Look like a Spartan

Look like a Spartan, Gladiator, Marine, or even a Navy Seal. When you think of these warriors, what do you envision? The warrior mentality, able to do feats of physical fitness that is beyond others, yes to all of these. As a Marine who served for 2.5 years some 20 years ago I can attest to the physical challenges that I was put through to become a Marine. I have also had the opportunity to train and run missions with Seals and Army Rangers.

The one thing that we all have in common is a few simple concepts.

We all were able to run, swim, climb, and march for hours at a time, get to the destination and be ready to take the fight to the enemy. We all had discipline, indomitable spirit, and the will to die for what we believed in.

We did lift some weights but our physical focus was on circuit training, bodyweight movement, pull ups, obstacle course, and weapons training. We used dumbbells like kettle bells, boxed, kick boxed, and learned muay thai and judo.

Notice I did not say “weight machines”, squat rack, or smith machine. Stay away from all of this. If you cannot master bodyweight exercises, time to move on.

All of the warriors here had another thing in common: functional fitness. Go ask a bodybuilder to run 3 miles, climb up a wall, and then go hand to hand with someone. Guess what, it will not happen. Functional fitness is what the Spartan 300 had, what Gladiators have, and it is what the elite of the U.S. fighting forces have.

Do not look for the latest fitness fad to find your military might. Do a google search and look up any of these elite forces workouts and get started. The M&G Body Weight Circuit training is an example of this. The exercises listed and how they are manipulated is an example of what U.S. Marines and Seals do to stay in shape.

Don’t buy kettle bells, straps, or machines. Get outside, grab the monkey bars, do some push-ups, and some squats. Grab a heavy bag and hit it. Just do something.