Gin represents the most recent evolution of our day to day programming for Law Enforcement Patrol Officers and Detectives.
This is a balanced, 7-Week, 5 day/week training plan which concurrently trains strength, work capacity, tactical agility, upper body hypertrophy, and chassis integrity (functional core), and short-distance endurance. This is a balanced training plan and each of these fitness attributes are trained in relatively equal amounts.
Week 7 in the plan is a taper/unload week.
The training sessions in this training plan are designed to last 45-50 minutes.
This is Version 2 of Gin, updated September 2024.
Fitness Attributes
Strength
Gin deploys a modified version of MTI’s TLU Strength Progression methodology. Each TLU Strength session aims to train a total body, lower body and upper body strength exercise in the same session.
Work Capacity
Gin deploys two work capacity events, a 9-13-minute, Renegade Man Maker + Pull Up Bar Heel Tap effort, and a gym-based multi-mode event that combines barbell burpees and a 75m shuttle. Each event “progresses” or gets harder throughout the training plan. You’ll train work capacity two times per week.
Chassis Integrity
Gin trains chassis integrity 2 days/week, on the strength days. Day 1 is an ART Circuit, which deploys an Anti-Rotation, Rotation, and Total core strength exercise. Day 2 is a Low Back Circuit that deploys three low back/extension exercises in the same circuit.
Tactical Agility
Trained one day per week, on Wednesdays.
Upper Body Hypertrophy
Shoulders, Back and Chest via superset circuits, two days a week.
Endurance
Trained Wednesdays via a 2-3 mile moderately paced run.
Weekly Schedule
- Monday: Strength, Chassis Integrity
- Tuesday: Work Capacity, Upper Body Hypertrophy
- Wednesday: Tactical Agility, Endurance
- Thursday: Strength, Chassis Integrity
- Friday: Work Capacity, Upper Body Hypertrophy
Common Questions
What if I miss a day?
Begin where you left off when you return to training. This program is progressed – each session builds upon the prior session – so don’t skip a session or skip around. Follow the training sessions in order, regardless.
Where do I find unfamiliar exercises?
See our Exercise Library HERE. The Run/Ruck Calculator is listed as an exercise.
What about nutrition?
See our Nutritional Guidelines HERE.
Can I see sample training?
Yes. Click the “Sample Training” tab to see the entire first week of programming.
Can I print out sessions to take to the gym?
Yes – you can print a week of programming at a time.
How do I access the plan?
Access is online, via username and password. You can log in either through our website or through our app (Mtn Tactical Fitness) available for IOS and Android.
Can I print out sessions to take to the gym?
Yes – you can print a week of programming at a time.
More Questions?
Email: coach@mtntactical.com
Disclaimer
Before beginning any exercise program, consult with your physician to ensure that you are in proper health. Physical training contains inherent risks including, but not limited to, muscle strains, tears, physical and bodily injury up to and including death. This training program is not meant to provide medical advice; you should obtain medical advice from your private health care practitioner. If you are unable to assume these risks then you should not engage in this training program. No liability is assumed by Mountain Tactical Institute, Inc, its owners or employees, and you train at your own risk. Mountain Tactical Institute makes no warranty, express or implied, of any kind in connection with this training program.
Fully-equipped functional fitness gym including barbells, bumper plates, kettlebells/dumbbells, plyo boxes, sandbags (40, 60, 80#) and a short sprinting area (inside or outside) - 25m.
Below is the entire first week of the plan:
MONDAY
SESSION 1
Obj: Strength, Chassis Integrity
Warm Up:
3 Rounds
3x Thruster Complex @ 45/65#
5x Hand Release Push Ups
1x Chin Up
Instep Stretch
Training:
(1) 5 Rounds
2x Thruster Complex - Increase load each round until 2x is hard, but doable
Toe Touch Complex
(2) 5 Rounds
6x Back Squat - Increase load each round until 6x is hard, but doable
5x Scotty Bobs @ 15/25#
Hip Flexor Stretch
(3) 4 Rounds - Grind
5x Kneeling Plate Half Moon @ 35/45#
5x Slasher to Halo @ 12/16kg
5x Sandbag Getup @ 40/60#, alternate shoulders each round
Grind = Work Steadily, not Frantically.
(4) Foam Roll Legs, Low Back
************************************
TUESDAY
SESSION 2
Obj: Work Capacity, Upper Body Hypertrophy
Warm Up:
3 Rounds
6x Burpees
6x Goblet Squats @ 12kg
1x Pull Up Bar Heel Tap
Instep Stretch
Lat + Pec Stretch
Training:
(1) 9 Minute AMRAP (As Many Rounds as Possible)
3x Renegade Man Maker @ 15/25#
2/4x Pull Up Bar Heel Tap
Record Total Rounds Completed
(2) 5 Rounds
8x Kettlebell Floor Press - Increase load each round until 8x is hard, but doable
3/6x Chin Ups
5x Shoulder Dislocate
(3) 2 Rounds
Toe Touch Complex
Foam Roll Legs, Low Back
************************************
WEDNESDAY
SESSION 3
Obj: Tactical Agility, Endurance
Warm Up:
4 Rounds
5x Walking Lunges
5x Hand Release Push Ups
4x Prone to Sprint
Instep Stretch
Training:
(1) 3 Rounds
TAC SEPA - Stacked Box Agility Drill
Walk back to start
(2) Repeat Part (1) Wearing Individual Body Armor (IBA) or 15# Weight Vest
Walk back to start
(2) Run 2 Miles @ Moderate Pace
"Moderate" = Comfortable but not easy
************************************
THURSDAY
SESSION 4
Obj: Strength, Chassis Integrity
Warm Up:
3 Rounds
8x Hinge Lift @ 65/95#
5x Hand Release Push Ups
4x Box Jump @ 20"
Instep Stretch
Training:
(1) 5 Rounds
4x Hinge Lift- Increase load each round until 4x is hard, but doable
Toe Touch Complex
(2) 5 Rounds
6x Incline Bench Press- Increase load each round until 6x is hard, but doable
4x Dumbbell/Kettlebell Hang Squat Clean - Increase load each round until 4x is hard, but doable
Hip Flexor Stretch
(3) 4 Rounds - Grind
20/20 Standing Founder
20/20 Low Back Lunge
20/20 Kneeling Founder
Grind = Work Steadily, not Frantically.
(4) Foam Roll Legs, Low Back
************************************
FRIDAY
SESSION 5
Obj: Work Capacity, Upper Body Hypertrophy
Warm Up:
3 Rounds
5x Barbell Burpees @ 45/65#
6x Goblet Squats @ 12kg
4x Prone to Sprint
Instep Stretch
Lat + Pec Stretch
Training:
(1) 5 Rounds for Time
3x Barbell Burpees @ 65/95#
75m Shuttle (Down 25m, back 25m, down 25m)
Walk back to Start
(2) 5 Rounds
8x Bench Press - Increase load each round until 8x is hard, but doable
2/4x Pull Ups
5x Shoulder Dislocate
(3) 2 Rounds
Instep Stretch
Foam Roll Low Back
1) Mission Direct
Gym numbers mean nothing. All that matters is mission performance.
To this end, MTI's fitness solutions and programming are not boxed in by convention, tradition, orthodoxy, public opinion or any other artificial constraint driven by inside or outside forces.
We begin with the raw fitness demands of the mission and build a fitness solution which directly prepares the athlete for those demands.
2) Fitness Solutions Built from the Ground Up
MTI's programming is not "re-tread" bodybuilding, football, CrossFit, kettlebell, strength or general fitness programming. We've built our fitness programming for mountain and tactical athletes from the ground up.
The Fluid Periodization methodology we deploy to concurrently train multiple fitness attributes is completely original and has continued to evolve and improve over the years.
Our mid-section training methodology, Chassis Integrity, is also original, as is our endurance programming, 7 strength training progressions, tactical agility, and work capacity programming.
Our mountain sports pre-season training plans, tactical PFT, selection, school, course, and fitness improvement training plans across military, LE and Fire Rescue are MTI-developed, tested and athlete-proven.
Over the years hundreds of athletes and coaches have taken our advanced programming and unit fitness leader programming courses and MTI is widely recognized within the mountain and tactical professions and fitness media as a thought leader in fitness programming for military and tactical athletes.
3) The MTI Method
→ Research: MTI begins program design with extensive research of the fitness demands of the mission, sport or event, identifies the exercises and progressions which sport-specifically meet those demands, chose end-of-cycle goals, and program backward to design the training plan.
→ Deploy & Assess: We deploy the training plan "Lab Rats" at our Wyoming facility. Training session and cycle issues are identified and fixed as we work through the training plan. Post cycle we assess the programming's effectiveness and efficiency. We keep the stuff that works, and fix or toss the stuff that doesn't.
→ Publish & Assess Again: Plan is published for purchase as an individual training plan and made available to our subscribers. Feedback/results are assessed.
→ Iterate: We take what we learn from lab rats and athletes, re-visit, update and improve already published training plans. Several of our individual training plans are on their 4th or 5th version.
4) Mission-Direct Research
MTI exists to "Improve Mountain and Tactical Athletes mission performance and keep them safe." To that end, we have developed a unique research methodology aimed at identifying real world areas of improvement and identifying immediately deployable mission-direct solutions. Click HERE to learn more about MTI's Mission-Direct Research methodology, and Here to read about just few of our research efforts.
5) Field Proven
Our stuff works. Weekly we receive unsolicited reviews of our programming and testimonials to its effectiveness.
6) Programming Breadth
MTI's library of 200+ sport-specific fitness plans for mountain and tactical athletes is unmatched. Resources range from specific programming for tactical special forces selections, to specific plans for climbing Rainier and Denali, to general fitness solutions such as running improvement, to post-rehab from injury.
Over the past decade, MTI has partnered with hundreds of athletes throughout their individual mountain and tactical careers, and provided fitness solutions as they face new mountain objectives, tactical schools, selections, PFTs and deployments, and came back from injury.
7) Worldwide Influence
Our work is not limited to US Athletes.
We've developed selection-specific training plans for Canadian, UK, Australian and German Special Forces Selections and worked with individual military personnel from Scandinavia, South, and Central America.
Canadian, Australian, UK and western European law enforcement and fire/rescue athletes have used MTI programming for mission-direct fitness.
On the mountain side, Alpinists from Japan to Slovakia have consulted with MTI and used MTI's programming to prepare for mountain objectives.
8) Mission Performance beyond Fitness
MTI’s exists is to improve Mission Performance for mountain and tactical athletes and keep them safe.
This focus on “mission direct” solutions, enhancements and improvements drives our work and research and extends beyond fitness solutions to include training, leadership, gear, team culture, and safety.
Fitness is just one area of our work.
Our non-fitness research has included tactical cultures, combat uniforms, and gore-tex performance, and effect of stress on marksmanship.
Our work on defining what it means to be a Quiet Professional has had penetrating influence and driven healthy conversations with both mountain and tactical professionals.
9) Direct, Honest, Clear Answers
Since 2007 we've taken and answered dozens of questions weekly from mountain and tactical athletes. We've saved these individual Q&A's and now thousands are archived on our site.
We're not salesmen, and our answers are noted for their directness, honesty, and clarity. Our stuff isn't for everyone. If we can help, we'll let you know. If we can't, we'll let you know that, too.
- Rob Shaul, Founder
All of the Above is Backed Up By Our Promise: Our Stuff Works. Guaranteed.
Do you have any reviews or testimonials from athletes who have used your Athlete's Subscription
Yes. Click HERE.
Is it true you guarantee your stuff works?
Yes. If you purchase an Athletes’ Subscription, follow the training sessions as prescribed, and are not satisfied with the quality of the programming, notify us within 30 days of purchase, and we’ll refund your money, no questions asked.
How is MTI programming different than CrossFit?
This is a common question. Read our answer HERE.
You have a lot of competitors. Why should I choose MTI?
MTI is driven to improve mountain and tactical athletes' mission performance and keep them safe. This emphasis and focus on mission performance sets us apart. Read about more that sets us apart HERE.
If I purchase a plan or subscription, how do I access the programming?
All of our plans are online, accessible via username and password.
You can log in through our →Website or Mobile App →IOS and Android.
Do you have downloadable .pdf's of the training plans?
No. But you can print the programming, by week, from your browser. You access individual training plans online via a username and password.
Do you have a mobile app?
Yes, we do. Available for IOS and Android.
What is the difference between purchasing an individual training plan, packet of plans or an Athlete's Subscription?
- Plan - Like purchasing the DVD of the first Star Wars movie. You own it forever, including any updates we make to the plan.
- Packet - Like purchasing the DVD's of all the Star Wars movies. You own them forever, including any updates we make to the plans.
- Athlete's Subscription - Like subscribing to Netflix. You get access to all 200+ plan in our library, but lose access if you unsubscribe.
If I purchase an Athletes Subscription Can I cancel on my own, anytime?
Yes.
Do I have to contact MTI to cancel or can I do it myself?
You can do it yourself. Instructions HERE.
If I purchase a subscription and have questions about where to start or what plans(s) to use for my goals, will you help?
Yes. We answer dozens of training questions from athletes weekly. Email coach@mtntactical.com.
If you add new plans or update existing plans after I subscribe will I have access to them?
Yes. We are continuously adding training plans and packets (2-5/month) and updating plans. With your subscription you'll have access to all new plans, new courses and plan updates.
What Equipment is Required?
Click the "Required Equipment" tab to find out what equipment is required for the specific plan you are interested in.
Where do I find unfamiliar exercises?
See our Exercise Library HERE. The Run and Ruck Calculators are listed as exercises.
What about nutrition?
See our Nutritional Guidelines HERE.
Can I see sample training?
Click the “Sample Training” tab to see the entire first week of programming. You are encouraged to do it before purchasing.
What if I have more questions?
Email rob@mtntactical.com