BJJ as a physical conditioner for the military

[slyfox]

I'm in the process of developing myself physically for the military, specifically the special forces. As such I need to obtain numerous physical characteristics.

-The ability to run and swim long distances.
-The ability to carry heavy loads long distances.
-A solid foundation of strength.
-Muscular endurance.

I'm using traditional methods to improve myself in these areas (running, swimming, resistance training.) My question to seasoned BJJ campaigners is - do you believe BJJ will significantly improve my strength and muscular endurance. As part of my pre-enlistment fitness test I must complete 100 situps and 60 pushups. I'm sure BJJ promotes a strong core, how about the ability to press out endless sets of pushups?

Do you believe I should stick with traditional methods to reach peak fitness or do you believe BJJ will equip me with valuable 'functionability.'

If I do choose to incorporate BJJ into my fitness program I will still be running 3 X week, swimming 2 X week, resistance training 2 X week etc.

[DickHardman]

Originally Posted by slyfox

My question to seasoned BJJ campaigners is - do you believe BJJ will significantly improve my strength and muscular endurance.

yes. bjj is very hard and grueling. it works your entire body, and many muscles that traditional workouts miss. you will often be pushed to your limits, sometimes quite quickly.

if you really want to take your training to extremes, try stacking regular workouts with your bjj sessions. try lifting some weights, then going into bjj practice. your body will be on fire the next day. my body fell into a state of over-training for a while as a result of doing this too much.

[osopardo]

MA training is all well and good but I'd be inclined to be more goal-specific. If bjj is not part of the admissions requirements, why expend the time and energy training in it when you could be training more spefically in the things you'll be actually be tested in? For example, if you're expected to do 100 sit-ups, you should be doing 200 sit-ups during preparatory training, not learning bjj techniques. And you should also be giving your body sufficient recuperation time, which a lot of younger guys neglect doing.

[Thai Bri]

Originally Posted by slyfox

I'm in the process of developing myself physically for the military, specifically the special forces. As such I need to obtain numerous physical characteristics.

-The ability to run and swim long distances.
-The ability to carry heavy loads long distances.
-A solid foundation of strength.
-Muscular endurance.

I'm using traditional methods to improve myself in these areas (running, swimming, resistance training.) My question to seasoned BJJ campaigners is - do you believe BJJ will significantly improve my strength and muscular endurance. As part of my pre-enlistment fitness test I must complete 100 situps and 60 pushups. I'm sure BJJ promotes a strong core, how about the ability to press out endless sets of pushups?

Do you believe I should stick with traditional methods to reach peak fitness or do you believe BJJ will equip me with valuable 'functionability.'

If I do choose to incorporate BJJ into my fitness program I will still be running 3 X week, swimming 2 X week, resistance training 2 X week etc.

Oh, military and special forces eh?

Daydream Believer.........

In all seriousness, look at what the guys in the units actually do to qualify, and do that. BJJ will make you fitter.... for BJJ. Any indirect effects for running over mountains with a ruck sack on your back will be negligible.

It would be like wanting to prepare for a BJJ competition, but not wanting to do BJJ.

Now don't forget that any of us can end up over training. Yes, put everything you've got into it. But don't "spend" too much energy by adding the superfluous.

[WildWest.]

Like others have said, do you need to learn BJJ for the military?? No, so don't waste your time.

To be good at the fitness tests you must train the aspects of the fitness test. If you want to be a good runner and swimmer, then run and swim!! If you want to carry heavy loads long distances then train to carry heavy loads over long distances. Sound simple?? Because it is!!

As far as muscular endurance goes give kettlebell training a try over ordinary weights. It's demanding, challenging and you will develop a very strong core.

[bigred389]

You need to run. And if you wanna do something that requires swimming conditioning, you will have to swim as well.

There's absolutely no substitute for getting good at either than actually doing them.

[aseepish]

If you want to be able to do push ups, do push ups.

Do your max twice a day. Then every day try to do one or two more until you can do 120. Same goes for sit-ups.

If you have to run, run.
If you have to carry heavy loads, carry heavy loads.
Find out what the requirements are and train to exceed them by at least 50% by doing those exact activities.

Do it progressively, by small increments. Set weekly goals.

BJJ is great. Muay Thai is great (the conditioning required for Muay Thai is probably more analogous to what you need in terms of abstract conditioning). But the activities that you are training for in those arts are specific to THOSE ARTS.

Check your local colleges' recreation centers (they should be open to the general public) - a lot of them have fitness programs designed for police/fire department physical entry tests. Call up your local recruiter - see what they recommend!

[Tom Yum]

www.sealpt.com

The program is run by former SEAls and USMC Recon guys. I did it last year to get a glimpse of what it might be like. Lots of running, lots of calisthenics, instructors getting very very vocal. Repeat. The challenge was to keep going, never giving up and being able think while exhausted.

From what I've been told from those who have served and witnessed the program, the mental and physical intensity is somewhat close to Marine Corps Basic but with some of the excercises/challenges and runs done by the SEALs (getting cold & wet, sand pits, log pt, longer distance runs and some mental challanges too etc.)

They've got a Special Forces Hell weekend that is more in line with the Hell week for SEALs; alot of the guys in it are enlisted Navy who did not survive Hell week, some regular dudes and some ex-military guys. There's even the quitter bell.

I've been told every Friday, Recon guys go for an 11 mile run to the ocean, swim 2 miles and run the 11 miles back. They've got to be able to hustle with whatever size ruck on their back...even 100+ lbs.

[slyfox]

Thank-you for your thoughtful responses guys, I've decided to apply my energy in a more focused direction by using a program called Crossfit (some of you will have probably heard of it.)

Tom, regarding Sealpt I read your Seal training diary with interest and I haven't ruled out undergoing a similar program in my local area.

Perhaps one day I'll have the time to learn some BJJ, until then adios.

[Tom Yum]

Originally Posted by slyfox

Thank-you for your thoughtful responses guys, I've decided to apply my energy in a more focused direction by using a program called Crossfit (some of you will have probably heard of it.)

Tom, regarding Sealpt I read your Seal training diary with interest and I haven't ruled out undergoing a similar program in my local area.

Perhaps one day I'll have the time to learn some BJJ, until then adios.

Crossfit is an excellent program, bro.

If you decide to do a pre-SF program, write about it in a diary and post it, if you feel comfortable about it.

[DickHardman]

id rather do a competitive martial art, as those other activities mentioned dont teach you to defend yourself and fight effectively. crossfit, running, swimming etc will all get you in good shape, but competitive martial arts will give you valuable self defense skills as you workout and get into shape at the same time.

[slyfox]

Originally Posted by Tom Yum

Crossfit is an excellent program, bro.

If you decide to do a pre-SF program, write about it in a diary and post it, if you feel comfortable about it.

Shall do.

Originally Posted by DickHardman

id rather do a competitive martial art, as those other activities mentioned dont teach you to defend yourself and fight effectively. crossfit, running, swimming etc will all get you in good shape, but competitive martial arts will give you valuable self defense skills as you workout and get into shape at the same time.

Self defence? This will be my self defence..



Jokes aside you're right Dick, martial arts would be a useful skills set, once I have got my fitness up to an adequate level I will probably return to BJJ and MMA.

[Tom Yum]

M-4.....Nice. No 4 x Scope? No red dot? No 203? jk

[Uke]

Originally Posted by Thai Bri

Oh, military and special forces eh?

Daydream Believer.........

In all seriousness, look at what the guys in the units actually do to qualify, and do that. BJJ will make you fitter.... for BJJ. Any indirect effects for running over mountains with a ruck sack on your back will be negligible.

It would be like wanting to prepare for a BJJ competition, but not wanting to do BJJ.

Now don't forget that any of us can end up over training. Yes, put everything you've got into it. But don't "spend" too much energy by adding the superfluous.

This is an excellent post, Thai Bri.

[Uke]

Originally Posted by WildWest.

Like others have said, do you need to learn BJJ for the military?? No, so don't waste your time.

To be good at the fitness tests you must train the aspects of the fitness test. If you want to be a good runner and swimmer, then run and swim!! If you want to carry heavy loads long distances then train to carry heavy loads over long distances. Sound simple?? Because it is!!

As far as muscular endurance goes give kettlebell training a try over ordinary weights. It's demanding, challenging and you will develop a very strong core.

Amen to that.