By Rob Shaul
In addition to suggestions, several MTI athletes send kudos. The ones we received are below:
- I love the offerings you have, and recommend it to my friends and associates! Keep up the phenomenal work!
- I enjoy the knowledge that goes into planning programming for your athletes. As a personal trainer / nutrition coach, I love seeing the view your gym takes working with “non-traditional” athletes. I think a lot of your athletes and customers enjoy knowing the “why” behind things.
- I am completely satisfied with MTI. I have been using your programming for 10+ years and even at 40 continue to be able to physically outperform (or at-least compete) with individuals who are 20 years my junior. I will also say that I have never been injured by your programming and find it to be balanced, applicable, and multi-fuctional. Keep up the great work.
- Thank you, thank you for your programs. I wish I lived in Jackson so that I could train in person! You programs that I have purchased have helped me mountain climb in some of the most beautiful places I have ever seen.
- I love the variety of plans on the full access plan. It came in handy during a leg injury and through a few seasons of different goals. I’ve enjoyed having access to multiple plans I can switch between when different past injuries flare up to tailor my exercise. I like it but the cost is steep so I may need to cut back to a lower end plan.
- Started on your programming back in 2009 when I was an infantry officer deployed in Afghanistan, and the programming / exercises have followed me into the civilian world and family life. I sing your praises whenever I can, use your programs for general fitness, and specifically use your dryland training to get ready for ski season every year (was a collegiate ski racer and continue to ski–alpine and nordic–for fun and fitness). I’m of the mind that a veteran plays a role in encouraging fitness in his/her community, so I could see myself teaching classes and coaching for friends / family / community members in the future, so some form of coaching materials could be helpful for this. What I appreciate and keeps me coming back are a couple things: a data driven approach, humility to grow and learn and shed ineffective programming and exercises, and a sports-specific focus. As a father of three young kids now, my workout time is limited to 30 min chunks between calls (working from home), so the short-burst circuits/grinds are really good, and I’ve adapted the handful of programs I’ve purchased to fit in these windows. Macabre as it may sound, one of my mantras is “be hard to kill,” and your programming fits with that ingrained soldier’s ethos. Keep doing the good work you do.
- I love all your studies. I learn a ton.
- I have everything I need. The SF45 programme is sensational (even if I’ve been a bit slack over the last year or so!) and I look forward to seeing your newsletter every week. It’s great stuff that you guys are doing
- Don’t need anything new. I look forward to every Arete newsletter.
- Keep the post 45 year old stuff coming. Love it.
- I love the addition of the newsletter. The articles and training methods highlighted are awesome. Keep doing what you’re doing!
- Your Leadership articles are great
- I love your programming. Especially when I had two orthopedic injuries this past two years: knee and wrist. I’m a retired tactical medic now critical care nurse. I classify myself as a year round mountain athlete. Thank you and keep up the good work!
Just want to say how awesome you guys are. Been following your work for years now & am always in awe of the amazing stuff you do – you have taught me so much & helped make huge changes to my own training, and indirectly influenced so many others. Thank you for all that you do. - I love the blog features. So interesting and insightful.
- I have utilized your training programs for quite some time and am very grateful for the variety of programs supporting the activities I engage in. I don’t have any suggestions other than please keep up your good work.
I think they’re all great programs. Currently started fortitude again, always a love/hate. Thanks, Rob and team.
I like the stuff directed towards older athletes. I’m 63, always looking for ways to stay in the game (mostly lifting and rucking) without trashing myself too thoroughly. Thanks. - Honestly, your products are perfect for your current target market which is the go hard operator or the go hard mountain athlete. I reference a lot of your material in my own programming but I am not as intense as I used to be when I was in my 30s and now that I’m over 45 I’ve had to dial it back a little bit for durability focus. Tried CrossFit for a while, but it was more annoying than anybody could have warned me about. I’m not interested in fitness as a competition. I’m interested in Fitness as a quality of life item. I don’t want to pay the YMCA or the local big box to tell me I’m doing it wrong so two days a week run at least one and then I try to lift some leg based the other two.And of course, I work in EōS and sandbag get up and barbell complex to spice things up at very levels of intensity and duration.
- I think you’re offering a good, wide selection of workout plans for firefighting.
- First, I enjoy your ‘kaizen’ approach…it is very SF like. I am very happy with all your programs, articles and the community.
- Love the articles – keep it up!
- Keep up the great work.
- I love the fitness standards that MTI posts. I like to see how I stack up (in terms of how strong or how much I weigh) compared to like-minded peers. It also helps me to identify what weaknesses I need to work on.
- Love the content
- I purchased the Smoke Divers package years ago and still use it to train. I love the articles. I would purchase more programs but honestly just don’t need to.
- I love MTI. I have been using workouts off on on on SOF deployments and such since about 2010. The options for workouts that fit your athlete type are amazing and always satisfactory for exactly the types of workouts we need. As I get older, my athlete type changed to conventional support and I focus on body weight, so MTI has that too! Lastly, I have only reached out a few times, but within hours, I have always got a courteous and precise response from Rob. So, keep up the awesome work!!
- Everything is great! As a 60+ veteran I am particularly interested in content for us ‘experienced’ athletes who fail to act our age and are still searching to find our limits (e.g., after double shoulder surgeries and two years away from lifting I recently broke 11 world and 13 national powerlifting records at a WPC World Cup event)! Thanks for all you do!
- A lot of your programming is very good. I need help improving fitness and body composition, improving my nutrition all while being a very busy and very tired dad who has to be fit to maintain my job as an active duty Soldier with the National Guard.
- I was glad to see Rob’s recent article on his modified Velocity diet as it pertains to us youngsters who (suddenly) find ourselves in our mid-fifties.
- The attraction for me to MTI has always been the Great platform for fitness, and general quality of life improvement. Less AI material and more real people material…
- I love your USMC-specific PFT and CFT training programs. Keep updating them.
- You guys are awesome. I mean that. Keep drilling down to what works. I appreciate how MTI has simplified over the years.
- I would not change a thing. Here are the things that I really like about MTI. 1. The variety of programs. 2. The ability to view exercises within each program. 3. I travel a lot, so the ability to modify the program with limited equipment is a major plus for me. I can make almost any hotel equipment work. 4. I am able to send email questions and get quick replies. 5. I believe in functional training, not just muscle hypertrothy, muscle endurance, or endurance training. I like the balance of all aspects of fitness, that helps achieve the results I want.
- Products are great I just check a random assortment of ever changing needs. SOF support for National Guard which takes about 3 months a year of various training. Border Patrol agent currently on a mountain team. Plus getting older as a high mileage athlete.
- Love the body weight, limited equipment. I also appreciate the general fitness, an “older athlete” (I’m 43) programming. I’ve read the article, how to train when you aren’t training for anything numerous times. Thanks MTI!
- I’ve used about a dozen of your programs. They are all great. I just buy as I need them. I also enjoy the selection of articles and newsletters.
- I can’t think of anything. You guys are the best of the best!
- I love reading about the MTI programming. I’m a “regular” civilian, mostly a swimmer/runner, but got linked to your page after reading an article that cited Daniel Duane’s article from Men’s Journal back in 2017. I’m trying to learn about strength training for the civilian athlete, and trying to prioritize health as I get older in terms of injury prevention and overall strength.
- Your news from other sources is of real value in addition to your programs .It helps to keep up with the field
- I’m also an occasional backcountry hunter and utilize your programs to prepare. At 57 years old and with a long training history, I appreciate your training plans designed for older athletes. Thank you for all you do. Oh, I also thoroughly enjoy the weekly email newsletters and I look forward to reading your mini studies, athlete questions, and Arete helps me stay current on topics that are important to me.
- Love the over 50 fitness advice and more of it would be appreciated.
- I wouldn’t change much with your products and services. One idea more along the mini study and newsletter side of the house that I think would be interesting is if MTI picked an athlete and follow them from day one of a program, to their sport specific event, then afterward. I feel like this would work best with a tactical or mountain athlete familiar with the structure and programming of MTI who is already reasonably fit or possesses a strong base at the start. An example might be SGT Smith. 6 years as an infantrymen with a future date to attend SFAS or Ranger School. Maybe SGT. Smith emailed MTI asking “Which plans for SFAS in 10 Months?” Coach then responds with the recommended plan(s) for the individual’s timeline and specified event like usual.This is where MTI asks SGT Smith if he would be willing to let MTI Track and follow him to, through, and after the event. Posting his training progress and assessments and maybe writing a short summary at the end of each training week. This could be published in the weekly newsletter. Something like this rolling feature profiling someone start to finish would be pretty cool. It’s just a silly idea. Anyway I love what MTI does and more importantly I love what MTI DOESN’T Do. Keep doing what you’re doing and don’t fix anything that isn’t broken. It’s what I love about MTI. It evolves, studies and assesses their own approach, and strives to bring programs that have what athletes need most and not garage fillers and fads. You’ve had my respect and trust for over a decade now. Thanks for all your hard work!
- So far, I am liking all of the things that you already offer. I do enjoy the email newsletters with various subjects.
- You have a wide range of programs which is great. The ability to reach in to MTI and get training recommendations at any point is invaluable. Hope you continue to provide that level of service.
- Your programs are solid. I like the app the way it is and, as you said on the podcast with the 81st Stryker Brigade, making it more integrated with other tech is desirable but probably something outside of your bandwidth/concern. I’m not special. I know what I have to do to stay in fighting shape is tough and requires dedication not a special program just for me. ACFT and the old squad programming were great. I also like the age group fitness. “specifically” to work general prep fitness. For running, I’ve got 38 years of experience and have been coaching 30 of those years. I know what I need to do for ultras and don’t find your programming to be effective for me (former DI cross country and track with a 16:31:34 100 mile PR with 16,000 feet of gain and loss in 2016). Not enough specificity to be the best runner you can be- but that’s not the point of your programming and I get that! Your tactical athletes will never be elite runners, but most elite runners are not in great overall shape. Again, I’m not special. That means if I want to do well in ultras, I have to run a lot of distance and train more like an elite marathoner. For mountain races, vert up and down or lots of step ups and leg blasters. But I’ll never compete with the best ultra athletes without that. Your programs are great for getting general athletes across the finish line. No complaints- an athlete must know what his/her goals are. You do a great job managing expectations. However, I do love the strength modalities included in those programs, so make my own additions to my running through supplementing with your Rim to Rim and Mountain Ultra plans.
- You guys have it covered for me – very pleased with your programs. Been with you for quite a while and will continue.
- I absolutely love your articles. It is rare to get evidence based fitness data and you guys kill it. I would love it if you had a program for “ over 50 but still active duty and competing with the younger generation”. I’m struggling with every aspect of this, nutrition, maintaining muscle mass and high intensity aerobic exercise
- I’m a CPT and looking at starting to pursue my CSCS. I am an elementary PE teacher and I love hunting and hiking in the mountains here in Alaska. I am following and building my own program, reading up on the mini studies you offer and trying to help friends and family that are pursuing the same passions. I dont know what other services I’d be looking for. I appreciate the academic approach with minimal “you need to buy this thing” nonsense.
- Well, actually, I’m good with your offerings. I think the Core/Chassis Own Bodyweight program has been a wonderful eye-opener, and the backcountry prep & guide prep programs are outstanding. They make sense, they work, they inspire via results. I find application in different areas as I am less active in the mountains, and find my Shotokan Karate benefits tremendously from MTI training I do between visits to the dojo.
- I think you guys have it dialed.
- You guys basically have it all.
- I‘m different from the typical customer: A bit older (same age as Rob), German and live in Germany, live in a city, senior investment banker and family man. Came to MTI several years ago when I found the Backcountry Ski program. Realized that I need to follow the MTI philosophy more broadly – „everyday programming“ to have the base fitness, then Backcountry program October – December. Exercise at home in my basement – limited space and limited time. Suggested an „Urban Warrior“ everyday program and got I what I wanted, although with a different (better?) name „Busy Dad Limited Equipment ;-). Overall a happy customer. Have also purchased lots of other limited equpment programs over the years. What do I want? More focus on people like me. Focus on limited equipment programs, a minority of which can also have a „hypertrophy“ approach to strength (limited equipment should not just mean „light strength / strength endurance“, e.g. Al and Danny Kavadlo). Limited equipment also often means limited space, so continue offering limited space alternatives (not practical for me to carry a sandbag outside to the nearest urban playground at 6 am on a freezing January morning to do Sandbag Getup and Runs). Thanks for the good work!
- Excellent Site no need to improve.
- I think you’re doing awesome and recommend you to all of my Soldiers. Thank you!
- Not sure. You seem to be doing a great job at the moment with comprehensive training packages and a host of products and services. Keep it up.
- Long time follower. The info MTI puts out has always been some of the best out there. As I age, I’d like to see information for older athletes. Rob’s article this week on age and weight was awesome. Keep it up!
- I love your content. I have used it off and on for 15+/- years. I appreciate all the sport specific programs. My interests have changed as I have aged and found new sports to pursue. I guess my one area would be how to scale it back for myself as an aging athlete who has less time, youth, and testosterone but who still wants to push myself smarter and not as hard. Keep up the good work!
- I love MTI’s mini studies, they add a wealth of knowledge that helps me improve and understand my own limitations. Please keep doing it! Thanks so much.
- MTI is already ahead of me so I can’t say what I’d want or need!
- The video library, clear instructions, and well thought out progressive programing is great
- I returned to MTI specifically for the 45+ programming. I find the programming challenging, but doable, without the excessive soreness and chronic fatigue I encountered at a crossfit gym.
- I think the current array of programs suits my specific needs. I am a patrol officer who is looking to move into SRT/TRG/SWAT etc. I have been following a variety of programs developed by MTI and feel they help me maintain a very high standard of specific fitness.
- I like the philosophical essays on the site! Cheers
- I don’t mind hearing about what people have to say about different things. I appreciated your citation in The Comfort Crisis. I enjoyed that book. I took notes from it. The idea of “being harder to kill” through fitness appealed to me. Recently, I’ve had success getting back into an acceptable level of fitness and I attribute it to yogic type stretching. When I got more flexible and mobile, it seemed to me that my soreness didn’t come back in and limit my ability to recover. I recovered neigh near 100% from a torn meniscus and I’m trying to get to where I get a good fitness score for the Army. Best Regards.
- I can’t think of anything…y’all offer a pretty comprehensive and effective catalogue of programming. Articles are always interesting to read as well. I think you’re doing great and wish I’d known about you decades ago when I was still young! LOL.
- As an athlete subscriber for a few years now, I’ve been happy to see the daily sessions expand to SWAT/SRT, however, I have found that the LE specific programming is not pushing my fitness to the level I personally want, so I find myself still gravitating towards the Daily Operator sessions. I don’t have any suggestions to improve at this time, because what attracted me to your programming in the first place was the simplicity and lack of gimmick and advertising. But I would like to mention how responsive you are when I’ve submitted questions seeking training guidance or planning. Having the ability to get a same day or next day response keeps my training on schedule and confidence in knowing I have the support to make the proper training decisions as I progress through a plan.I’ve been exclusively using your programming for the past 5 years, and I really appreciate how straight forward and direct it is. Thank you for not selling out.
- More programs like the daily operator series. Missing up what you’re doing is more likely to keep my compliance up with the programming. Otherwise great work guys
- Honestly can’t think of anything. The latest updates to the app are great.
- I think you guys are right on track. As I get older, I like the articles about leadership, philosophy, and mental toughness.
- I have no suggestions, I love the articles and all of the information!
- I don’t think you need to improve anything. Your programs work and you continue to test and improve.