TRX – Military Gear Issue

NEW How to Add the TRX into Military Fitness Programs
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The TRX has revolutionized the way soldiers train for combat, athletes train for sport and regular people of all ages and abilities train for life. Former Navy SEAL, Randy Hetrick created the first TRX to address the need of his fellow SEALS to stay mission fit without a gym.  I spoke with Randy recently at a fitness conference and we both remarked at how at 40+ years old both of our backs are stronger now than they ever were in our twenties – when we were in the SEAL teams!

After using the TRX for the first time, I was sold.  I made the mistake however and took an eight hour class on the TRX and the next day I felt like I moved all my furniture in my house to a truck and placed it all back in my house the same day.  There were muscles in my core that I did not realize I had neglected over the years.  This device works – simply put.  It is no wonder why the United States Department of Defense purchased 24,000 units and spread them across all branches of the military.  Now, every single deploying brigade/battalion has been issued a TRX in some ratio.

 With soldiers facing multiple deployments and the rising importance of physical training, the Secretary of Defense recognized that service members needed fitness equipment they could travel with overseas and also use while state-side. The TRX is a versatile tool that can be used by soldiers of all abilities. I recently compared the TRX to a standard gym and found the TRX more versatile than a $1,500 multi-exercise machine.  With over 300 exercises possible with the TRX, workouts can be created to address the needs of each unit or soldier. It is also highly mobile, like our military. The TRX can be secured to a doorway, tank, truck, pull up bar, or other secure anchor point allowing for even more convenience and versatility for units that are deployed.  The TRX not only gets the body stronger, but allows soldiers to target movements that will be important during combat operations. This is a critical advantage as soldiers can train their body specific to their missions.

 It’s no secret that being deployed in the most obscure areas in the mountains of Afghanistan likely means not that having the luxury of the gym. Being in the mountains of Afghanistan also means that soldiers need to be in combat shape so they can climb, carry heavy gear, and meet the physical needs of a deployment. This can be a matter of life and death for these soldiers and the TRX is making a physical difference everywhere the military members are located.

Some of my favorite exercises I use as a warm- up before a workout as well as the Atomic Pushup can be seen in the video:

TRX Video #1  - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_iVG5XvhpE

• The Atomic Pushup is a challenging full body exercise that seriously works the pushup muscles and abs / core muscles to the point you will get winded when doing them.  I have not found many ab exercises that get you winded – the Atomic Pushup is one.

TRX Video #2 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I2CZSo0ylN8

• The TRX Rollout is a very tough exercise that reminds me of the Ab wheel in motion but adds the instability of Suspension Training.  I altered it a bit and make it more of a dynamic plank pose that isolates the abs / core.

TRX Video Channel - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SxzQjbJLLJk&feature=channel

This is the Fitness Anywhere video channel with more than 80 videos of exercises with military, law enforcement, pro athletes and more.  You will see just how versatile it is by watching a few of these videos.

Here is a good quote from Alex Roodhouse, Director Military Programs at Fitness Anywhere:  “I first used the TRX several years ago in Ramadi, Iraq.  We anchored it on our tactical vehicles and it made an immediate impact on my team.  At the time, we were the only unit using the TRX in our AO, and the only down-side to the TRX was that we couldn’t finish a work-out on it, due to the constant interruption of soldiers and Marines with questions.  Since then, the popularity of the TRX has exploded in the military, and it is used by the Navy Special Warfare and Expeditionary communities, by numerous Army Brigades, and throughout the Marine Corps.  Instead of one or two TRXs supplied by forward-thinking fitness enthusiasts, the TRX is now issued in deployment support kits to service-members going down-range.  School-houses throughout the military are training the next generation of soldiers, sailors and Marines on the TRX, and in a short period of time, we expect to see the TRX as a mandatory issue item for those deploying to Afghanistan and other austere regions around the world.”

 Note: Military can receive $20.00 discount when they purchase this bundle. Also, $5 of every FORCE kit purchased online goes to the TRX Warrior Fund. This fund provides equipment, training, and ongoing education to injured service members and athletes who embody the warrior spirit.

Thanks for sending those emails – I try to answer them all at stew@stewsmith.com.  Check out the StewSmith.com Fitness eBook Store for ideas on running and training programs for military and law enforcement as well as weight loss / fitness plans.