Marines pride themselves on being athletic and muscular, but when the workouts they perform don’t build their bodies properly for combat, Marines run the risk of suffering from preventable injuries.
To aid Marines in becoming combat ready, Semper Fit created a Combat Conditioning Training Course to give Marines a well-rounded workout.
This course can be for an individual with a Semper Fit trainer or for a unit with guidance from a trainer.
Marines are tactical athletes, explained Eric Ramirez, the Semper Fit fitness manager, the main difference between an athlete and a Marine is Marines carry a combat load. Marines in a combat environment use different muscles from walking to diving for cover—than the muscles an athlete uses to run and jump.
Maneuvers like diving for cover can cause unnecessary injuries that can be prevented with the correct training. Cross training is one way Semper Fit offers Marines the help they need.
Cross training works several different muscle groups providing Marines the well-rounded workout needed to prevent injuries. Part of injury prevention is accomplished with dynamic exercises.
These exercises include sprinting, high skips, sprint pivots and much more to work more than the main muscle groups. Keeping these muscles strong can aid Marines in improving their physical fitness test run time and their combat fitness test time.
The dynamic exercises performed can increase power by 20 to 30 percent because all the muscles are working instead of the main muscle groups, explained Ramirez.
Dynamic exercises and cross training are simple changes to get Marines out of routine workouts. Fifteen minutes of high intense training compares to 40 minutes of long distance running, explained Ramirez.
Marines run for their regular exercise while cross training uses different modes of exercise to break up the daily routine.
“An example would be to take a Semper Cycling Class, an Aerobics class or swimming,” said Ramirez. “Cross training is used to decrease overuse injuries, prevents plateau, prevents boredom and enhances an overall comprehensive operational fitness program.”
The length or intensity of the cross training session will depend on a Marine’s or unit’s goal, according to Ramirez.
Marines interested in exchanging their regular routine can contact Ramirez at 577-6174.
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