Recently I had a short conversation with some guys about how I stay fit and capable of hauling a 30 pound plus combat load up and down hills all day without much need for recovery time. As is normal, I get asked how I got to where I am in fitness and how one might get to the same point. I always say the same thing…. stay away from the gym. I will explain more later in this article, but the core message is that in order to get good at something, do that ‘something’ a lot, and then do it more with little food and rest. Sounds simple, right? It is so simple that people have a hard time believing it. 

​In order to be best prepared to perform as an asset in combat, you must first master the conventional positions and movement techniques on an individual level. Failure to change positions rapidly or cover ground quickly can result in you becoming a casualty, and thus becoming a liability to your team. For this reason, the individual is obligated to master their IMT or Individual Movement Techniques. Quick position changes and controlled movement is ideal. This demands a level of fitness that you cannot attain by going to the gym. The best way to reach IMT mastery is to practice these techniques through a sensible progression.

​Macro circuit is a made-up name, as far as I know. I could not think of a better way to describe what I am talking about. Macro circuit training is a way of running through different training subjects throughout the day in a continuous loop for 12 hours at a minimum. In my opinion, it is the best way to get the most bang for your buck and develop physical adaptations and/or learn, especially when time is limited. Keep in mind that this is a very extreme method of conditioning, and it has a very niche purpose to it. The focus is mainly for conditioning people for the rigors of combat. Getting them used to hard work, having to focus and perform, then getting a slight rest before doing it all over again. This is just like combat in the worst case scenario. 

Physical fitness is not a big subject in many prepping books I have read and the videos I have seen. You will likely read/hear about food and water storage and making a fire and a lean-to, but next to nothing will be dedicated to discussing training to walk for miles (On a bugout or evacuation route) while towing your families’ bugout gear off-road. Have you ever read or heard about the importance of conditioning your body to work effectively with little or no food and water so that your family can stay fed without you being a liability to them? How about having to carry or tow a loved one for miles because they are having trouble keeping up? Just because you have the guns and gadgets does not mean that you are above having to do physical tasks when things go wrong. Batteries run out, resources get consumed, but there is almost always going to be a task that will require you to use muscular force and/or endurance to lift, hold, bend, twist, pry, push, pull, snatch, throw, sweep, swing, etc. Why not Prepare?

​If your goal is to to get physically prepared for combat, you have to focus on good fitness and conditioning in the specific activities you are going to perform. You can’t just technique your way to success and expect CrossFit or bodybuilding workouts will pick up the slack. Running 5 miles in 30 minutes in shorts and a t-shirt or doing 100 pushups in a minute literally does nothing to condition you for carrying 100lb and fighting all day in the mountains of Afghanistan. Instead, put on your full fighting load (body armor and full mags) and do fartlek training (jog/sprint intervals) for 5 miles at least twice a week to prepare your body for the constant stress of carrying extra weight and having to move fast with no rest. If you want to be considered a professional, then directly work on perfecting your profession and conditioning your body to be able to handle it, and more. Welcome to functional combat fitness training where the motto is “train hard, fight easy”.

​One of the more forgotten elements of fitness in my mind is agility in full fighting order (FFO) which includes body armor, ammunition, water, rations, medical gear, navigation equipment, and operational gear. This load can be easier to maneuver with if you have a setup that lowers the center of gravity. I like the British belt kit concept for this reason. It allows me to carry a generous amount of gear for 24 to 48 hours and allows me to minimize the load on my trunk and torso. This in turn helps me minimize the risk of developing irreversible injuries to my spinal column whilst fighting. But with that said, whatever layout you choose, it should allow functional and effortless access to your combat loadout without hindering manipulations. Now let’s move on to discussing agility with your fighting load.

​When I was in the military, we did most of our training slick or slow. Rarely did we perform training or practice with a full combat load on unless we were on the range and doing a dry rehearsal, which was rare. I get the concept of training slick, but I found it to be a painful experience just having to deal with the strain of a full load in combat. Practicing running or carrying a load for a long time would have prepped my body a lot better, I feel. I think it is vital to isolating and developing the muscular structure to support the specific movements needed in order to maneuver efficiently and effectively fight with a full combat load. Speed and endurance are vital characteristics, so practice it and work on it.

Throughout history, warriors of all types learned the hard way that physical fitness pertaining to their style of fighting was absolutely necessary. If we look at warrior training from successful militaries around the world and throughout history, there are many examples that show a pattern of focus on methods of conditioning and fitness priorities.

Throughout history, we see examples of how important it is to have soldiers with terrific physical endurance. Endurance is arguably more important than just being able to lift alot or run fast. You need to be able to carry your combat load to the fight, fight all the way through, and continue fighting without slowing down. Endurance is a quality that always has room for improvement and can only benefit you in the long run.

Physical conditioning for combat is not something I would take lightly. I know plenty of people who think they will simply rise to the occasion when it comes time to fight for their life. However, the first time they have to hump gear or do any real work, the excuses flow about why they can't keep up. All these movies showing people shooting and moving at a sprint pace is not something these individuals just picked up and started doing with ease. Even when they are in the middle of sprinting in their gear and manipulating their weapons, they are pretty well fatigued and fighting to maintain awareness and concentration on the fight. This requires lots of physical training, repetition, and coordination. If you want to be conditioned to fight, there are a few things you will need to keep in mind.