KUDOS ARCHIVE 2013-01-01

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Rob,
I just wanted to say thanks again for such an awesome program. My detachment
took a record APFT this morning and the results amazed me. My detachments
average during the initial diagnostic was a very weak 242 and after doing
your APFT 6-Week Training Program our average was raised to a 273. My
background is Infantry so I believe it is important to be physical fit but
my Soldiers are Public Affairs and they do not hold the same belief in
physical fitness Infantry Soldiers do. I had two Soldiers raise their
average over 50 points and I made a believer out of them and the other
companies and detachments in my unit. Out of 10 companies and detachments we
had the second worst average and after six weeks we know have the highest.
Thanks again and keep up the amazing programming.

v/r
– C.

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Rob,

The Bataan Death March plan you gave me was fucking awesome. About half of
my team did the plan, but we had a CSM who didn’t think he could learn
anything from a captain so he didn’t want to play. He took a few of my
guys, did their own thing, and they all finished like shit. Included among
the guys that did your plan is an SSG, who won third place in the
female military heavy division, and 2nd in her age group. I will send
pictures soon. Thank you very, very much.

– T.

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Greetings Rob!

Several weeks ago I purchased your GoRuck training program and put it to use. Your training program was well worth the money and was essentially an investment in me and my fitness. The five week plan had prepared me for the challange so well I had the energy and strenght to encourage/assit others who were not as ready to meet the physical demands. At the end of the 8 1/2 day I still had plenty of strenght, stamina and endurance left making the challange extremely enjoyable, so much so I have already signed up for another one. Thank you for taking the time to create this plan.

– C.

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Rob,
I just wanted to thank you for all your hard work in programming your operator sessions. Myself and a few other guys have been following your operator sessions now since the beginning of our deployment back on July 2012 and now we are coming to a close of this deployment (10 days left). Your program has really changed us, one guy couldn’t understand why we were doing the things we were doing because it didn’t relate to anything the magazines say, so I had to constantly remind him to just follow the program. He did and now he is preaching Military Athletes to others. As for me I believed in the program since I was introduced to it from an old platoon sergeant, but never really stayed focused on it day in day out. So during this deployment I followed the program to the “T”. At the age of 35 I must say I much stronger than I was when I was in my 20’s and I have also lost 30 lbs!! Again me and the guys are grateful for you, even if we may cuss your name out on some of the workouts.

– R.

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Rob,

I would like to thank you and your staff for all that you guys do and your support of the military.

I was a pretty avid crossfitter until I was turned on to your website through a platoon commander in my company. Needless to say I have been hooked ever since. I am without a doubt stonger and more durable than I have ever been in my life thanks to your workouts.

I am currently on my 2nd deployment to Afghanistan and have done your workouts religously and to the “t” day in and day out for seven months. Only taking a week off between programs for recovery and obviously on days we are outside the wire.

Since being out here myself and few other Marine Advisors have completed the 357 strength, Work Capacity, and Ultimate Meathead Cycle. Now we are currently doing the “Operator Sessions” until redeployment to the states. All of our lifts have gone through the roof! Every 1RM is over 200lbs with squats over 300 and deadlifts over 400.

We can’t thank you guys enough for what you have provided us to keep us in the best shape possible to do our jobs. We all have excellent training and know our jobs but just knowing that the man next to is capable of dragging your ass to safety if something goes wrong and can last in a fight for hours if need be puts you just a little more at ease.

This is how the Military should train hands down!

Thanks again for all you do and keep up the great work!

– J

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Rob,

I wanted to write and thank you for another successful training program. This weekend I completed the first Goruck Heavy event at Ft Bragg. It was setup and ran by Sgt 1st Class Dan Plants of 3rd SFG(A) (whom I think you know). 73 showed-up and 37 finished 24+ hours later. I was in the finishers group – not bad for a 44yo dude. We went 30-40mi with 40# rucks minimum, carrying water cans, stretchers, slosh pipes, and other crazy shit. We hit sidewalks, fields, tank tracks – and whatever the sand/clay/misery mix that composes the trails at Bragg. We did log PT, stairs laps, lunges, etc… Weather was raining 34-45 degrees the whole time with no sun.
I used the Ruck-Based Selection program, as you suggested, and that definitely helped carry me through. The rucking NO DOUBT prepared me for the long movements and general abuse we received. The sandbag getups and long work cap sessions especially helped prepare my mind for this event, and fighting off the word that starts with a Q and sounds like quit. If anything ‘gave-out’ on me, I would say my overhead pressing was nonexistent by the end – legs and back were still in the fight to the end.

I’m not sure what is next on the event list, but whatever it is, Military Athlete will be used for training.

Thanks again,

– S.

**********************
Rob,

I wanted to write and thank you for another successful training program. This weekend I completed the first Goruck Heavy event at Ft Bragg. It was setup and ran by Sgt 1st Class Dan Plants of 3rd SFG(A) (whom I think you know). 73 showed-up and 37 finished 24+ hours later. I was in the finishers group – not bad for a 44yo dude. We went 30-40mi with 40# rucks minimum, carrying water cans, stretchers, slosh pipes, and other crazy shit. We hit sidewalks, fields, tank tracks – and whatever the sand/clay/misery mix that composes the trails at Bragg. We did log PT, stairs laps, lunges, etc… Weather was raining 34-45 degrees the whole time with no sun.
I used the Ruck-Based Selection program, as you suggested, and that definitely helped carry me through. The rucking NO DOUBT prepared me for the long movements and general abuse we received. The sandbag getups and long work cap sessions especially helped prepare my mind for this event, and fighting off the word that starts with a Q and sounds like quit. If anything ‘gave-out’ on me, I would say my overhead pressing was nonexistent by the end – legs and back were still in the fight to the end.

I’m not sure what is next on the event list, but whatever it is, Military Athlete will be used for training.

Thanks again,

– S.

**************Rob,

I would like to thank you and your staff for all that you guys do and your support of the military. I was a pretty avid crossfitter until I was turned on to your website through a platoon commander in my company. Needless to say I have been hooked ever since. I am without a doubt stonger and more durable than I have ever been in my life thanks to your workouts. I am currently on my 2nd deployment to Afghanistan and have done your workouts religously and to the “t” day in and day out for seven months. Only taking a week off between programs for recovery and obviously on days we are outside the wire. Since being out here myself and few other Marine Advisors have completed the 357 strength, Work Capacity, and Ultimate Meathead Cycle. Now we are currently doing the “Operator Sessions” until redeployment to the states. All of our lifts have gone through the roof! Every 1RM is over 200lbs with squats over 300 and deadlifts over 400. We can’t thank you guys enough for what you have provided us to keep us in the best shape possible to do our jobs. We all have excellent training and know our jobs but just knowing that the man next to is capable of dragging your ass to safety if something goes wrong and can last in a fight for hours if need be puts you just a little more at ease. This is how the Military should train hands down! Thanks again for all you do and keep up the great work!

– J.

******************
Rob –

Just graduated Ranger School last week and I’m emailing you to send big time KUDOS to you for developing the Ranger School train up program. All I can say is that I’m 28 years old and followed your program to the letter (I completed the 6 week cycle about 3 times before I actually went to school…) and I went straight through the course without issue. The mountain phase in particular was not even close to as bad for me as it was for 90% of the other dudes out there and I have to credit your program for really helping me get my legs ready for the exceptional challenges. I really do believe that I had the endurance to go the distance… And even as I was losing pounds of body mass and muscle each week, I had the foundation and confidence to know that I could take the next step and keep moving.

– J.

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Rob –

I’m a senior Marine ROTC student at CU-Boulder commissioning active duty in
May.

I ran my final official Combat Fitness Test today (sprints, ammo can presses,
buddy carries/drags, etc…. sorry if you already know what it is) and got my best
time ever by a LONG shot. Perfect 300 and I feel like I had a lot left in me.

I just wanted to say thanks for the Military Athlete program. I’ve been doing
“Crossfit-type” programs since the beginning of high school but your program is
the only one that has truly yielded extraordinary results. The strength-bias
programming is EXACTLY what I was looking for and EXACTLY what I need (as
well as many of my active duty infantry friends here who do your program also
and swear by it).

Thank you for all that you do.

Respectfully,

– T.

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“I wanted to thank you for your 5 week Goruck Training plan. I just did the Goruck Challenge 10/27/12. Class 300, and I can tell you that your plan not only helped me physically but mentally also. When I first recieved the plan and started looking through the workouts and how they progressed I thought to myself ” no freakin way !”, but when I actually did them I realized how much I was capable of and it changed my outlook on the challenge itself. After your workouts I was more motivated and excited to do the challenge because I knew I could do it. Your plan helped me focus on the task at hand and not dread the whole ordeal. I’m 43 and have had knee and back injuries that caused some concern but I believe your plan also kept me injury free because of all the core and leg work. You were right I actually started to love the sandbag getups, what an awesome exercise ! I am going to continue following with Military athlete’s programs because they work ! Thanks again.”

-M.
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Rob,

I’ve been lifting for about six years (boot, I know) and about two
years ago a workout buddy of mine got me started on your operator
sessions. In six months of doing your workouts, I was the biggest,
strongest, and most physically fit I had ever been… and injury free
(12 mile ruck under 2:10:00 @ 70#, ME DH pullups to 42) . My buddy
PCS’d about a year ago, and I went back to my old ways, dabbling in
various free functional fitness regimens online. After tearing my
rotator cuff twice, tearing up both knees (a combination of
operational hazards and my workout program), and not being remotely
close to as strong as I was a year ago, I’ve returned to
MilitaryAthlete. After just reviewing the current cycle I must say,
it’s like coming home after a long deployment. I’m looking forward to
a long love/hate relationship of slayfests with you and your lab rats.

Semper Fi,

John H.

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Rob,

Just wanted to say how great your operator workouts are. We are
currently deployed to Eastern Afghanistan been here since beginning of
July.

I had always been a fan of your workouts squad PT, SFAS ruck
program and the pre Afghan workout. I started the operator sessions once
we got in country, guys were looking at me weird I guess because I
wasn’t doing the “normal” gym/body building workouts.

But now I have 4 guys training with me at 5am 5 days a week. They curse at me every
workout but I try and remind them that it’s a guy named Rob Shaul who
comes up with these insane workouts not me. But in the end they love it,
they also see the results and benefits from the workouts.

To give you an example we were taking motor rounds to our COP, then over the radio they
called out for the medics because some guy had gone down and was in
another bunker across the cop so me and another medic took off
sprinting.

I had my full kit on and the other medic didn’t and I probably weigh about 30lbs more than him needless to say I left him in the dust and got to the casualty first and began assessing. By the time the other medic got there he was about to pass out and hyperventilating.

Oh and did I mention that in that same mornings workout had us doing
jingle jangles with our body armor?

I believe in your workouts and it’s benefit in helping us not only become better military athletes but to also help us to save lives. Here is a photo from the morning workout.

Thanks again for your awesome workouts!

v/r,

SGT A-G

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Coach,

I just wanted to drop you a line and say thank you for the awesome programming. I just brought my company back from a very challenging 6 months in eastern Afghanistan. The bottom line is that without your program we would not have been able to accomplish half of what we did and we would not have brought home as many guys as we did. My Soldiers hated me when I first instituted mind numbing amounts of leg blasters, step-ups, and sandbag get ups, and training that was like nothing they had ever done before, but all these things became a rallying cry as the Soldiers realized how far ahead of their sister companies they were in their physical and mental fitness. Keep doing what you are doing, the benefit cannot be understated.

– B.

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Rob,

First off- let me give thanks for your programming. I followed for
your Operator Sessions for 8 months during my senior year of college
and enjoyed the best level of functional fitness of my life. I later
suffered a knee injury, prompted by the Bataan Memorial Death March in
Mar 2011 and underwent surgery in Aug 2011. I followed your “One Leg
Injury” programming following surgery which helped me maintain a
respectable level of fitness. After I recovered from the surgery I
had a few months before I shipped off to ranger school, so I began
your “Ruck Selection” programming. I crushed Ranger School and was
fortunate enough to make it through as a first-time “Go”.

– W.

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Rob,

I’ve always had a love/hate relationship with your program, in that I love
to hate the intensity. A month ago I started operator sessions, having
completed the pre-Afghan training program and Big 24 prior to deployment.
I’m telling you now I was weighing more on the hate side today with the
stamina session. That was one of the most intense workouts I’ve ever done,
and I wanted to thank you again for what you do. I actually made it to 12
sets of the back squats/getups when my sandbag broke and dumped into my
face. With that said, I just ordered a sandbag and some collars for our gym
so I can continue to punish myself at altitude.

I promised you a picture a while back, and I’ve attached it. Sadly, we
don’t scale mountains in my AO (although we do sit at 7,500 feet), but this
is the best I’ve got for now. This picture of my Squadron Commander (left)
and myself was taken shortly before my platoon’s first direct fire incident.

Thank you again for everything. I was physically prepared for the
deployment because of your programs, and I can’t begin to thank you enough.

– Z.

*******************

Rob,

I’ve been using your squad pt plan the last few months for my sniper section and it’s been working great! There’s been dramatic increases in endurance and strength plus, the guys love it.

Thanks,

– E.

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Rob,
This morning I ran the Marine Corps’ CFT to assess my performance
and determine where I needed to focus training. Work Capacity &
Strength training with your program proved tremendously effective.
I wanted to find my worst case scenario – No warm-up & No
stretching. While driving through the movement under fire portion, I
remembered training days with jingle jangles, repping at 80% max front
squats, and/or sled drags. I maxed the event with time to spare.

The Military Athlete Training Program no only give us the ability to
perform, but the tenacity to grit and drive through. Keep it up!
Thanks!

SF,
– K.

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Rob,

I’m not much to compliment people on how great their products are but just an update on how the workout’s going. I’ve been an avid crossfitter for several years and have always enjoyed it. I just recently researched mil athlete. I’m really happy with the workout structure and how you incorporate active mobility, stretching, and running. They’re intense too. I’m in decent shape but it’s sooooo damn hot here that I’m drenched less than half way through and gotta dig deep to remain focused.

Prior to purchasing the program I read some reviews about MA and they were very good but one guy complained that MA didn’t incorporate enough box jumps and jump rope the way Xfit does. What a jackass.

Your workout had box jumps in the very first or second workout and Ive been on target quite a bit. After 11 rotations overseas and never once had to “jumprope” or do double unders Everyone in the crossfit cult is so focused on exercises and events for xfit games etc. I’ve got no interest in competing in “the games” but would rather have more functional fitness that will help me successfully get to the target and home again safely.

I look forward to finishing this cycle and plan on trying different ones in the future. When i get home i’ll purchase some MA gear from you.

Thanks for the support.

– C.

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Rob,

I completed your patrol officer program and have nothing but amazing results. I am in the reserves and have a ultimate soldier type competition coming up in September. Through the patrol program I was able to identify some of my weaknesses for the upcoming competition. Which is why I got the work capacity program this time. I will be back for more.

This is the best training I have ever done and injury free at that. The website with all the lifts and stretches is invaluable. Thanks again for the information and motivation.

– S.

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So I am laying briefly collapsed on the floor of our small gym in full kit.
What brought me here… well 1 minute ab bridge in kit for starters. As I am
laying there and I see people staring at me.. I realize something. Why its
worth it. My mate is about 12 meters away laying on the floor too. And I
think to myself. How many people do you see in such a state at any time
during their work out? Sure, they are muscular, or strong, but I cant recall
anyone ever laying on the floor for a moment to recover for the next
iteration. And judging by the looks i get they haven’t either.

In the old days, students of the martial arts would travel hundreds of miles
by foot to find a suitable sifu(or master). And I realize at that moment on
the floor how valuable great instruction is. There are multiple elements
necessary to mastery of anything, however the path to it almost always
begins with solid instruction. In this day and age, there is so much
information out there(both good and bad) that we may lose sight of the
value of quality instruction.

Thank you for the quality level of instruction you provide. A few cups
of coffee from star bucks costs me 25 dollars a month.. Fuck star
bucks, i never liked their marked up coffee anyways.

-j

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To Whom It May Concern:

I got turned-on to your website through several buddy’s who grew up in Montana and Wyoming. The first thing I noticed was that this was the first website I seen devoted to athletes who do not have a whistle to play to. Often there is not a pre-determined time limit in a tactical world. The second thing I notice was it was free. I knew it was not going to last. It couldn’t and to be fair it shouldn’t.

When you’re charging $25 per month for the daily workout, it is not for the actual workout. Your charging for your expertise and training that went in to the process and the workout is the result. The user is paying for specific information. “I want information on being the best trained soldier I can be, without spending hours a day doing research. I can pay this Rob guy $25 per month to do it for me and give me a sheet of paper that says, “Do this today, do that tomorrow…” Sounds to me like a good deal. Hell, I can create a WOD and it would be for free; it wouldn’t be worth the digits used to create it. The funny thing is you are still giving information for “free” in the squad PT sessions. You are only charging for premium content. Most people support the troops by sending candy and deodorant (much need, thanks); you are giving them information to train physically, to fight to the objective, take the objective, and to fight on. When I was a young inexperienced NOC, I had a Squad Leader tell me “the best thing you can do for your soldiers is to train them. That way you ensure their survival. The Army can get soldiers to the fight; it needs great leaders to bring them back.” I think that is a better way of supporting the troops than snicker bars and coffee, (please don’t stop the coffee).

Like every other soldier with a family I am on a tight budget. I am not going to belittle anyone. Everybody who is “outraged” over the gym dues look at what you’re getting for the price. For those who can’t afford it every month, there is the squad PT session for no cost to you. Here is the belittling: For those who sole reason for leave military-athlete is over the gym dues, you are an idiot.

-SGT C

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Rob,

I did your MA program throughout 2009 and the translation to functional fitness was phenomenal! I am now stationed in Korea where the new fitness mentality has yet to be established. Hopefully I can establish a foothold of your physical fitness common sense here.

I’m taking a company command in the last week of April. I would really like to implement your range fitness ideas as well as your Afghanistan program due to Korea’s terrain (mountainous but not as bad as the ‘stan). I also plan on using your squad PT as our foundation for physical training.

Thanks!

-D

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As I told you before, I am with a Marine Special Operations Team. We were on an operation when one of our two MH-47’s went down. The 47 I was on went back in, and we started carrying guys to the medevac bird. My workout buddy, who is my corpsman, started working on guys and I started getting guys to the bird that was about 400 meters away. Soon we were both working together. Today we were talking about how we were in MUCH better shape then everyone else. Guys would be taking breaks and we would be standing there waiting for them. One guy looked at us and asked if we were smoked too, we both said no. We both know that it is because of your workout program, and we both want to thank you.

A little back story, the bird went down on exfil. We had finished clearing a bazaar, I had breached close to one hundred doors and I was totally fucking smoked. I had carried my kit, weapon, breaches, backpack, a shotgun, and moved over two kilometers for over five hours. Then after we exfiled the other bird went down, so we went back in and worked the medevac. Then after that we stayed on scene until the fire burned itself out, then got the bodies out and brought them home. We both feel that we would not have performed at the level we did if this had happened before we started your program. So we both thank you very much for the work you have done, and I look forward to being smoked by your workouts for a long time to come. Thanks again coach.

E

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