I’ve been talking about it since December, and now it’s finally here. [...]]]> Note: maybe you’ve already read my TACFIT Commando Review, and you’ve gotten most of your questions answered from yesterday’s Q+A with a hesitant buyer. This one last bit of info is about why I love this program and why you will, too.

I’ve been talking about it since December, and now it’s finally here. The buzz has all but worn off.

Yesterday, Scott Sonnon (the co-creator) told me that this is already the most successful product launch in the history of his company RMAX International – and that was only the first DAY of being released at the introductory sale price (of the 3-day launch sale). The response has been massive, and many of my readers have made a choice in the last 24 hours to take on the TACFIT Commando challenge. I truly think that this program will set a precedent for future bodyweight products, strength training products, and even just general fitness products. It’s that good.

I’m particularly excited about this program for several reasons…

5 Reasons Why You’ll Love TACFIT Commando

1) It’s based on the cutting-edge Circular Strength Training system - What others criticize as the “cool kids club of fitness,” or “a group of blind followers baited into hyped-up, ineffective training programs” I see as a collection of principles and methods that are universally accepted as valid training advice. CST is a framework that includes all the relevant tools and strategies for achieving physical goals. It is a SYSTEM that puts them all together with a health-first focus. When you boil CST down to it’s very essence and when you get rid of all the gossip-baggage associated with it, what remains is what every good coach agrees on that works for physical goals – the commonalities, not the differences. TACFIT Commando is based on this genius CST system and that’s exactly why it works so well.

2) It’s a cheaper, equipment-free version of the original TAC-FIT - One of my major reservations in recommending the original TACFIT program was that it required special equipment like parallettes, gymnastic rings, clubbells, etc. These are all great tools that I love using, but not everyone has access to them. TACFIT Commando requires ZERO equipment so your only investment is the product itself. Speaking of investments, this program is WAY cheaper than the original TACFIT – hundreds of dollars cheaper actually (even after the sale expires on Friday). At the 51% off sale price, you’re getting a ridiculous amount of material for a very low price. It’ll still be well-worth the full price when it nearly doubles on Saturday.

3) It’s a bodyweight program, and therefore hugely beneficial and practical to its end-users - I’ve covered the benefits of bodyweight exercise many times in the past. Let alone the practical benefits of not requiring much, if any, equipment – and therefore a gym membership, you can do it anytime, anywhere, and it doesn’t cost any money (unless you want to invest in specific tools like pullup bars or parallette’s, for instance.) But there’s also physiological benefits from training with bodyweight exercises.

You may have heard some strength coaches say that you shouldn’t lift weights until you can control your own bodyweight – that’s very good advice. World renowned coach, Alwyn Cosgrove is known for holding this mantra at his California facility, Results Fitness. Before you load your body with external forces, make sure you have adequate control of your own bodyweight. Bodyweight training develops inter-muscular coordination. That’s a fancy way of saying “being able to transfer force throughout your entire body.” It also serves as a foundation for good lifting skills (and swinging skills for you clubbell athletes).

4) It’s been created for the elite men and women whom we count on every day, but it’s still relevant to fitness trainee’s and weekend warriors alike – TACFIT Commando is cutting-edge. No if’s, and’s, or but’s! This is exactly what elite forces all around the world are using to train themselves for peak conditioning. Let me say that another way. The BEST of the BEST are using this program, so naturally, it must be outstanding. The great part is that it has scalability built-in to the program so anyone who is healthy enough to exercise can start it. You don’t have to be a Navy SEAL to start TACFIT Commando. It was created with the intention of being used by a broad range of people like you and I (see the Q+A post for more info specifically for beginners or deconditioned folks).

5) It’s going to slap CrossFit in the face - Pretty hard, too. You see, the TACFIT Commando protocol is based on the SAID Principle, which states that the body adapts specifically to the demands imposed upon it. SPECIFICALLY. There’s no such thing as general conditioning. If you still think it exists, I’m sorry to burst your bubble, but it doesn’t exist. That’s why TACFIT Commando was created very specifically for the needs of our servicemen. It’s not a general conditioning program at all. That’s not to say that people won’t use it to build muscle, burn fat, and build their conditioning levels with it (what we often equate with “general fitness goals”). What we must understand is that these things are by-products of training specifically for tactical fitness. They aren’t the end goal, but they are some of the results.

TACFIT Commando has a lot more over CrossFit besides that. And yes, I know – THEM’S FIGHTEN WERDS!!!

If you haven’t made up your mind about TACFIT Commando yet, then I hope this brought some light to the program. If you have more questions about it, feel free to comment in yesterday’s Q+A with a hesitant buyer, and you can also read my official TACFIT Commando review here.

For more information, or to purchase TACFIT Commando, please visit the official site here:

http://PhysicalLiving.com/TACFIT

To your health and success,

CST, CST-KS, NSCA-CPT
Fitness Professional

Hello John,

Thanks again for your responses to all my questions! I wonder if I could ask [...]]]> Note: I received some questions from a hesitant buyer about TACFIT Commando this morning. They graciously allowed me to republish my response here on my blog. Their name has been left out for anonymity sake.

QUESTION:

Hello John,

Thanks again for your responses to all my questions! I wonder if I could ask you a few more questions, this time about Tacfit Commando. One of the things that has impressed me so much about CST is its extensive vocabulary of bodyweight exercises. While many of these movements are not absolutely unique to CST, they are thoughtfully put together all in one place, with accompanying forms of joint mobility, compensation, etc. One of the challenges of being a newcomer to CST is sorting through all the different products, and trying to differentiate them from each other and determine their distinctive value. I am delving into Flowfit and Intuflow. I think I can already appreciate (and more importantly feel) their commonalities and differences. To me, being able to move in a sophisticated manner is much more compelling than increasing my bench press!

Tacfit Commando looks like a very interesting product. I tried the Israeli Challenge and truly enjoyed it, even if movements like the quad squat, springing tripods, and swinging planks were not entirely new to me (for example, they are all in Flowfit). The marketing of Commando, however, has me very wary. Frankly, I think it is packaged in a hokey manner that makes me feel like I’m being sold snake oil. This comment has nothing to do with the goal of training soldiers, the sincerity of Commando’s creators, etc. It is simply a comment on how
it is all packaged. I feel as though the approach can stand on its own without all that artifice (i.e. Intuflow has little artifice and amazing content), and the artifice makes me wonder about the value of its actual content!

I know you do not endorse products lightly. In fact, your endorsement is encouraging me to give Commando a chance. As there are pros and cons to any approach, I wonder if you could suggest some of the weaknesses in Commando. What kinds of athletic goals and plans would it not be particularly well suited for? Could you give me a sense of how it differs from products like BER? Can it be incorporated with other forms of resistance or endurance training? Is there a substantially new vocabulary of movement in Commando as opposed to
what has come before?

I’m not expecting you to say anything negative about your colleagues, or put you in a bind, but I thought it might be helpful to get feedback from one person who thinks the packaging is a real turn off (i.e. Sonnon’s statement that the enemy is not honorable enough to do the workout- I mean c’mon…). I will probably end up purchasing Commando before the initial deal expires, but hoped your feedback could help me make an informed decision.

Many Thanks,
Anonymous

ANSWER:

You’re very welcome. I’d be happy to assist you in your buying decision. Times are rough and money is tight, so I want to make sure you don’t feel like you’re getting scammed into something that isn’t right for you.

I hear you on the marketing, but as I said in my email newsletter… If you take away all the marketing, all the shiny signs and fancy sales copy, and leave ONLY the program, I think it stands alone as an excellent product, which is why I gave it an endorsement. If I were in charge of releasing it, I’m sure I probably would have done it a little differently, but let’s get to your questions.

you wrote:
What kinds of athletic goals and plans would it not be particularly well suited for?

TACFIT Commando was created specifically for tactical fitness, but it can be used for a variety of training goals such as fat loss, muscle building, general strength and conditioning, among others.

Where it would be least appropriate is as a strength and condtioning program for a very focused athletic activity. Some athletes would benefit directly from the TACFIT Commando program – martial artists, MMA fighters, etc. Other athletes, like soccer or tennis players, for instance, would experience benefits, yes, but not specific to their sport. In these cases of competitive athletes with very specific needs, I would generally recommend against it – there are wiser ways to spend your money.

But if you’re not a competitive athlete and you’re looking for a fun way (fun for you maybe – not everyone will be into the “tactical” nature of TACFIT) to get in great shape, then TACFIT would be appropriate.

you wrote:
Could you give me a sense of how it differs from products like BER?

The formatting is basically the same. It’s downloadable in digital form – ebooks and videos that you will store on your hard drive.

The actual program itself shares a lot of similarities with other CST bodyweight programs like the Bodyweight Exercise Revolution, which was created by Ryan Murdock and Adam Steer. TACFIT Commando could be considered an upgraded training program from BER, it’s more advanced and contains new material.

You’ll find with all CST programs that there is overlap. For instance, practically every bodyweight CST product that I own contains instructions about the spinal rock exercise. It’s a great exercise and it’s great to get perspective on how it can be used for different purposes, but it’s true that some of what you pay for is rehashed material. In TACFIT Commando’s case, it’s the collection of the materials and the SYSTEM that is most valuable. The system is nearly identical to that of the original TACFIT program, and differs a little bit from other CST programs.

One way to look at it is that TACFIT is an outgrowth of Circular Strength Training (the parent system for which all RMAX products are created). TACFIT Commando is then an outgrowth of the original TACFIT. So, there will naturally be overlap in materials, but it’s been organized for a very specific purpose.

you wrote:
Can it be incorporated with other forms of resistance or endurance training?

Absolutely yes. It comes with a stock program that can be followed verbatim, but there’s no reason it needs to be. You can supplement TACFIT Commando sessions for your regular strength training, cardio, or strength endurance work. There are many different ways to do it.

you wrote:
Is there a substantially new vocabulary of movement in Commando as opposed to what has come before?

Yes – much of it has been seen before (ie in Scott’s training videos), but never in a RMAX product – that is, it’s never been taught before. And some of it has never been seen before and will be truly unique to TACFIT Commando.

Given the discussion we had before, I think it would be a great fit for your situation, but perhaps used as a supplement to your current training program rather than the only program you follow. The main advantage is that it’s comprehensive, and at the sale price it’s probably the most CST material you can buy for that price.

Let me know if you have any more questions, I’d be happy to help.

*Update: Read the official review here:

The Complete TACFIT Commando Review

Pick up your copy of TACFIT Commando here:

http://PhysicalLiving.com/TACFIT

To your health and success,

CST, CST-KS, NSCA-CPT
Fitness Professional

Body by TACFIT Commando

Body by TACFIT Commando

Today, conditioning coaches to the elite Special Forces groups around the world are [...]]]> How to Get a Commando Body Without Ever Going to the Gym

*Note: this is the official TACFIT Commando Review featured on PhysicalLiving.com. See below for a FREE gift offer.

Body by TACFIT Commando

Body by TACFIT Commando

Today, conditioning coaches to the elite Special Forces groups around the world are shaking their heads at fitness trainers who earn fortunes by regurgitating cookie-cutter exercise programs for all of their mis-informed clients. And today, these elite coaches are finally revealing the simple proven system for real life functional fitness that no one else will tell you about.

Professional fighter, MMA conditioning coach, and creator of the Circular Strength Training system, Scott Sonnon, has teamed up with Ryan Murdock to teach you how to build go-muscle (not show muscle), burn off body fat, super-charge your metabolism, and do so while practicing the highest level tactical fitness program ever devised. Discover how they’ve taught thousands of people to build combat-ready, commando-like physiques faster than they ever thought possible.

Even if you are not in the military, even if you’re not as fit as the “elite,” even if you have less-than-average genetics, and even if you don’t have a gym membership or a home gym to train in…

You’re about to discover what might be the most effective bodyweight conditioning system ever developed. It’s the same system that elite Special Forces groups around the world are using to build hard bodies and the functional fitness that goes with them.

If you’d like to learn how to lose bodyfat, build muscle, and vastly improve your conditioning, then you absolutely must check out TACFIT Commando:

http://PhysicalLiving.com/TACFIT

I know what you’re thinking… Commando? Tactical fitness? Is this really relevant to ME???

100% YES!

You see, TACFIT Commando isn’t being released to the public just so that our servicemen have yet another way to gain access to cutting-edge workout programs. TACFIT Commando is being released to the public because it was meant specifically FOR the public. That’s right, people like you and I.

It’s true, the term Commando does seem a little cheesy unless you’re into that hardcore mentality, and I do feel that sometimes the marketing goes a little over the top, but there’s a reason for that. TACFIT works. It works very well, in fact. I’ve used it, and know many people personally who swear by its effectiveness for achieving
common fitness goals. Nobody is debating that it works better than practically any other functional fitness program available.

But there’s something about it that makes it very unique. Not only does it require absolutely no equipment at all, which is amazing since it literally requires no further investment (it works right out of the box, actually a download, so you get it instantly – you don’t even have to wait for shipping), but TACFIT Commando is unique in that it is currently used by the Israeli counter-terrorism and secret services, American special ops personnel, Italian bodyguards to the Prime Minister, US federal agents, firemen, law enforcement agencies and even professional MMA fighters.

These are the people whom not only are required to be in the best physical shape for their jobs, they’re also the very same people who have access to the latest and greatest resources to meet their basic needs – including their fitness and conditioning needs.

That’s exactly why TACFIT is so unique, because it best serves the needs for those who truly need it most. Given that it works so well, and that’s it’s currently being used by our elite servicemen, there’s something you should probably know – a disclaimer of sorts.

It’s not for everyone, and I mean that – it might not be right for you. I’ve tested the program extensively, and I can tell you with no uncertainty that this is one of the most difficult training program’s I’ve ever encountered. I would wager that 75% of my readers have not trained with an intensity that TACFIT not only depends on, but thrives on.

I don’t say this to puff it up and make it look all tough and hardcore. I’m saying it to warn you. In the same breath, I don’t say this to scare you or deter you from trying it out, only to let you know that it’s not a sissy system for wannabes.

When you get down to it, it’s not a flashy fitness program – it’s very hard work that requires dedication and discipline to truly benefit from. When you take away the catchy intro music and the cool graphics, what’s left is a pile of sweat, some fatigue, and an undeniable knowledge that you’ve done something wonderful for yourself.

If you are familiar with Circular Strength Training, you’ll know right away that not only will this program work, but you’ll leave a TACFIT session feeling better and more energized than you were going into it – even though the workout was exhausting and challenging. Despite facing fatigue head-on, you’ll also experience second wind (aka flowstate) if you follow the program as outlined.

One of the best things about TACFIT is its scalability. Anyone, regardless of fitness level, can begin a TACFIT Commando program because it has difficulty levels directly programmed into it. So, even though it can be brutally hard, the beginner level (recruit) routine will work for anyone who is healthy enough to exercise.

Which leads me to my last point. It sounds too good to be true, and the package that Scott and Ryan are offering truly is outstanding. These guys are in the habit of over-delivering when they release something to the public, and this is no different.

Now, I want you to go check out the TACFIT Commando package that is finally available for sale. Consider this a very strong recommendation. I would hope that all of my readers would benefit from using this program if it’s aligned with their goals.

http://PhysicalLiving.com/TACFIT

And I assure you, much of what you’ll find in TACFIT Commando will be brand new to you – never-before-seen methods for functional fitness. You’d be hard pressed to find a program this original and innovative, and especially at such a low cost.

Now, stop reading and go check it out immediately – that’s an order!

Click Here to Claim Your FREE Gift When You Order TACFIT Commando*

*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!

To your health and success,

CST, CST-KS, NSCA-CPT
Fitness Professional

More Information About TACFIT Commando

TACFIT Commando FAQ Page – I received some questions from a hesitant buyer about the TACFIT Commando program. They graciously allowed me to republish my response here on my blog. It ended up becoming more of a FAQ section – including a lot of comments from people who have used the program themselves. If you’ve got product-related questions, then chances are they’ve already been answered on that page. If not, please post your questions in the comments section there, and I’ll make sure someone gets you the answer you’re looking for.

TACFIT Commando Workout Video – Check out the TACFIT Commando Israeli Challenge Workout if you’d like an idea of what the actual program is like.

TACFIT Commando Review (updated 11/2011) – I wrote an updated product review that goes into much more depth than my original review above.

While a six-pack stomach may be the most conventional benchmark of athletic beauty, functional abdominal strength goes deeper and is far more important than vanity. A strong core improves your posture and reduces the likelihood of lower back pain. [...]]]> Note: This is a guest post from Ryan Murdock and Adam Steer, the BodyweightCoach.com experts.

While a six-pack stomach may be the most conventional benchmark of athletic beauty, functional abdominal strength goes deeper and is far more important than vanity. A strong core improves your posture and reduces the likelihood of lower back pain. It plays a stabilizing role in virtually every movement you do—from carrying the groceries or bending down to tie your shoes to throwing a ball or pulling a heavy lift. It is also the source of power generation in most athletic activities.

We’re going to build a killer core with bodyweight exercise, in as little as 12-minutes per session.

How?

By training in 6 degrees of freedom.

Training in 6-Degrees of Freedom

What the heck does that mean?

It’s a term we took from aviation, because it most accurately describes how your body moves through space.

We don’t move robotically through one plane at a time. Human movement is a complex weave through different planes and on different axes. If we take the three axes of conventional movement descriptions, we can think about moving both along and around those axes in order to take advantage of our true movement potential.

• Heaving: moving up and down

• Swaying: moving right and left

• Surging: moving forward and backward

• Pitching: bending forward and backward

• Yawing: twisting right and left

• Rolling: bending or tilting right and left

The bottom line?

Training in 6-Degrees of Freedom will kick your butt faster than any other method.

Why does that matter? It means you’ll be finished training sooner. Training in 6-Degrees will also ensure that your body remains balanced. You won’t waste time dealing with overuse injuries, or overcompensations created by doing the same repetitive movements in the same planes day after day.

That’s a brief primer on the theory. Let’s get to the program.

Circular Strength Training (CST) Bodyweight Glide Workout Program

This program is designed to shred your core in as little as 12-minutes per day using only bodyweight exercise.

The movements were designed to be done with those little plastic glide discs you’ve seen on TV. But the good news is you don’t need the discs. Socks, RMAX ultimate grappling shoes, and squares of felt all work on hardwood floors. Disposable paper plates work great on carpet. If you’re on a business trip and staying in hotels, tear a page out of one of the free glossy magazines in the desk drawer, or put the plastic laundry bag from the closet on your feet. Anything that will allow your feet to slide on the floor will work.

The Knee-In: Heaving Component

The V-Up: Pitching Component

The Side Knee-In: Yawing Component

The Mountain Climber: Surging Component

The Side Plank Knee-In: Rolling Component

The Tadpole: Swaying Component

Remember, keep your shoulders packed, rotate your elbow pits forward, maintain good crown to coccyx spinal alignment, and activate your core with a hard exhale on every rep. These movements should be core driven.

You now have all 6 CST Bodyweight Glide movements, one for each of the 6-Degrees of Freedom:

• Heaving: Knee-in
• Pitching: V-up
• Yawing: Side knee-in
• Surging: Mountain climber
• Rolling: Side plank knee-in
• Swaying: Tadpole

Great! Now what do you do with them?

Shredding Your Core in 12-Minutes Per Day

There are a number of ways we could approach it, and it really depends on your goals. Think of the individual movements as being tools on the tactical level — they’re the maneuvers we use to carry out our plan, but the plan itself — in this case our training protocol — is decided at the strategic level.

For the purposes of this series, I’m going to suggest one protocol for readers who would like to put this program to immediate use. Our hypothetical client in this case is someone who travels frequently for business, who has no access to equipment, little free time, and whose primary goal is to develop core strength through all degrees of freedom while increasing their cardiovascular capacity and losing excess weight.

Perform each exercise for 30-seconds. When those 30 seconds are up, switch seamlessly into the next exercise and perform it for 30 seconds (don’t take breaks in between — that’s too easy!). Continue until you’ve done all 6 movements.

That’s one circuit. The full program consists of 3 circuits, with 1 minute rest between each circuit.

At first you’ll feel like you want to coast through the movements, to spread out your reps. Don’t do it. Your strategy should be to keep the fastest pace that you can manage while maintaining good technique. You want this to be intense. What’s the point of coasting along when you can squeeze every ounce from the time you’re spending?

Hints for Further Progress

If you work the program as planned, you’re going to progress and it will get easier. When that happens, you can do one of two things:

1. decrease the rest time between sets
2. OR increase the duration of the exercises.

Start by decreasing the one minute rest between sets. Ease that down to 30 seconds of rest, then to 15 seconds of rest. Your body will adapt by training itself to recover in less and less time.

Next, increase the duration that you perform each movement to 40 seconds (from our baseline of 30).

Finally, if you’re up for it you can remove the rest periods entirely so that you’re performing 3 back-to-back circuits nonstop. This has the added benefit of bringing your total workout time down to 9 minutes—allowing you to knock off early, or to add a fourth set.

You can do this CST Bodyweight Glide program 2 -4 times per week, or on the Moderate day of a 4×7 cycle.

So that’s it. How to shred your core in 12-minutes per day, in a balanced, health-first fashion. We’re glad you chose to come along for the ride.

Sincerely,

Ryan Murdock, Bodyweight Exercise Expert

P.S. For more unique bodyweight workouts like this one, visit Ryan and Adam’s sites: www.BodyweightExerciseRevolution.com for various bodyweight workout programs or www.Bodyweight-Blueprint.com for fat loss specific programs.

P.P.S. Both Ryan and Adam have an upcoming program called TAC-FIT Commando that I have had the pleasure of previewing. These guys have teamed up with my coach Scott Sonnon to create one of the most cutting-edge bodyweight training programs I’ve ever encountered. I have test-driven some parts of the program and will be using it as part of my regular routine when it’s released. Keep your eyes peeled because you’ll be hearing more about it in the coming weeks.