Enhance and Specify your Workout for Stealth
Posted: Fri Mar 05, 2021 2:12 am
Introduction
Physical exercise, in my opinion, is very overlooked in the average operator's training. Due to this, I want to discuss some basic ideas I have regarding exercise. Please note, I am currently not very fit and my operational experience is limited. However, I have sources and research to back my claims to an extent. Also note, I am mainly focused on the "what" rather than specifically discussing routines and other such things, which I intend on doing later.
Defining the Types of Movement that occur
However, before we delve into types of exercise and movements, we need to briefly define what movements and their specifics occur in stealth. Stealth, generally, contains more slow movements than fast movements. Vertical jumps have more value than horizontal jumps, in my opinion. Climbing onto a building for infiltration or recon seems more common and necessary than jumping to and from obstacles, whether for stealth or E&E. While the whole body should be highly trained for stealth, legs are the most important and should be trained the most when first starting. Thighs, knees, ankles, and much else should be considered very important to prevent injury to yourself. Also, essential beginner techniques such as crouching, running, and somewhat crawling are more leg dependant. Climbing and other more advanced movements are just that; advanced, and since they require significantly more strength in other body parts, can be put off. Even climbing fences can be done utilizing legs, if necessary(hook technique, my green bean self uses this). Note, I am not saying other body parts should not be trained, I am simply saying legs are more important at first, and even with more experience, legs are more used. STILL, TRAIN OTHER BODY PARTS, USE YOUR BRAIN, I CANNOT DO SO FOR YOU.
Requirements for those Movements
Comprehending this information, we can now form our understanding of exercise requirements. My research and ideas conclude these are muscular endurance and control, cardiovascular endurance and control, slow movement, static positions. It is important to note endurance changes regarding whether it is applied to, for example, rapid parkour vs stalking an animal. Therefore, we are mostly focused on slow movement/endurance, however, fast movement/endurance is still necessary. Why should you believe what I have to say?
Defining the Requirements
"Stealthy" movement is generally slow. While faster movement occurs, slower movements are more common to be performed. This is incredibly basic, but if you need reasoning, the human eye is drawn to motion along with many animals. Pretty much every stealth guide, especially those regarding getting close to animals, describes slow movement. Additionally, slow movements have different effects on the body than fast movements. In fitness there is a saying, "you become what you train". This is why special operations units train, non-stop, shooting drills and force-on-force scenarios. The bunker Osama Bin Laden was hiding in was rebuilt in North Carolina, where the SEALS(Delta force, let's be honest lol) trained for weeks the operation. Therefore, we can assume we can better perform slow movements if we train slow movements.
Next, I want to discuss cardiovascular or muscular endurance and control. Endurance is the ability to keep performing the action for a longer period of time with less strain. Control is the ability to have precision over the muscle or cardiovascular system, and have it do exactly what you want.
The cardiovascular aspect of these two would be running and moving for the first, so just being able to breathe with less strain while in the field. The second, control, is a very interesting topic I want to discuss in another post. Here is a brief description though; for example, breathing heavily and/or loudly could give you away. What if you could control that?
The muscular aspect of these two is being able to perform movements for the first, such as crouching, for extended periods of time with less strain. The second, control, would be having precise control of your muscles. Stalking is an example of this. Stalking steps can take up to a minute or two to perform, according to many guides.
Static positions are also related to stalking, as well as observation and reconnaissance. These can sometimes be very easy to hold, such as prone, or very difficult to hold, such as freezing when glanced at on a stalk.
Fast movements are still necessary, of course. Whether it be in the form of running for E&E or training CQB, fast movement is still very real and necessary for stealth. Stealth itself may also require fast movements, outside of escaping, combat, and whatever else.
What can we do to accomplish this?
How can we train all of this, generally at least? It is not as complex as it seems. In fact, it can be as simple as performing a typical squat slowly rather than a typical speed. Try half-speed, then quarter speed, and so on(does not have to be mathematical, fuck math). Specific exercise types are another key concept, as well as the progression of difficulty. What the fuck is the point of 50 squats if you can do them with ease? Do 8, move onto a harder squat such as a pistol squat(I will write another post on it, but pistol squats seem to be a great exercise for stealth. Parkour teaches shrimp squats and pistol squats for slip and falls, but I think pistols have added value to stealth.). Same concept for pull-ups dips, push-ups, and pretty much everything else. Instead of just doing squats for legs, do stuff as wall sits, and more advanced versions. Try holding a mid squat, and then harder squat progressions, for certain lengths of time.
My two other key exercises are running and stretching, mobility, and joint prep. More on both in another post, but I will discuss them briefly. Running is fucking awesome! Just do it. I can provide hundreds of sources on running if need be lol, just do it! You need to be able to run, and fast, while in the field. Perhaps try training something like a 100 or 200-meter sprint, and then transitioning into a 5k run focused more on endurance? This could better simulate E&E in my opinion, but do whatever you like. Running also makes you happy due to t endorphins, and in my experience, you get more endorphins in a shorter time from running than another exercise (AN OPINION, NOT A TRUTH). Stretching, mobility and joint prep are vastly overlooked yet incredibly important. You could really hurt yourself if you do not practice these, at least minimally. More on these later as I am writing something regarding them.
Conclusion
To summarize my opinion, this is what I think; Workout, but perform many movements slowly rather than at typical speed. You may even find them harder when done slowly rather than fast. Train what makes sense. Is weight lifting or bodyweight strength more applicable to stealth? For cardio, which is more applicable, running or cycling? Just think about it, and use logic. I recommend you research, and physically test stuff out. What yields the best results? Thank you for reading this, and have a good day!
Hey there! You made it to the end! Always read the works cited, you may find some cool stuff. I am unsure of next week's big article, but the small one is related to self-defense. Give me ideas if you want.
What did you like about this article? What did you dislike? Give me feedback! Be an asshole if you want, power to you. Comment below or PM me. Thank you for your time, and have a good day!
WORKS CITED
1. https://www.amazon.com/Parkour-Strength ... 1517670896(This book is pretty good, I recommend you find it somewhere online or buy it)
2. https://joinfcf.com/slow-reps-or-fast-r ... cle%20size.
3. https://www.livestrong.com/article/4394 ... fast-reps/
4. https://www.trainheroic.com/blog/slow-r ... fast-reps/
5. My favorite source, a brain! If you own an AR-15 but train with a 12 gauge, will you be effective? No, so you train with the same weapon you intend on using. Same concept here, train mostly slow because in the field you are mostly moving slow. However, there are times when you go fast. So, also make sure to train fast! Balance it out, use your brain, and critically think. What makes the most sense, what yields the best results, etc?
Physical exercise, in my opinion, is very overlooked in the average operator's training. Due to this, I want to discuss some basic ideas I have regarding exercise. Please note, I am currently not very fit and my operational experience is limited. However, I have sources and research to back my claims to an extent. Also note, I am mainly focused on the "what" rather than specifically discussing routines and other such things, which I intend on doing later.
Defining the Types of Movement that occur
However, before we delve into types of exercise and movements, we need to briefly define what movements and their specifics occur in stealth. Stealth, generally, contains more slow movements than fast movements. Vertical jumps have more value than horizontal jumps, in my opinion. Climbing onto a building for infiltration or recon seems more common and necessary than jumping to and from obstacles, whether for stealth or E&E. While the whole body should be highly trained for stealth, legs are the most important and should be trained the most when first starting. Thighs, knees, ankles, and much else should be considered very important to prevent injury to yourself. Also, essential beginner techniques such as crouching, running, and somewhat crawling are more leg dependant. Climbing and other more advanced movements are just that; advanced, and since they require significantly more strength in other body parts, can be put off. Even climbing fences can be done utilizing legs, if necessary(hook technique, my green bean self uses this). Note, I am not saying other body parts should not be trained, I am simply saying legs are more important at first, and even with more experience, legs are more used. STILL, TRAIN OTHER BODY PARTS, USE YOUR BRAIN, I CANNOT DO SO FOR YOU.
Requirements for those Movements
Comprehending this information, we can now form our understanding of exercise requirements. My research and ideas conclude these are muscular endurance and control, cardiovascular endurance and control, slow movement, static positions. It is important to note endurance changes regarding whether it is applied to, for example, rapid parkour vs stalking an animal. Therefore, we are mostly focused on slow movement/endurance, however, fast movement/endurance is still necessary. Why should you believe what I have to say?
Defining the Requirements
"Stealthy" movement is generally slow. While faster movement occurs, slower movements are more common to be performed. This is incredibly basic, but if you need reasoning, the human eye is drawn to motion along with many animals. Pretty much every stealth guide, especially those regarding getting close to animals, describes slow movement. Additionally, slow movements have different effects on the body than fast movements. In fitness there is a saying, "you become what you train". This is why special operations units train, non-stop, shooting drills and force-on-force scenarios. The bunker Osama Bin Laden was hiding in was rebuilt in North Carolina, where the SEALS(Delta force, let's be honest lol) trained for weeks the operation. Therefore, we can assume we can better perform slow movements if we train slow movements.
Next, I want to discuss cardiovascular or muscular endurance and control. Endurance is the ability to keep performing the action for a longer period of time with less strain. Control is the ability to have precision over the muscle or cardiovascular system, and have it do exactly what you want.
The cardiovascular aspect of these two would be running and moving for the first, so just being able to breathe with less strain while in the field. The second, control, is a very interesting topic I want to discuss in another post. Here is a brief description though; for example, breathing heavily and/or loudly could give you away. What if you could control that?
The muscular aspect of these two is being able to perform movements for the first, such as crouching, for extended periods of time with less strain. The second, control, would be having precise control of your muscles. Stalking is an example of this. Stalking steps can take up to a minute or two to perform, according to many guides.
Static positions are also related to stalking, as well as observation and reconnaissance. These can sometimes be very easy to hold, such as prone, or very difficult to hold, such as freezing when glanced at on a stalk.
Fast movements are still necessary, of course. Whether it be in the form of running for E&E or training CQB, fast movement is still very real and necessary for stealth. Stealth itself may also require fast movements, outside of escaping, combat, and whatever else.
What can we do to accomplish this?
How can we train all of this, generally at least? It is not as complex as it seems. In fact, it can be as simple as performing a typical squat slowly rather than a typical speed. Try half-speed, then quarter speed, and so on(does not have to be mathematical, fuck math). Specific exercise types are another key concept, as well as the progression of difficulty. What the fuck is the point of 50 squats if you can do them with ease? Do 8, move onto a harder squat such as a pistol squat(I will write another post on it, but pistol squats seem to be a great exercise for stealth. Parkour teaches shrimp squats and pistol squats for slip and falls, but I think pistols have added value to stealth.). Same concept for pull-ups dips, push-ups, and pretty much everything else. Instead of just doing squats for legs, do stuff as wall sits, and more advanced versions. Try holding a mid squat, and then harder squat progressions, for certain lengths of time.
My two other key exercises are running and stretching, mobility, and joint prep. More on both in another post, but I will discuss them briefly. Running is fucking awesome! Just do it. I can provide hundreds of sources on running if need be lol, just do it! You need to be able to run, and fast, while in the field. Perhaps try training something like a 100 or 200-meter sprint, and then transitioning into a 5k run focused more on endurance? This could better simulate E&E in my opinion, but do whatever you like. Running also makes you happy due to t endorphins, and in my experience, you get more endorphins in a shorter time from running than another exercise (AN OPINION, NOT A TRUTH). Stretching, mobility and joint prep are vastly overlooked yet incredibly important. You could really hurt yourself if you do not practice these, at least minimally. More on these later as I am writing something regarding them.
Conclusion
To summarize my opinion, this is what I think; Workout, but perform many movements slowly rather than at typical speed. You may even find them harder when done slowly rather than fast. Train what makes sense. Is weight lifting or bodyweight strength more applicable to stealth? For cardio, which is more applicable, running or cycling? Just think about it, and use logic. I recommend you research, and physically test stuff out. What yields the best results? Thank you for reading this, and have a good day!
Hey there! You made it to the end! Always read the works cited, you may find some cool stuff. I am unsure of next week's big article, but the small one is related to self-defense. Give me ideas if you want.
What did you like about this article? What did you dislike? Give me feedback! Be an asshole if you want, power to you. Comment below or PM me. Thank you for your time, and have a good day!
WORKS CITED
1. https://www.amazon.com/Parkour-Strength ... 1517670896(This book is pretty good, I recommend you find it somewhere online or buy it)
2. https://joinfcf.com/slow-reps-or-fast-r ... cle%20size.
3. https://www.livestrong.com/article/4394 ... fast-reps/
4. https://www.trainheroic.com/blog/slow-r ... fast-reps/
5. My favorite source, a brain! If you own an AR-15 but train with a 12 gauge, will you be effective? No, so you train with the same weapon you intend on using. Same concept here, train mostly slow because in the field you are mostly moving slow. However, there are times when you go fast. So, also make sure to train fast! Balance it out, use your brain, and critically think. What makes the most sense, what yields the best results, etc?