By Jackson Mann BLUF (Bottom Line Up Front) Four MTI Lab Rats completed a 5-week mini-study to evaluate which lower-body training protocol produced the greatest improvement in standing broad jump distance. Each athlete followed a different approach: the hinge lift, power cleans, and loaded broad jumps. Loaded broad jump training and power clean training […]
Research
Mini Study: No Clear Winner as Bench Press, Push Press, and Military Press Compete for “King” of Upper-Body Lifts – MTI to Redo the Study
By Jackson Mann BLUF (Bottom Line Up Front) Four MTI Lab Rats completed a 5-week mini-study designed to explore which upper-body pressing movement provides the greatest strength transfer across horizontal and vertical patterns. Each athlete trained one lift—Bench Press, Push Press, or Military Press—using a 3x/week density progression, then tested for strength changes across […]
Research Review: Ultra-Processed Doesn’t Always Mean Unhealthy: Why Reform, Not Removal, Should Guide Food Policy—Especially for Fortified Plant Milks, Clinical Meal Replacements, and Frozen Vegetables
By Jackson Mann BLUF (Bottom Line Up Front) This narrative review examines the controversial role of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) in modern diets. It presents evidence both for their potential harms—such as high levels of salt, sugar, oil, and additives—and for their possible utility if significantly reformulated and regulated to support health and sustainability goals. The […]
Research Review: Evening Training Improves Grip Strength and BJJ-Specific Performance Without Increasing Perceived Exertion in Both Male and Female Athletes
By Jackson Mann BLUF (Bottom Line Up Front) Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) athletes demonstrated better physical performance in the evening compared to the morning and afternoon, particularly in grip strength and sport-specific tests. However, these performance improvements occurred without corresponding differences in perceived exertion or between sexes. This suggests that aligning BJJ training with athletes’ circadian […]
Research Review: Perceived Hydration Status Influences Endurance Cycling Performance: Psychological Expectation, Not Physiological Dehydration, Drives a 6% Decline in Output
By Jackson Mann BLUF (Bottom Line Up Front) Endurance cycling performance in the heat was significantly impaired (~6% decrease) when participants believed they were dehydrated, even though their actual hydration status was identical across trials. This study revealed a clear nocebo effect: psychological perceptions of hydration meaningfully influenced performance under mild dehydration (~1.6% body mass […]
Research Review: Bodyweight, Resistance Bands, and Blood Flow Restriction: Practical Alternatives to Lifting for Military Athletes
By Jackson Mann BLUF (Bottom Line Up Front) Minimal-equipment resistance training (MIN), whether performed with or without blood flow restriction (MIN + BFR), effectively improved military‑relevant performance outcomes and body composition in ROTC cadets and midshipmen. Although strength gains (3RM bench press and deadlift) were slightly greater with traditional equipment (TRAD), all training methods produced comparable improvements […]
Research Review: Cadets Maintain Lean Body Mass Despite Prolonged Caloric Deficit During 44-Week Training Course
By Jackson Mann BLUF (Bottom Line Up Front) Both male and female officer cadets completing a 44-week British Army training course experienced sustained negative energy balance, with men showing significantly larger energy deficits due to higher total energy expenditure. Despite this, no significant lean mass loss occurred, and key metabolic and endocrine markers remained largely […]
Mini Study: Chassis Integrity Assessment Needs Refinement
BLUF (Bottom Line Up Front) Four MTI athletes tested a new Chassis Integrity assessment format over a 5-week cycle. The test included movements targeting flexion (Sandbag Sit-Ups), extension (Good Mornings), rotation (Sandbag Keg Lifts), and isometric tension (Elevated Weighted Bridge Holds). Improvements were made across all domains in the individual movements. However, the assessment’s complexity […]
Research Review: The Impact of Military Applied Sports on Cardiorespiratory Function
By Jackson Mann BLUF (Bottom Line Up Front) Cadets who participated in military-applied sports (MAS), such as the military pentathlon, demonstrated significantly better cardiorespiratory function than those who engaged in general physical training programs. These improvements were evident both at rest and during physical exertion. MAS-trained cadets exhibited more efficient oxygen consumption, better heart rate […]
Research Review: Alternatives to Standard Military Fitness Testing
By Jackson Mann BLUF Traditional military fitness testing has long relied on scheduled assessments. However, certain branches have explored randomized testing to combat “cramming” and promote continuous readiness. With the U.S. Space Force piloting a fitness model centered on wearable technology, and the U.S. Air Force randomizing testing, the question for the military becomes: Should […]