April 2010 Woodland Ops Course

T

trakker409

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Jan 16, 2007
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First time here folks. Most of you don't know me but I'm Jeff's partner in crime with the WO course. Just want to add that we just had a fantastic class with the best group of students I've seen. Since this was the pilot course in the U.S. these guys were our lab rats. We have had a chance to sit back and analyze the course a bit a make a few adjustments. Nothing that will change the overall course content but a few adjustments nonetheless. Part of my assessment and recommendation is that students show up in good physical condition. We had absolutely zero problems during the last class but I don't want it to be an issue in the future. The course is not set up to be physically demanding but by the middle of the week it will be. You're getting hammered with lots of information then performing it in the field, especially map and compass. Rope work will tire you quickly. By the time Friday's FTX comes you will be dragging, period. Yes you can complete the class if you're an overweight chain smoker, maybe. I don't recommend trying. You'll only bring down the class. If there is even a remote possibility you plan to attend in April the time to prepare is now, not late March. Having been in the fitness game for over 20 years I think I'm qualified to make some recommendations on preparation. First, walking or running on the treadmill is good exercise but it will not adaquately prepare you for rigorous outdoor activity. Same with weights. Bodybuilding and powerlifting doesn't translate to real world. I know. Been there, done that and got the T-shirt. Running alone won't do it. My advice is get out of the globo gym and follow Crossfit (www.crossfit.com), Gym Jones (www.gymjones.com), Mountain/Military Athlete (www.militaryathlete.com) or some similar high intensity training program. Very little to no equipment is necessary and you don't have to pay gym fees. You can make and train with sand bags, run sprints, lift big rocks, flip and pound tires, etc. The list goes on. Like I said, this course is not designed to be physically strenuous, anyone can do it. Having said that the question becomes "how much do you want to get out of your training?" The next question is "what happens when it's for real?" Are you physically able to handle it?
 
Jimmy,

That's one of the best posts we've had here in a long time. Thanks for posting it up! We're always discussing skills here but rarely discuss the need to be physically in shape to survive or E&E if need be.

In case you guys haven't heard me mention Jimmy before, he's one of the best trackers in the business even though he won't admit it ;) He's also damn good in the woods and on ropes.

I can guarantee anyone going through our WO course will come back with mental and physical overload from the material covered. Hobo Jack and Ratas Mojadas 1 of 13 can vouch for that. Great group of guys on this course!
 
I'm gonna make a sticky out of this since we've had several members of this forum inquiring about the 2010 class.
 
Nice to see a bit of advocation for fitness; must help quite a lot when trekking in them jungles. I've been doing BJJ for couple of years, and have done Crossfit routines every Saturday morning for the past few months. It really takes it out of you, but I can definitely see improvement.:thumbup:

Try the Burpee Drill for something simple, but devilish when you get into it. One burpee per minute, next minute do two, next minute three... and so on. I got up to 15, plan on breaking that the next time that routine comes up.
 
Crossfit and Fatal Fitness (y) I guess one kind of assumes with all this outdoor recreation that physical conditioning is a part of most peoples' lives, but in a survival situation not only your life but the lives of those in your party will depend on your physical conditioning.
 
Thanks for the links, there are some pretty hard core workouts on some of those pages.

I am getting back to my schedule of walking/hiking 4-5 miles, six days a week up a hard core log road with 2 different very steep incline areas. I normally do 20 minutes per mile, best time so far 18 min. per mile. I use some home made Ranger Beads that go up to 5 miles. I have redesigned them now to where they go up to 20 miles or 5 miles plus hydration beads.
 
The workouts posted on the sites I recommended are indeed hardcore. If you don't want to do the prescribed workout, and I rarely do, you can create your own by substituting exercises and following the programming. Saturday's workout for me consisted of:
3 rounds for time -
100 yd. sprints carrying a 40# sand bag
20 squats
100 yd. sand bag sprint
20" box jump for 10 reps
rest 90 seconds, then repeat

My time was just under 12 minutes. I spent longer lying in the living room floor trying to recover than it took to do the workout. It was brutal but effective. I also did it after work at 9:00 PM in the road in front of my house with only a security light(no excuses). The time factor is part of the beauty here. Everyone, and I mean everyone, can find 10 - 30 minutes four or five times a week to train. Yes the training is intense and yes it hurts (in a good way) but it works, period. If one thinks the only way to get in shape is by spending 1 - 2 hours in the gym, or walking, running, etc. I urge you to try Crossfit or one of the other methods. Workouts can be scaled to anyone's age and fitness level. Try it and give it a few months. When you're in the best shape of your life you'll be glad you did.
 
Sounds very interesting as I've been wanting to do something but I have very little time or extra cash for a gym membership. I need to get my knee looked at and in better shape first though.


Are you in the position to be able to recommend any knee building exercises? I was told the muscles around my right knee are weaker allowing my kneecap to shift inward. I was supposed to set up phys therp but I've had no time for that either.
 
I would love to go to this course, unfortunately, I have to save up for college next year. Is it safe to assume that there will be a woodland course again in the next couple of years?
 
Stormstaff said:
Sounds very interesting as I've been wanting to do something but I have very little time or extra cash for a gym membership. I need to get my knee looked at and in better shape first though.


Are you in the position to be able to recommend any knee building exercises? I was told the muscles around my right knee are weaker allowing my kneecap to shift inward. I was supposed to set up phys therp but I've had no time for that either.
Click to expand...

Im training for physio at school. Im in my 4th year university. Id suggest starting with light endurance strength training on the muscles that cross the knee. You will want to strengthen your quads, hamstrings as well as your calves. By endurance I suggest repititions starting up around 20 per set and work your way down. Start light and once you find a weight you can just do a set of 20 id lower down to around sets of 18. Find a weight that you can just do and continue doing this until you are at around sets of 12.

It is also important to keep your flexibility up. Often the hamstrings and calves are very tight, and this imbalance weakens the knee joint. Honestly, id go to a physio and they would help pinpoint where you need to work. But if your careful you can work on your own for now. I have no way to judge your fitness so i am prescribing on the side of caution.

Good luck
 
I did about a week of crossfit and it kicked my butt, so I substituted to where for the past few months I've been running a few miles a day, doing 30+ push-ups, and 30+ crunches almost daily (on weekends I don't run if I work or play paintball). I know that is not too hard of a workout, but I did not plan for it to be. The PT requirement to contract for an Army ROTC scholarship is a two mile run in 15:45, 45 push ups in two minutes, and 53 sit-ups in two minutes. 45 push-ups may not sound too hard, and for some it may not be, but doing them the correct form and pumping out 45 takes some training, or at least for me it does.

Thank you Jimmy for the other two links I'll be sure to check them out :thumbup:
 
Stormstaff said:
Sounds very interesting as I've been wanting to do something but I have very little time or extra cash for a gym membership. I need to get my knee looked at and in better shape first though.


Are you in the position to be able to recommend any knee building exercises? I was told the muscles around my right knee are weaker allowing my kneecap to shift inward. I was supposed to set up phys therp but I've had no time for that either.
Click to expand...

i've had issues w/ my knee since a car accident in 2000. 2 surgeries later it still gives me problems sometimes. bike riding seemed to work the best for me. i'm now getting to the point where unless it hurts i can do other exercising but it's taken a long time to get there.
 
Glad to see you on here Jimmy! Guys he is right there wasn't any one particular thing that was hard but when you combine everything good endurance would definitely be a plus. I have attended many classes, but the Woodland Ops class is the best I have ever been to. I wish I was still in the woods in Alabama with these guys. I recommend it to anyone with any interest in the outdoors.
 
I lived in Centre, AL for about 4 months, I loved the area.
Been in the woods in Texas, Georgia, Alabama and I must say I liked Alabama the best, beautiful lakes, trees and mountains, more beautiful than Georgia and Texas in my opinion.
 
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