| Policemen, firemen and guys in the military have long | | | | advantage of hybrid training. Working with the things |
| been looked up to as "poster boys" of optimum fitness. | | | | around them-truck tires, ropes, chains, sandbags, heavy |
| In fact, over the last 15 years or so, there have | | | | pipes, barrels or any other number of odd items-these |
| probably been no less than a hundred different books | | | | soldiers have been able to get back to basics and train |
| written on the subject of how any ordinary man can | | | | the way our ancestors used to live. And like our |
| get fit like these guys. And while each of these books | | | | ancestors, these soldiers find that they're getting big, |
| or programs has its own approach to getting fit like a | | | | strong and lean. |
| policeman, fireman or someone in the military, they all | | | | They're getting these results because they're actually |
| have one thing in common-they don't look anything like | | | | developing hybrid type III muscle fibers, which are not |
| your ordinary gym workouts. | | | | only strong, but they're able to sustain their strength for |
| The reason their training routines typically don't | | | | extended periods. Ordinary muscle fibers just can't do |
| resemble your ordinary workouts is that these guys | | | | that. And because they're combining both resistance |
| need to be prepared for any situation. A policeman | | | | and cardio training, in addition to developing |
| might suddenly find himself chasing down a suspect, | | | | strength-and size-they're also building speed, agility and |
| jumping fencings and other obstacles. And when he | | | | endurance. |
| catches the suspect, he may have to tackle him and | | | | Reading through the emails I've gotten from some of |
| wrestle him into submission. | | | | the soldiers, I'm seeing a variety of different hybrid |
| A firefighter may have to lift away heavy debris, kick | | | | workouts. Here are some examples: |
| down a solid door and carry a victim down three | | | | * Truck tire flip-this one is great for building functional |
| flights of stairs to safety. And a soldier or military man | | | | strength and working the core; |
| could wind up in any of these situations or countless | | | | * Barrel jumps-good for agility and power; |
| others-all of which require strength, agility, endurance | | | | * Farmer's walk with rock or sand-filled pails-excellent |
| and speed. | | | | for developing endurance; |
| Ordinary gym routines just don't help guys to | | | | * Dragging trucks and other heavy equipment-builds |
| simultaneously develop all these abilities. A bodybuilding | | | | power and endurance; |
| workout can make your muscles look good but they | | | | * Variations of the keg training using barrels-awesome |
| may not be all that strong. Strongman and powerlifting | | | | core workouts. |
| routines can help you build strength but neither one is | | | | These are just a few of the examples of the types of |
| going to be that useful for developing speed. A cardio | | | | hybrid workouts they're figuring out how to do while |
| workout will help you make gains in speed and | | | | they are stationed overseas. |
| endurance but it completely wrecks your size and | | | | But it's not just the military boys who are realizing the |
| strength. | | | | benefits of hybrid workouts-I see it becoming more |
| And particularly if you're in the military you very well | | | | and more popular among policemen and firefighters |
| may not even have access to anything but the most | | | | too. |
| rudimentary gym equipment. I've actually been getting a | | | | I have a buddy who is a member of a SWAT team in |
| lot of emails from military guys-most of them stationed | | | | Atlanta who absolutely swears by hybrid workouts. He |
| overseas in Iraq and Afghanistan-who tell me that | | | | says that they've really helped him to perform better |
| they've been doing the hybrid workouts and have | | | | on the job. He gave me a great example of how a |
| been getting some really awesome results. These | | | | recent high speed pursuit led to a foot chase through |
| guys have got it rough. A lot of them are out in the little | | | | the woods and ended up in a wrestling match with my |
| of nowhere, their movements are completely | | | | buddy pinning the culprit and bringing him to justice. |
| restricted and they've gotten nothing to train with but | | | | Knowing what we know about them, it comes as no |
| stuff they can find laying around. | | | | surprise that hybrid workouts are quickly gaining |
| If you've learned anything about hybrid workouts, you | | | | popularity among those guys who are charged with |
| should already know that this is really the ideal scenario | | | | protecting the public safety-the results just can't be |
| that really gives these guys the opportunity to take full | | | | beat. |