A few days ago, I had the opportunity to get on the phone with the creators of the new TACFIT Firefighter Program. Christian Carson and Ryan Provencher have been hard at work on this product for two years now, and the program has actually been in development for much longer than [...]]]>

Christian Carson

A few days ago, I had the opportunity to get on the phone with the creators of the new TACFIT Firefighter Program. Christian Carson and Ryan Provencher have been hard at work on this product for two years now, and the program has actually been in development for much longer than that. To say that I was impressed with their candor and knowledge would be an understatement. These guys are the real deal, and I’m going to go out on a limb when I say that TACFIT Firefighter is going to revolutionize the methods that firefighters in this nation, and around the world, use to maintain a high level of fitness year round – fitness that requires them to be ready to perform at a moment’s notice.

Ryan Provencher

Even after only a few minutes on the phone, it was obvious how deep of an understanding each of these men has of fitness training, and more specifically, how it pertains to firefighters and those in similar professions. These guys are able to break down complex ideas and explain them in layman’s terms, and their program operates in much the same way. I’ve had a chance to preview the materials and try out one of the workouts, and let me tell you, this is some sophisticated program design, but the way it has been presented couldn’t make it easier to follow on a day to day basis.

Anyways, I could talk on and on about how impressed I was, but I’ll quit blabbing and let you listen to THEM.

What’s Inside The TACFIT Firefighter Interview

The main theme of this interview was explaining the philosophy and methods of the TACFIT Firefighter Program, but there is so much more than that contained in this interview. Once you’ve listened to this, you will have received a barrage of training ideas, and “aha” moments that will make you reevaluate your exercise habits. But like I said before, this was primarily about the program itself, and the ultimate goal of this interview was to help you learn exactly what is is so that you can figure out if it’s suitable for your needs and goals.

Christian and Ryan made it very clear that TACFIT Firefighter was created specifically for the vocational needs of active duty firefighters, but also that those with general fitness goals could still find value and enjoyment from their program. So, it was my goal to get to the bottom of what TACFIT Firefighter actually involves. By the end of this interview, I want you to know whether this program is right for you or not.

You’re also going to learn a lot about training, too. One of the common themes was aligning every aspect of your training program with your actual day-to-day needs and goals – making sure that nothing is extraneous. It was all about specificity in a training program, and there are a lot of nuggets of wisdom that you could miss if you’re not paying attention and looking out for them.

Anyways, I’m going to shutup now – for real this time. You’re just going to have to listen to get the rest. There are too many goodies in this interview to miss out on – listen in now!

Note: this is one of the longest interviews I’ve ever done. We just couldn’t stop chatting. The info was so good!

Interview with Christian Carson and Ryan Provencher About TACFIT Firefighter (84 Minutes in Length)

I want to thank both Christian and Ryan again for doing this interview, and for also being committed to the important, yet sometimes overlooked, cause of firefighter fitness. It was an pleasure to learn from them, and I hope you got as much value out of it as I did.

1) Click Here to Read My Full TACFIT Firefighter Product Review

2) Click Here To Claim Your FREE Gift When You Order TACFIT Firefighter ($41 Off Until Monday, March 5 at midnight)

**Be sure not to miss out on the special launch discount (30% off until Monday, March 5 at midnight PST). Also, see below for instructions on how to claim a free gift from yours truly if you do decide to invest in TACFIT Firefighter today.**

Note: If you order through my referral link, please send me a copy of your receipt and I’ll send you a free gift: The TACGYM Double Leg Swoop Coaching Video (a great exercise for strengthening the core muscles, and releasing tension in and around the hips and lower back – 11 minute instructional video in WMV format). After you’ve placed your order through my referral link, just forward your confirmation email containing your receipt to physical (dot) living [at] gmail (dot) com and I’ll reply with your free gift. Thank you for supporting PhysicalLiving.com!

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P.S. My full product review is forthcoming, and should be available in time for when the product goes live – just in case you still have any questions. There might also be a little bonus, too, for anyone who does decide to invest in the program during the launch this weekend.

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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 [...]]]>

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!

John: Can you tell us a little bit about yourself including your background in athletics and fitness and also what you do today?

Clifton: I grew up playing lots of traditional sports in all corners of the world – karate, gymnastics, basketball, soccer, cricket, etc. and also just played/explored as well through hikes, playing tag, hide and seek. I didn’t grow up playing video games basically! I managed to be named the athlete of the year in my high school, and went on to play a little junior college basketball. I got my degree in Kinesiology in 2005, but didn’t start really working in the fitness industry until 2009 (I managed at Trader Joes for 5 years). I feel this is an advantage because I tried out TONS of training methodologies and learned from all of them instead of pigeon holing myself into one specialty. In 2010, faced with the potential of being the top manager at a store, I decided to quit my management position and go for it in the fitness industry. I gathered letters to put after my name, ACE PT, RKC, UAC360 combine trainer, and CF level 1 to add to my degree in Kinesiology. I also attended a 5 day MovNat workshop in the summer of 2010.

What drew you to MovNat originally, and what happened to you in West Virginia in the summer of 2010?

Initially I was made aware of MovNat through a Mens Health article I had read. It sounded really intriguing and so I decided that if I had the opportunity to try it, I would. Well, I looked online and 1 spot was left so I committed to it, and it worked out pretty well I think! As far as what happened to me, it was another evolution of how I saw what training could be. The first evolution was from reductionist bodybuilding type training into so called “functional” training. This took it another step by challenging your movement competency in new situations. That really had me intrigued.

In your own words, what is MovNat?

MovNat is a real-world movement competence coaching and training system where we define fitness on what your body can do. I and we believe that the human body is designed to function in other places than just the gym.

Given your background in CrossFit, how does MovNat differ from that system, and do they share any similarities?

I don’t really have an extensive background in CF. I have my cert, but I wouldn’t be the first in admitting that having the cert doesn’t mean a whole lot (I still really do respect the original CF ideas and methods, but the lack of quality control and emphasis on asskicking don’t resonate with me). I believe they are similar in that both MovNat and CF seek to develop a more comprehensive physical being, but the two systems divert in that CF focuses on capacity for capacity’s sake, while MovNat’s focus is on high level movement skills. Capacity will be built from practicing quality movement, but the opposite is not actually true. Physical qualities stem from the broad practice of all human movement skills, but one doesn’t acquire actual movement skills by primarily focusing on physical conditioning. For instance if you never climb rocks or tress, it doesn’t really matter how many pull-ups you can do in a row, you won’t move so well and might waste ton of energy in the process, because you lack skill. If you train your climbing skill in a broad manner though, you will acquire all the specific conditioning or capacity associated with that particular skill, and I’d bet you’d be great at pull-ups too.

A common criticism of CrossFit is that it claims to physically prepare you for anything and everything. This is obviously impossible, but in your experience, how does CrossFit compare to MovNat in regards to preparing for unpredictable future circumstances? And what does MovNat do differently to ensure optimal preparation?

While CF does state that they are constantly varying, very little variance is actually found in the skills performed. The set/rep schemes are constantly varied, however the things they lift, the movements required in WODs are generally the same 10 or so movements. Life has more options than that. What MovNat does to prepare for unpredictable future circumstances is to encourage changing the circumstances in which you train, i.e environmental or situational demands.
Again, for instance being able to perform several pull-up in a row doesn’t significantly improve your aptitude to climb. We address what we call the “breadth of specificity”, we train skills in a broad, but also specific manner.

For instance, we’ve seen guys who could do plenty of pull-ups barely able to pull themselves up when given a much thicker bar, because they lacked grip. They get challenged by a new environmental demand which they are not prepared for. Now to us the goal won’t be to just pull our body up, but to actually climb on top, without falling, fearing, or slowing down. And to achieve this, you need more “conditioning” than just pull-ups, you need several technical options and the specific physical conditioning you will acquire while training those techniques. You see, we address not just capability in a broad sense, but adaptability. To us, and I’ll quote Erwan here, adaptability is the real measure of physical capability.

But, it’s very important that safe, efficient, and quality movement always precede intensity or volume. We will ultimately build better capacity if we try to layer it on top of technical proficiency vs just pushing yourself hard.

A little birdy told me you like eat meat and lift heavy stuff, particularly kettlebells. How do you balance your MovNat training with other strength training, if at all?

I do like those things! I actually feel that classical strength training fits under the scope of MovNat. Lifting and carrying are components of MovNat, we just don’t ONLY use barbells. We use barbells, kettle bells, sandbags, rocks, logs, people, and anything else which we can train with safely. It doesn’t make it a separate training, it is MovNat, since MovNat involves all manipulative skills like lifting, carrying, throwing or catching, and regardless of the kind of object you deal with. For instance, what is the practical meaning of a Kettlebell swing after all? It is the action of throwing or catching, only that you don’t let go of your hold, and therefore, can train without a partner.

I train MovNat for about 16 hours each weekend while coaching, plus more during the week based on my travel schedule. I throw in some classic S&C stuff too, again depending on where I’m at and who is asking me to train with them. That also can be seen as MovNat, but only an advanced MovNat practitioner should start training in such specific manners. Personally, I find kettlebell training to be fun. So I do that. The best form of training for anyone is the form which they enjoy because that means they will actually do it. If there was one perfect training routine, but it was absolutely miserable, nobody would see benefit from it because they wouldn’t do it!

MovNat teaches a broad collection of movements based on the 12 main human movement skills (walking, running, jumping, balancing, crawling, climbing, lifting, carrying, throwing, catching, swimming, and defending). One could argue that MovNat trains you to become a movement generalist. Would you agree, and if so, what is the value of becoming a movement “generalist” rather than specializing in a few different movement skills?

I agree. Unless you make your living on being a specialist, or have a very specific goal, being a generalist makes so much more sense than adding 5 lbs to your snatch at the expense of being able to climb, run, jump, swim etc.

In your experience, do most people really need to relearn such fundamental movements like how to walk and run? If so, why do you think this is?

Thinking that what is natural to us cannot be learned and taught is a romantic view. That is far from the truth. Yes, the capacities we coach and train are natural and to some extent instinctive. Anyone can go “explore their true nature” and run, jump, climb or carry something for instance, but the question is, can everyone do it with efficiency? Natural does not equal efficient. Efficient means highest performance possible, lowest energy-expenditure and safest action possible, and this only comes naturally to a minority of lucky individuals. To most of us, including MovNat founder Erwan Le Corre, it is the outcome of a learning process and a consistent, mindful practice based on movement efficiency principles and techniques. Now, sit in a park and watch the people walking and running in it – absolutely they need help! Years of misuse and disuse have left the majority of the population broken, frail, or on the verge of being those.

Since MovNat integrates such a diverse selection of movement skills ranging from swimming to fighting to various locomotive movements, how does this take shape as a comprehensive training program on a day-to-day and week-to-week basis? Surely there are lots of ways to do it, but are there any, in particular, that you have found to be most effective?

Starting with the most fundamental things should be a priority: posture and breath. After that, my personal opinion is that crawling (moving on all fours, and other ground based movement) and climbing go a huge way into helping people regain movement. This may have a lot to do with those being two movements which we did first in our lives, and if we are indeed relearning how to move well, then it makes sense that restarting at the beginning is so beneficial. Beyond that, you need to learn how to customize a MovNat training plan based on your individual needs and objectives, but also your personal possibilities and limitations.

If you had just a half an hour to train each day, what would you do?

Figure out what went wrong in life! But I’ll play along – I would do various crawling and ground movements, climb stuff, and pick up and carry things. Each day would be a different combo of those. There is a lot you can explore on your own, but if you train with us you will save an enormous amount of time by learning movement efficiency in a short time.

How could someone get started with MovNat today?

Without proper instruction, the idea of “just going outside and playing” can be a good or bad recommendation. I think that simple things like hiking on a trail that isn’t paved, swinging on monkey bars, and crawling through the playground are things that could be done right away, if you are able to moderate yourself, use common sense, and not be a jackass. Otherwise come to a workshop and truly revolutionize your movement aptitudes :)

Where can my readers find more information about you and the MovNat revolution?

www.MovNat.com is a great spot, and we are adding more content each week. On the site is where you can sign up for our newsletter, see the calendar of where we will be holding workshops, and follow our growth. Also you can follow us on Twitter @movnat and also on Facebook.

Wrap-Up

A big thanks to Clifton for doing this interview. You shared a lot of valuable info, and I’m sure it will bring some new people to the MovNat cause. I’m looking forward to meeting you for some food and training someday!

To learn more about Clifton Harski and the work he’s doing, check him out on Twitter and Facebook. And if you’re thinking of attending a MovNat seminar (highly recommended), check out my review of the 5-Day Expansion Workshop to get an idea of what to expect.

More MovNat info coming in the future!

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MovNat Alumni – Summersville Lake, WV (2009)

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 [...]]]>

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.

OK, let’s dive into it!

John: Hi Nate, I’ve followed your journey since the beginning, but I still don’t feel like I know the Nate Damm from before your trip. You seem like a pretty normal guy, but how would you describe yourself before embarking on such a grand adventure? Where are you from and what was your life like before Feburary 26, 2011?

Nate: Great question! I wouldn’t say I changed too much over the course of the trip, but there are a couple things I’ve noticed. I’ve always been quiet and pretty low-key, but being on this walk really forced me to be more outgoing and get really good at talking with people I’m glad things happened this way! I definitely feel much more confident now, like I can do anything. I’m from Maine, and life before the walk was great. I went to school and was working at a job that I liked, had a girlfriend, apartment, car, all that good stuff. But the road kept calling so I gave it all up to walk across the U.S. And here I am now!

John: Why on Earth would you do something that most people would consider at best, inspirational, or at worst, completely crazy?

Nate: I’m really still trying to figure that out. I knew I wanted to see America in a slow way and really get a feel for how things are here and how people feel about this country. I wanted to see the West that I’d always dreamed about. I also just needed a change and this idea had just stuck for years and wouldn’t let go, so I had to do it.

John: What were your expectations going into this trip, and more specifically, what were you looking to get out of it?

Nate: My friend Jonathon, who walked across the U.S. last year gave me some great advice. He said to go into it without expectations. To just walk and see what happens. This was the best advice I’ve ever gotten. I just got up everyday and tried to enjoy myself as much as possible. Doing things this way left me open to changes (I never had a set route, it was constantly evolving) and I’m so glad I decided to do things that way. If I had to choose some things I was looking to get out of it I would say 1) to meet as many different kinds of people as I could, and 2) to see the beautiful American landscapes.

John: Tell me about the first few days and weeks.

Nate: The first few days were exciting and draining. I didn’t do much training at all and was horribly unprepared physically. But, it just made things really interesting. Blisters and pain were the theme of the first few weeks. I was excited though, as I was finally living my ultimate dream. I didn’t know what doing something you TRULY love was like before I started, and it just got more and more addicting by the day. I miss it now.

John: Did you ever doubt your decision to start walking and get tempted to quit early? And if so, how did you deal with those doubts and concerns?

Nate: For about one minute in West Virginia I felt like quitting, but that’s it. I remember actually thinking about it and then getting really mad at myself for even contemplating it. It was a pretty awful day, but things improved shortly after that and I never even thought about quitting again. I made sure that I was 100% on this idea before I left, thought about it for a couple of years, so I wouldn’t need to deal with a situation where I actually did quit and go home.

John: When you got the opportunity to share your story with people along the road, how did they usually react to it?

Nate: They were almost always surprised and very enthusiastic. They would then go out of their way to help me out with some food or a place to stay almost every time. I only had a few experiences where people told me it was stupid and that I was wasting my time. For the most part, people just like seeing other people go after their dreams, and they usually get very excited about it.

John: What physical changes did you notice in your body from such an exhaustive trip?

Nate: I lost a bit of weight. I’ve always been pretty skinny but I think I lost about 15 pounds. The biggest difference was in my leg muscles. Muscles were popping up that I didn’t even know existed, it was pretty funny.

John: I imagine that so much walking not only got you super-conditioned, but also resulted in some wear and tear. Were there any side effects from so much walking?

Nate: Nothing major. Aches and pains after a very long (25+ mile) day were common, but nothing that was too bad. I feel very fortunate that I didn’t experience any injuries along the way.

John: Can you give us a rough idea of what you ate throughout your trip, and how much food did you need every day to sustain your energy levels?

Nate: I ate a lot of typical hiking or backpacker food. Peanut butter & jelly sandwiches, bagels, trail mix, pop tarts, pasta, canned and dried fruit, jerky, and whatever junk food I felt like getting. For some reason I craved sugar uncontrollably, resulting in a huge soda addiction, as well as anything with a Little Debbie label. Bad, I know :-)

Quick Trivia:

J: What’s your daily record for total mileage?

N: 40 miles one day in Colorado! Was absolutely brutal.

J: What’s your number one favorite place you traveled through and why?

N: All of Utah and Nevada, just stunning.

J: Favorite small town?

N: French Lick, Indiana.

J: Favorite city?

N: None, I didn’t really like any of them that much. Didn’t hate them, but didn’t love them.

J: Best place for food?

N: Middlegate Station on Highway 50 in Nevada (the Loneliest Road In America) – best burger I’ve ever had in my life. Truly remarkable.

J: Friendliest people?

N: In the Midwest. No question.

John: Did your perspective of America, as a nation, change throughout this trip?

Nate: It changed completely. I didn’t know how I felt about this country before I started, now I’m proud to be from here and call it home.

John: No doubt, this trip has changed so much about who you are, and you’ve picked up a lot of lessons along the way. If you could pick just one life lesson that you learned from this trip and share it with the world, what would it be?

Nate: Planning is overrated. Just do what you like every day and good things will happen.

John: How has committing to a monstrous goal like this changed you as a person over the last eight months?

Nate: In so many ways. I’m more confident, happy, MUCH less stressed in even the craziest situations. I feel like I have a good handle on what I want to spend my time doing.

John: You’ve spent 8 months on the road, away from modern luxuries. What did you miss the most while traveling, and is there any thing that you won’t go back to using (i.e morning cup of coffee, alarm clock, toilet paper)?

Nate: Honestly, I didn’t miss anything about home besides seeing friends and family. I loved roughing it out there. My close friends will tell you that I often complained while staying in hotels and couldn’t wait to get back out on the road.

John: If someone is thinking about a major life goal, whether walking across the country or something else entirely, what advice would you give them?

Nate: Do not make excuses and find a way. There were a million reasons why I shouldn’t have done this, but you just have to take responsibility for your own destiny. Take actions toward what you want to do every day, even if they are small. You’ll get there. If I can do it anyone can.

John: If you were going to do it all again, what would you do differently?

Nate: Absolutely nothing.

John: What advice would you give to someone thinking about walking across America or some similar excursion on foot?

Nate: You’re in for one hell of an adventure. It will be tough but more rewarding than anything you’ve ever done. Soak it all in and enjoy it, even the miserable moments.

John: Where can my readers find more information about you and what you’re doing these days?

Nate: I’ll be doing a lot of writing from now on at www.NateDamm.com.

John: OK, I have to ask… Would you do it all again, Nate?

Nate: Yes, and probably will.

Wrap-Up

Well, I want to say a big thanks to Nate for agreeing to this interview and for doing it so soon after his trip. I know that what he’s shared here will inspire and teach many, and I think he’s just getting warmed up! Please join me in congratulating him for his accomplishment and wishing him well in his future endeavors.

Now, I have just one more question, Nate. I live just a hop, skip, and a throw away in New Hampshire. I know you’ve probably done enough walking for awhile, but would you be interested in meeting up for a hike sometime in the future?

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Scott Sonnon, the creator of TACGYM

Earlier this week, I [...]]]> 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 TACGYM

Earlier this week, I had a chance to get on the phone with Scott Sonnon, the creator of TACGYM, and grill him for almost an hour all about his new Tactical Gymnastics program. To say that our discussion spurred my interest in TACGYM would be an understatement. I am really looking forward to exploring the realm of tactical gymnastics over the next several months, and I dare say, for a lifetime.

This is my fourth interview with Scott, and if you’ve heard any of the previous ones, I need not tell you how exceptional the information is. Scott is a gold mine for training guidance and has the uncanny ability of explaining complex subjects to simple minds (like mine).

What’s Inside The TACGYM Interview

In this particular interview, the main theme was Tactical Gymnastics, and the ultimate goal was to help you learn exactly what is is so that you can figure out if it’s suitable for your needs and goals.

Scott made it very clear that Tactical Gymnastics is NOT for everyone. So, it was my goal to get to the bottom of what TACGYM actually involves. By the end of this interview, I want you to know whether TACGYM is right for you or not.

You’re also going to learn a lot about training, too. One of the themes was getting more out of your training by integrating a more holistic balance of training vs recovery. I’ll give you an idea of what Scott is hinting at by paraphrasing something he said: Our goal should be to expedite the recovery process and simultaneously take full advantage of the intensity that you can express so that next time you train, you are able to express even more intensity as part of that full recovery process.

In other words:

Always training. Always recovering.

That’s all I’m saying! You’re just going to have to listen to get the rest. There are too many goodies in this interview to miss out on – listen in now!

Interview with Scott Sonnon About TACGYM (57 Minutes in Length)

I want to thank Scott again for doing this interview. It is always an honor to learn from him, and I hope you got as much value out of it as I did.

Click Here to Claim Your FREE Gifts When You Order TACGYM*
($50 discount + additional bonuses until midnight on 5/22/11)

*Don’t miss out on the launch week discount and bonuses – expiring 5/22/2011 at midnight PST!

**If you order through my referral link, please send me a copy of your receipt and I’ll send you a free gift: The TACGYM Double Leg Swoop Coaching Video (11 minute instructional video in WMV format). This has been one of my favorite exercises for years. It’s great for strengthening the core muscles, and releasing tension in and around the hips and lower back. Plus, it’s a lot of fun to do because you feel like you’re breakdancing! After you’ve placed your order through my referral link, just forward your confirmation email containing your receipt to physical (dot) living [at] gmail (dot) com and I’ll reply with your free gift. Thank you for supporting PhysicalLiving.com!

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More Information About TACGYM

1) Click Here to Read my Complete Review of the TACGYM Program

2) Click Here to See 3 Complete TACGYM Workouts