What makes Royal Marines Commando physical training different to other forms of physical training? Is it any harder then a Professional football or rugby players training? Is it longer then an Olympic athlete’s physical program? Is more time dedicated then a serious marathon runner would give in order to get his best time? In order to answer these questions we must understand what a marine will do in his physical preparation. (Picture taken by isafmedia)

In Recruit training a marine will conduct 45 – 90 minutes per day Physical Training (PT), 5 – 6 times per week, in a group session, ether in the gym on the assault course in the pool or out on the lanes running.These sessions are taken by a physical training instructor (PTI), who will dictate the intensity of the session and here is where the difference in Royal Marine physical training and other forms of physical preparation is born.

When the PTI dictates the effort / intensity level, he requires it to build a psychological strength within the marine. The PTI will want the men to work to levels they probably thought they could never achieve, this will be done in all weather conditions, at different times of the day, in diverse locations and when the men are in differing levels of fatigue.

Conducting this type of training all the time would not work for every athlete, as it does not assist the best physiological adaptations to occur, but it does install an ability in an individual to believe he can achieve the goal that he is set, by himself or another, regardless of the barriers that may be in his way. This is a very strong training adaptation that occurs within individuals.

The Basic Principles of Physical Success

So what does this type of training have to do with the general fitness individual? Well it fits nicely within the remit of advice that was given out by a speaker at a seminar that I attended recently. He spoke very eloquently of his 30 years in the conditioning world working with individuals and teams, he also spoke of seeing changes in different forms of PT, be it kettle bells, aerobics, body pump, spinning, weight training, cross fit, speed work etc. Differing forms of physical training come and go and all have a place within the right circumstances but certain things do stay constant, if you wish to do well in any sort of physical endeavour that is:

1. Eat well
2. Drink plenty of water
3. Rest and recover, in order to allow your body to adapt
4. (In my opinion the most important one) try as hard as you can to do the training that has been prescribed by yourself or a trainer.

Let’s face it, there is no magic form of training that will work if little or no effort is applied. This is true whatever your goal may be whether it be muscle gain, weight loss, being fitter, improvement in speed and power, or just becoming a better player within a team. The marines have an ethos that is imparted on them from the very first day they join training that is ‘Courage, Determination, Unselfishness’ and Cheerfulness under adversity’.

Now those ethos’s don’t just mean storming a machine gun nest whilst wounded to save your comrades and hold it until relieved, then let fly a witty quip towards your mates as they approach. They could just as easily be applied to an individual getting up early on a dark, cold, wet winter morning to go for their 30 min run 4 weeks into a 6 week program with their friend who relies on them for a lift to their running area and meets them with a cheerful greeting.

Conclusion

Trying to live utilising this ethos can help in your effort levels in what ever you are doing, be it work, home life but especially in your training, and they can help you achieve whatever goals you have set for your self.

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