How do we accomplish this? Most SWAT teams are not full-time teams where they practice and work out every day. Having been prone to shin splints and even suffering a stress fracture, I can tell you this book is invaluable. I suggest buying the book and teaching its principles to your team. There is a solution for that in the Chi Running technique. I had a few of our team members who feared running because of the potential for injury. I’m certain there are those who would argue, but my experience tells me running is the king of cardio. There is no other way to achieve the necessary stamina, stress inoculation and resilience required for SWAT. If you don’t run, you aren’t fit for SWAT. Likewise with the all-important triceps and the need for a strong bicep for balance. Maintaining a strong back is dangerous without balancing abdominal muscles. Keeping a strong back is often an overlooked piece of fitness, just as is balance. Your back is one of the most vulnerable parts of your body. Abdominals, back and lateral obliques are critical to the systemic health and safety of SWAT cops. Core work is imperative to systemic health. Your core is your body’s figurative and literal center. In fact, I would say it’s the most important anti-injury preventative health step you can take. Treat warming up with the same regard as the rest of your exercise and health program. A proper warm-up can be the difference between a productive workout and a life-changing injury. Joint healthĪsk me how I know how important joint health is. Strong legs and shoulders are golden during those times. The time we need to spend “holding a port” (watching a door with a long gun at the ready) might be a few hours. Then, we add extra magazines, NFDDs and all kinds of other gear to it just to ensure it’s an unenviable load on our legs and shoulders. Our body armor is heavier than that of patrol. He stresses the importance of focusing on legs and shoulders over the “glamour muscles” like pectorals and biceps. Our team’s fitness coordinator has a degree in health promotion and played rugby for Oklahoma State University.
#Swat 4 bluedrake how to#
You need someone who understands the work of a tactical team, a high level of fitness knowledge and how to make that knowledge work to keep the team as safe as possible. If you don’t have one in place already, appoint a member of the team as your fitness coordinator.