Are We There Yet? Part 1: Developing A Tool To Estimate Ruck Times

  Adam Scott, MS, CSCS     “The standard for success of a foot march is very simple to measure: did the unit arrive at the destination at the prescribed time with the Marines in condition and required equipment present to accomplish the mission?” – US Marine Corps Reference Publication (MCRP) 3-02A       […]

Do Trekking Poles Make You More Efficient?

Part I: Previous Research and Mini-Study #1 Adam Scott, MS, CSCS One of the many things which Military and Mountain Athletes have in common is the requirement to move over ground (typically under load).  This prevailing operational demand is a critical component in the MTI training philosophy. As long as this demand remains, MTI is going […]

Mini-Study: Muscle-Ups, Rope Climbs, Peg Boards…Which is Harder?

  By Adam Scott, MS, CSCS After teaching a few of our Advanced Programming Courses over the past few months I know better than to enter into a debate for one type of pull-up over another.    So, in no way is this an argument for or against any exercise.  This mini-study is simply a […]

Study Results: No Easy Answer On Pull-Up Improvement

  By Adam Scott, MS, CSCS What is the best way to improve pull-ups? In July 2015 we conducted a Pilot Study trying to answer that very question. Building on our little study, twelve weeks ago, Dr. Eric Martin of California State University Monterery Bay (CSUMB) started a much larger, academic experiment using athletes from […]

The Best Way to Improve Push-Ups: Mini Study Results

Adam Scott, MS, CSCS   Push-Ups are abounded not only in tactical but also in the fitness world.  They are used in fitness tests (1,2).  They are used during training programs (3,4).  And they are even used to predict injuries and job performance (4).  So, we set out to examine four commonly used methods for improving Push-Ups.  […]

Airsoft Mini-Study Results: Better than Dry Fire, but not much Traction

By Rob Shaul The staff at Mountain Tactical recently completed a “Mini Study” to assess the affects airsoft target has on actual marksmanship. A follow up to our Dry Fire Mini Study a earlier this winter, we were hoping working with airsoft rifles, indoors, and getting actual target shot placement feedback, would transfer to the […]

Arm or Leg Injury? Train the Other Limb to Build Strength in Both

 By Adam Scott, MS, CSCS   A study from the University of Copenhagen found that just 2 weeks of inactivity in a limb can lead to a 33% loss in strength – a decline which was equated to aging 40-50 years.  The study’s disheartening news didn’t stop there.  The researchers also found that the fitter the […]

Operator Ugly and a Snapshot of U.S. Special Operations Soldiers

By Adam Scott, MS, CSCS   In 2016,  MTI traveled to Fort Bragg, NC for seven days of coaching, research and education.  Our visit included training sessions with students from the US Army Special Forces Qualification Course, current US Army Special Operations soldiers, Cadre at the John F Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School, and […]

Pro Skier hits 8G’s, Burns 2,900 Calories in a day of Resort Skiing

Above: A short clip of Forrest Jillson from last season.   By Adam Scott, MS, CSCS Most research examining the physiological demands of downhill skiing is well over 20 years old (1).  In that time the sport, its equipment, and our research tools have changed drastically…it is time to start updating our information. We started […]