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 [...]]]>

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

I have been following TACFIT Commando, from the fence, for some time and have tried some of the exercises. They seem like a good fit for me and are quite challenging, and I think I am ready to purchase one program or the other (e.g [...]]]> QUESTION AND ANSWER:

Hi John,

I have been following TACFIT Commando, from the fence, for some time and have tried some of the exercises. They seem like a good fit for me and are quite challenging, and I think I am ready to purchase one program or the other (e.g TF Commando or the newer TF Warrior). I wondered if you would please comment on any differences. I am interested in some aspects of both programs. How are they different? My interest is for general fitness and martial arts. Appreciate whatever comments you can offer, and thanks for such extensive reviews.

Happy Holidays,

Mike

TACFIT Warrior VS TACFIT Commando

Hey Mike,

This is a great question and you’re not the first to ask, so I’m posting my response here. First things first… Here is the official answer from Scott Sonnon himself:

Question: What is the difference between TACFIT Commando and TACFIT Warrior?

Answer: “Commando and Warrior are parallel in intent for physique and performance goals: the fat melting, muscle chiseling virtues are equal. Warrior adds a mental component not present in Commando, and as a result includes unique “cross-brain” exercises to train hard AND smart.”

That’s an accurate summary, but it’s also pretty vague. Let’s dive into the nitty-gritty details. First, the similarities…

Both TACFIT Commando (TC) and TACFIT Warrior (TW) have a lot in common. They’re very similar programs when it comes to the actual physical work being performed. They’re both bodyweight-only exercise programs that utilize the tabata protocol (high intensity interval training) to squeeze in a complete workout in about 30 minutes. They both have activity-specific joint mobility warmups and Prasara yoga cooldowns. They also both follow the 4×7, 28-day periodization model, although each has some alternate options for training schedules.

The actual product materials are also very similar. With your purchase you receive: ebook manuals, training calendars, instructional videos, the TAC-FOOD diet manual, and some other bonuses. In TW, you get a follow-along video for each workout. In TC, follow-along videos are only included in the deluxe edition (more expensive version). One nice addition to the TW product are worksheets that you can use to track your progress (also included are some printable wall charts to display each workout). But like I said, you’re paying for very similar product features with either program – with two significant exceptions (in my opinion).

1) TACFIT Commando has 3X the amount of workouts than TACFIT Warrior (3 complete 28-day training cycles), but only 3 levels of movement sophistication (beginner, intermediate, advanced – aka recruit, grunt, commando). So, you’re getting 3 times as many workouts, but not as much versatility in exercise selection. TACFIT Warrior, on the other hand has less total workouts (1 complete 28-day training cycle), but it comes with 5 different levels of movement sophistication. Technically, you could perform an entire 28-day cycle for each level of difficulty, making TC have 9 total cycles included and TW having 5 total cycles. Although, people already in good shape or having prior conditioning experience (especially in CST or TACFIT programs) will find the lower levels too easy, which is why I might steer you to TACFIT Commando first (if this is your situation).

2) Both TC and TW are plug and play. You just follow the program. But one thing that TW includes that TC does not is a mental component built right into the videos and manuals (some bonuses are also included for teaching the mental side of training). The mental aspect of TW is a huge component, and makes this product quite unique from TC. This should definitely factor into your purchasing decision. You can learn more about the mental component in my TACFIT Warrior Review.

One last note: there is some overlap between each program. For example, while each workout is unique, many of the exercises are included in both programs (of course, some exercises are unique to each program, too). Also, there is some overlap in the TC and TW manuals – particularly in regard to how to apply the programs and in explaining the Circular Strength Training System behind them.

Summary

TC and TW are both very similar programs when it comes to the actual workouts you’ll be doing. Although, there are some key differences. TC has more total workout materials, and TW is a more holistic program with the inclusion of the mental component and some other new features. Both are excellent stand-alone products in-and-of-themselves, but certainly one of them will be more suitable for your situation.

If you were ONLY pursuing better health and fitness, then I would probably recommend TACFIT Commando right off the bat. However, you also mentioned martial art, which makes me wonder if you might be interested in the mental side of things, as many martial artists are. In the end, it’s really up to you – I can’t possibly make the decision for you. They’re both excellent programs and I’m sure you would get a lot of use out of either of them. I hope this clears up the confusion and offers you the help you needed to make the decision.

More Information About TACFIT Warrior

Click here to order TACFIT Warrior

Click here to read the TACFIT Warrior Review

Click here to see two different TACFIT Warrior Workouts

More Information About TACFIT Commando

Click here to order TACFIT Commando

Click here to read the TACFIT Commando Review

Click here to visit the official TACFIT Commando FAQ

Click here to see a TACFIT Commando Workout

For those who have experience with one or both programs, what do you think of the products, and what advice would you give to Mike? And of course, if you have any more questions, please let me know in the comments.

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CST, CST-KS, NSCA-CPT
Fitness Professional

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