Tactical Gymnastics
If you want to look like a statue, thatʼs fine; but take care that you donʼt become one. Honestly, I probably cannot help you if you have not, somehow of your own accord, developed the fire to desire moving with power, rather than merely appearing powerful.
Most of the martial arts approaches I studied were “sink or swim.” For instance, since my years in Russia often involved their special operations unit trainers and personnel, the training was very much a culling of the herd, where whoever could survive the many hours of grueling repeti[...].
It is not possible to perform them with no intensity, like your mobility days; and not advisable to perform them at high intensity due to their complex nature, even if you scale down the complexity to simple movements.
And even if you or your coaches have ignited your warrior spirit with the will to regain your heritage as the most potent creature God has ever graced the world with, you may not have the patience to develop at the appropriate rate.
Power means nothing without the ability to navigate unknown and surprise obstacles and resistance with ease and imagination.
Tactical gymnastics are like “flow yoga with a purpose.” They help you develop movement efficacy to navigate on, around, over or through obstacles.
They have specific purpose. If you consider the 4 Day Wave in TACFIT, you can insert your tactical gymnastics into the low or moderate intensity sessions.
You should leave your tactical gymnastics practice smiling, sweaty and sore: a good, deep sweat which allows you to loosen the muscles, lubricate the joints, work out the knots, focus your mind, and decompress your emotions.
The appearance is not the destination; just a part of the journey. However, there are ineffable qualities, elusive virtues, which tactical gymnastics - like its father, martial arts - concentrate upon.
Power and the ability to express it are not mutually compatible. You can appear to have a massive, powerful frame. You can look as if you could withstand any crisis. But without the malleable form, you will lack the ability to express that power. You will remain encased in a prison of muscle. Iʼve alluded to the difference between “show” muscle and “go” muscle. This distinction works well. Too often, Iʼve had to work with very enthusiastic young athletes, who because of their prior training, were completely incapable of translating power outside of the short-range, machine-dictated exercises they had been advised to perform.