Q&A 8.6.20

I’ve been a member on and off since 2012. I am currently on recruiting duty but my job in the Marines is Artillery. My main focus on my body is my “COMBAT CHASIS” and loved the shape you put me in when I first started. I feel like through the years the workouts have gotten easier. I thought it was just me getting stronger but I went back and did some of the work capacity from 2013 and it kicked my butt. What was the reason. For the easier workouts? Are we just more effective in our training? Or was it so it could be more mainstream?

My main focus on my job is strength and work capacity with stamina here and there. We don’t do stamina phases anymore? (Haven’t seen one for a few months)

Why are most of our workouts from the series you have in your library and not new custom workouts as it used to be? Lastly, why did we stop with the lab rats video for the workouts?

I apologize for all the questions, I don’t know if I am being nostalgic but I really do miss the harder, custom workouts vice the series workouts. I am currently training by doing the old routines. When I have tried some of the new ones I find myself having to add stuff to it.

Thank you for the product you have… I have been in the Marines for 14 years and the best shape of my life has been thanks to you.

Your questions are a little difficult to follow, but here’s what I think you asked, and how I answered.

Overall I’d say yes. Why? Some of that old programming was just plain stupid and the goal isn’t to “workout” but to “train.” For example, one of the old, super hard, but in hindsight, dump, workouts was called “Nina’s First Time.” It was a 100x Curtis P’s for time at like 60% of your bodyweight and took around 45 minutes for the fastest of us. Each Curtis P involves a hang squat clean, in-place lunge each leg, and push press. A few years ago, when my knees started aching I began to question the use of lightly or moderately loaded deep squatting/knee bend movements for work capacity. They don’t make you any stronger, don’t transfer to running or rucking … they just pretty much only make you better at workouts like “Ninas First Time” and might accelerate the natural knee degeneration/arthritis we all get – so I called them “Garbage Reps” and have been working since to eliminate them from our work capacity efforts.

Also – there was not the focus on progression in that past programming there is now – and my application of Fluid Periodization has greatly evolved.

Overall, MTI programming has become much more mission-direct, efficient, and effective.

Couple reasons – Garbage Reps is one …. and second, we found there was little transfer for gym-based endurance efforts outside the gym. In other words, a 45-90 minute gym-based stamina effort didn’t transfer well to running, hiking uphill, rucking, or anything else. It just makes you better at doing these efforts – so I cut them out of our Base Fitness Programming. Stamina efforts are found in many of our sport/event specific train ups like selection programs. These are called “Mini Events” and are a mix of gym-based stuff and running/rucking/swimming. They are designed to prepare athletes mentally and physically for long, multi-modal days at selections, backcountry hunting trips, etc.

We haven’t done these for years and the quick reason is years ago we just had one or two things going on with daily programming. Now we have upwards of 250 individual programs and don’t have a daily focus like when we first started. As well, back then filming daily programming was unique … now it’s trite and doesn’t seem appropriate for our quiet professional ethic.

One of the reasons we keep the old Operator Sessions up is to allow those, like you, who enjoy that type of programming to still do it. We’re talking thousands of daily sessions in our old archives.

Just know, our programming has evolved as we’ve learned, tested, and improved, and from a mission-direct perspective, the current stuff again is better, more efficient, and more sustainable.

Respectfully,

– Rob Shaul

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I wanted to contact you regarding a mild difficulty in my ability to complete pull-ups.  It appears that my biggest issue stems from the positioning of my hands.  When I perform strict pull-ups, I seem to have a difficult time in clearing the bar without a slight involvement in my lower body.  I’m essentially kipping when I’m performing strict pull-ups.

This does not appear to be the case when I am performing neutral grip or even chin-up grip vertical pulling movements.

I do have a previous issue of scapular winging and it has improved significantly.

I was basically wondering how eccentric work or even isometrics would benefit regarding pull-ups in and of themselves.

Would you happen to have any advice so that I can do clean and efficient pull-ups?

This is a first. My guess is you’ll get stronger and the issue will go away.

We’ve had good luck with eccentric pull ups in helping those who struggle with one or few to build strength.

But, there are several different programming methodologies which we’ve developed to improve pull up numbers … and which will work best for you I don’t know.

Our Pull Up Improvement Training Packet deploys four different progressions, including eccentric.

– Rob

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Hope this finds you well & rested after the holiday weekend.

Been using MTI for a couple months now and I’m thrilled. Started after my buddy who’s a Ranger recommended it when I was asking for ways to stay motivated and push the workout boundaries during quarantine.

On that end, have a question I’m hoping to get your feedback on.

I’ll be starting Johnny week 7 tomorrow and then diving into Waylon the following week.

That said, I’ll be on the road for a few weeks starting end of July.

I won’t have the means to recreate the gym I’m currently working out of, but will likely be bringing at least a KB / SB with. Wondering what plans or combinations of plans you might suggest I mix together while on the road so I can keep moving.

Love what y’all are doing, really awesome stuff

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