Interview with Scott Sonnon about TACFIT – the Premier “Tactical Fitness” System

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)

I’d like to thank Scott once again for this excellent interview. The quality of the responses and the depth of knowledge was of the highest caliber. It was an honor to learn from you, Coach, and I’m proud to share this on Physical Living.

How to Maximize Your Results using TACFIT

There is a specific strategy that can be applied to any fitness system or method that almost guarantee’s you will maximize your results – regardless of the results that you’re after. Whether it’s more fat loss, muscle gain, energy, or better quality of movement, this strategy will ensure the best progress. It’s not a training technique or an element of program design. Rather, it’s a strategy of lifestyle design, and it’s especially important with a program like TACFIT.

It’s apparent that Scott understands this approach all too well. I’d like to revisit some wisdom that he shared towards the end of our interview. Scott said:

“It doesn’t matter what you do. It matters what you’re motivated to do. So, the thing that excites you the most… do that thing.”

Be careful not to dismiss the value of what may seem overly-obvious, or allow this powerful strategy to vanish from your mind. I know without a shadow of a doubt that applying this advice can be utterly transformative.

Scott noted that this is a somewhat sacrilegious thing to say, and I would say this is especially true for the fitness industry. Too often, we are coerced into doing what we think we should be doing, instead of pursuing what we really want to do. We’re taught that we need to endure something unpleasant for the promise of future rewards, instead of rewarding ourselves in the present. This is not only a lie, but also a fatal mistake that robs us of so much.

I would argue that this is actually one of the most important keys to any long-term fitness success, and one of the biggest secrets of most super-achievers.

I’ve touched on the power of intrinsically rewarding pursuits on Physical Living many times before (one of the article’s is here). So, I’m not going to get into all the details. It should go without saying that we will be more compelled to do the things we enjoy the most. In other words, you don’t need to get motivated to do something you already love – something you would do just because. And that’s exactly the best way to approach any fitness program, and especially TACFIT.

All TACFIT programs have been intelligently designed, with precise attention paid to each element. That same amount of intelligence needs to be employed when using one of these programs. If you practice a highly refined training program carelessly, then you’re going to get haphazard results that may be catastrophic for your health and fitness. That’s just how it goes with effective training programs, especially those that involve high intensity exercise. If you want to use the best, you’ve got to give your best. Fortunately, each TACFIT program has been clearly outlined so there is no guesswork involved. You just follow the program.

TACFIT is one of the most effective all-around tactical fitness systems currently available, and I would encourage anyone who has a desire to improve their health, fitness, and overall preparedness, to pursue TACFIT with complete abandon. Take a look at the following TACFIT programs below, and check out the one(s) that interest you.

TACFIT Entry Points

Any of the following programs will allow you to get your foot in the door and experience TACFIT for the first time, but choose wisely…

TACFIT Commando* – This program will literally kick your butt every time you employ it, but it does so with finesse and an eye for health, injury-prevention, and overall safety. TC is bodweight-only (zero equipment required), meaning you can do it anywhere, anytime. I think this is one of Scott’s finest stand-alone training programs, and one of the best value’s for all the information you receive. Hundreds of Physical Living readers have invested in TACFIT Commando since its debut in 2010 and I’ve received dozens of great reports so far (some of which you can read in the comments sections of these pages: product review here, FAQ here, sample workout here).

TACGYM: Tactical Gymnastics* -  This is by-far one of Scott’s best stand-alone training programs, but it’s definitely not for everybody. TACGYM is not a body transformation program, but a movement transformation program – and it excels in this area. Like TACFIT Commando, it’s one of the best value’s for your money because of how comprehensive it is. Dozens of Physical Living readers have been working with TACGYM, including myself, and everyone is enjoying it as you can see in some of the comments I’ve received on these pages: product review here, interview with Scott about TACGYM here, 3 Complete TACGYM Workouts here.

TACFIT Warrior* – This is another bodyweight-only training program that also incorporates mental training strategies right into the curriculum. This one has also received a lot of praise from dozens of Physical Living readers. If you want to go deep in your physical practice, and experience lifestyle transformation through physical transformation, then TW may be for you (TACFIT Warrior Review here, FAQ here, sample workouts here).

TACFIT Mass Assault – This program is for those who want to pack on a lot of muscle mass, in as little time as possible, but do so with a health-first approach (which is rare for most muscle building programs). It requires a minimal equipment investment, and can be done at the gym or at home. Though I haven’t used or reviewed this myself, I’ve heard good things about it from my CST friends and colleagues.

TACFIT Kettlebell Spetsnaz – This a complete training program using kettlebells as the primary training tool, but in many ways that have never been seen before (that’s not hype – some of the material is brand new). If you want to learn how to make your kettlebell training truly three dimensional, then you will enjoy Kettlebell Spetsnaz – whatever your level of experience is with kettlebells.

TACFIT R.O.P.E. – Every TACFIT program has a reputation for including never-before-seen, innovative exercises. ROPE is the one program that may have the most creative exercise collection of them all. All you need is some rope to use this total body training program. Don’t believe me? Wait til you see some of the exercises.

The Original TACFIT 26 “Box Gym” – This is ideal for those with a small home gym setup and who want to experience the greatest spectrum of TACFIT currently available. If using several different training modalities along with all sorts of modern fitness equipment (clubbells, kettlebells, sandbags, gymnastic rings, bodyweight exercise, etc.) sounds like fun, then this is the program for you.

*highly recommended and fully endorsed by Physical Living

If you have any questions about the TACFIT system or any of the specific programs, please post them in the comments below.

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CST, CST-KS, NSCA-CPT
Fitness Professional