Combat Workout Programs

The importance of physical training for combat fitness has been appreciated since the time of the ancient Greeks. The mythological tale of Milo of Croton, lifting a calf every day until he could lift a grown bull, is the beginning of the concept of progressive resistance strength training. The Spartans, too, had the agoge, a training ground for young warriors. In today's world, whether you are a soldier, a police officer or a mixed-martial arts fighter, there are various combat workout programs available that can help you achieve the pinnacle of combat fitness.

Ranger, Athlete Warrior (RAW)

The Army's elite 75th Ranger Regiment developed the RAW program over several years, between 1999 and 2008, to bring Ranger physical conditioning into the 21st century. The program has a multi-tiered approach. It includes strength training, endurance conditioning, nutrition, and injury rehabilitation. The RAW program focuses on mission-specific conditioning for Rangers, rather than general long, steady distance running and bodybuilding type weight training. Developed with the input of active-duty Rangers as well as civilian sports physiologists, the program is largely credited to famed alpinist Mark Twight, owner of Gym Jones in Utah. RAW uses traditional sports conditioning methods as well as the Ranger mission to develop an elite level of combat fitness specifically tailored for the modern battlefield.

Combat Conditioning

Developed by high school and wrestling phenomenon Matt Furey, the Combat Conditioning program focuses on body-weight training exercises. A multiple-time world champion in the full-contact San Shou style of kung fu, Furey developed the program after he developed severe pain from repetitive stress injuries due to traditional weight lifting during his high school and college sports career. The Combat Conditioning program focuses on somewhat esoteric exercises like the "Hindu Squat" and "Dive Bomber Push-Ups." Furey claims that these exercises will get you as fighting fit as any weight training regimen, without the damage to joints and connective tissue that weights can cause.

Warrior Training

The head of the Parisi Speed School, Martin Rooney is the strength coach for a legion of modern gladiators in the mixed-martial arts (MMA) world. From the legendary Gracie Jiu-jitsu family to modern Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) champions, Rooney's program is battle-tested in the cages and rings of modern MMA. Rooney's Warrior Training program uses a blend of traditional bodybuilding and sports conditioning weight training as well as various sports conditioning endurance exercises specific to the energy demands of MMA. One of the trademarks of Warrior Training is Rooney's use of what he calls "Hurricanes." A combination of treadmill sprints, weightlifting exercises and combative techniques from mixed martial arts, Hurricanes are reputed to reduce even the toughest athletes to tears.