What Combat Training Taught Me About Fitness

Lessons from Combat That Can Transform Your Gym Game

I’ll admit it—when I was a young Soldier, a lot of the physical tasks we had to do in training seemed unecessary. Dragging a 200-lb dummy under barbed wire? Hauling a rucksack that felt heavier than I did? Sprinting in full gear during the middle of the night? At the time, I thought, How does this apply to real life?

But when it came time for combat, those “unecessary” drills saved lives. Every task, as grueling as it was, prepared us for real combat scenarios.

1. The Task: Dragging a 200-lb Dummy Through the Mud

At the time, I thought it was just busy work, or the command just wanted to see us suffer. But that training built functional strength and endurance—skills I relied in Afghanistan.

Your Gym Lesson:
In the gym, focus on functional strength. It’s not just about looking good—it’s about building real-world power. Incorporate compound lifts like deadlifts and rows to simulate the kind of strength you’d need in a real-world scenario.

2. The Task: Rucking for 24 miles

I’ll never forget the blisters, bloodied feet, and backaches from those long marches. I hated every step. But when missions demanded us to move quickly and carry gear, I understood why we trained that way. They push you past the point of giving up, past the point of listening to the voices in your head and pushing your body forward.

Your Gym Lesson:
Endurance training is key. Whether it’s a long gym session or just daily life, your ability to keep going is what makes the difference. At a certain point, training becomes more mental than physical. You need to be able to push past that limit and challenge yourself to see what you are truly capable of.  

Solution: Fuel your recovery with Post ISO Protein. After grueling sessions, it 

3. The Task: Sprinting in Full Gear

Sprinting in boots and 50 pounds of gear? Ridiculous. "This cannot be good on my knees, why are we doing this?" But when you’re running for cover, every second counts. Those sprints weren’t just about speed—they trained me to focus under stress, remove the "little bitch" from the equation and being prepared for whatever action came our way.

Your Gym Lesson:
Moments of discomfort are what make you better. That discomfort is what builds more muscle, character, and will power. Nothing in life is easy . . . And the only way to reach your lofty fitness goals is to push harder now than you did yesterday. Growth takes time, patience, and determination. 

Military training taught me that preparation beats panic every time. The same applies in the gym: every rep, every set, and every workout prepares you to handle whatever life throws at you. 

If you’re ready to train with purpose, we’ve got the tools to help you get there. Recovery and nutrition are vital to keeping your body primed and ready for intense training. You need to have your diet dialed in, hydration, plenty of sleep, and of course some supplements are more vital than others. During my time in the military I found that supplementing with Creatine and a quality Protein, helped me with performance and keeping my body fueled for our PT sessions. We designed our Protein and Creatine to meet those harsh demands. Safe, effective, and 3rd party tested for consumer peace of mind. 

P.S. In combat, training wasn’t optional—it was survival. In the gym, it’s about thriving. Start today.