular Strength Training system (CST) in the past (interviews: part 1, part 2).
This interview is all about TACFIT, which is an outgrowth of the CST system. In this interview, you’ll learn all about the background behind TACFIT, some of the theory behind it’s development and design, along with how to get started with TACFIT today.
In essence, TACFIT embodies all of the most valuable aspects of CST (health-first fitness, incremental progression, injury-prevention, etc.) and applies them to specific training goals. It’s an example of the most direct application of CST.
I think TACFIT is a very valuable addition to the RMAX curriculum because CST is such a broad and deep system, and it’s easy to get lost amongst all the information. TACFIT provides answers and directions, with clear action steps for how to achieve specific physical goals.
OK, I’ve blabbed long enough. Check out the interview with Scott below, and get ready for a taste of the depth behind the TACFIT system.
Interview with Scott Sonnon about the TACFIT “Tactical Fitness” System (40 min)
Below, you’ll find an interview with my friend, Shane Heins, who is a CST Head Coach and an expert in clubbell training. I had hoped to get him on the phone for 20-30 minutes to answer the most common questions about clubbell training for building muscle. What actually [...]
Last week, I had the opportunity to interview Barefoot Ken Bob Saxton about barefoot running, but also about all aspects of going barefoot. To say I was surprised by the sheer volume of wisdom he shared in our 1+ hour conversation would be an understatement. My expectations were blown out of the water as [...]
