As a career Marine it would probably not surprise anyone that besides being a PT nut, I’m a gun freak and knife whore. I own way more than enough of each, especially knives. I have a huge tool box full of knives of every size and description and with that I’ve done a fair amount of research into how different knives (and swords) are made. If you have a similar interest then you know about cutting tools made from Damascus steel. In a (very small) nut shell this is a complicated process of forging that involves folding and inserting different types of steel over and over. This technique produces a blade that is made up of layers and and layers of steel, like a car spring. When this method is preformed by a skilled craftsmen, the end result is a blade of extreme strength and resilience that has an unmatched cutting edge. Some Japanese Samurai swords have thousands of layers and despite being hundreds of years old, are pristine in appearance and are some of the toughest and sharpest swords ever made.
Now this concept of sword making relates in an important way to physical fitness, especially long term fitness. What i’ve observed over many years is that (most) people who participate in a wide range of different methods and activities to stay in shape, have much better success. I’ve found the opposite to be true with those that specialize in one or two activities. Most people that I’ve seen do very little other than hit the weight room and/or run, have inconsistent long term results and are also the most prone to injuries.
I think the reason for this In that your body is in some ways like a piece of knife steel. Meaning that different doing activities can provide different “layers” to your core fitness. Just as cycling can improve your running and weight lifting can improve your punching power, or Judo throws. Too many people like to just stick with what they’re good at, it’s human nature. When a young man finds that he can out bench press all his buddies, it’s hard to keep him out of the weight room. A girl that discovers she is the fastest runner in her class, will most likely develop running as her go to fitness activity. My thing was as a boxer was that I was a heavy puncher, so I loved to hit the heavy bag when lots of people we’re around to watch me. No doubt that I would have been a better fighter if I spent less time on the bag (showing off) and more time working on defense. Concentrating on one thing will condition just one set of muscles. This approach develops fitness thats more like cast iron. Yes cast Iron is very strong in certain ways, but it’s also relatively easy to break and over time it will rust out.
The point here is that in the long run you’re better off to widely vary your PT routine. Each of these different activities (when used in a balanced program) will act like a different layer, strengthening and conditioning a different set of muscles. Like the Damascus steel, this layering concept develops resilience and a great depth of conditioning you can’t get from just doing one sport. I also think it’s good for your attitude, as it keeps your outlook on PT fresh and motivated.
So mix up your PT, be like layered steel, not a piece of rusty cast iron.
Be safe always, be good when you can.
Semper Fi
MGunz
corpsstrength.com
