Combatives Fitness Test?

[Rocky Racoon]

Edit to above post:

I should have said that Dan John’s “gamechanger” standards are relatively modest compared to others.

[Cecil Burch]

I always find it a bit funny to talk about mythical "standards" in Combatives as if it were some stand alone thing. There is no way to determine what standard an individual will need to perform. Especially because "Combatives" is an all-encompassing term. Is it striking, stand up grappling, or ground fighting you are doing? Each has a completely different work capacity need.

Here is how to find out what level "you" - as an individual - need : go do some Combatives. Do it for a bit of time so you get some fundamental core techniques dialed in. IOW, to where you can use them on a reasonable basis against your PEERS. Then, find out what gaps you have. Are you getting muscled around? More strength training. Are you gassing out and forget about technique? Then more cardio is the answer. IF neither of those are happening, but you are still getting beat, then you need to focus on skill and mechanics.

On top of that, you need to look at what you need as a human being trying to maintain a quality of life as long as possible. What someone in their 20's needs is far different from me at 60.

For example, I have not been out muscled or out cardio-ed by anyone in the past 20 years. So my baseline level of health and vitality is at a good point. Further, I know how to train now (after 45 years!) and leave my ego off the mat. So any injury I get now is almost always due more to what came before and the less than smart things I did in training from 15-50 than from the particular movement in the moment that popped a rib or tweaked my knee. So again, my prehab/rehab work is adequate unless something in particular pops up.

So now I am focused on what do I need in my advancing senior status to keep my healthy and vital, which is a more hypertrophy weight training plan, alongside a reasonable amount of lightly weighted rucking. I don't work to a "standard", but more keeping my ability at an even keel.

So look at your own context, and then try to get a handle on what YOU need. Then find the best method to work on it.

[G19Fan]

I always find it a bit funny to talk about mythical "standards" in Combatives as if it were some stand alone thing. There is no way to determine what standard an individual will need to perform. Especially because "Combatives" is an all-encompassing term. Is it striking, stand up grappling, or ground fighting you are doing? Each has a completely different work capacity need.

Here is how to find out what level "you" - as an individual - need : go do some Combatives. Do it for a bit of time so you get some fundamental core techniques dialed in. IOW, to where you can use them on a reasonable basis against your PEERS. Then, find out what gaps you have. Are you getting muscled around? More strength training. Are you gassing out and forget about technique? Then more cardio is the answer. IF neither of those are happening, but you are still getting beat, then you need to focus on skill and mechanics.

On top of that, you need to look at what you need as a human being trying to maintain a quality of life as long as possible. What someone in their 20's needs is far different from me at 60.

For example, I have not been out muscled or out cardio-ed by anyone in the past 20 years. So my baseline level of health and vitality is at a good point. Further, I know how to train now (after 45 years!) and leave my ego off the mat. So any injury I get now is almost always due more to what came before and the less than smart things I did in training from 15-50 than from the particular movement in the moment that popped a rib or tweaked my knee. So again, my prehab/rehab work is adequate unless something in particular pops up.

So now I am focused on what do I need in my advancing senior status to keep my healthy and vital, which is a more hypertrophy weight training plan, alongside a reasonable amount of lightly weighted rucking. I don't work to a "standard", but more keeping my ability at an even keel.

So look at your own context, and then try to get a handle on what YOU need. Then find the best method to work on it.

Wonderful post

[Kirk]

For me if was going to train someone to be a warrior I'd work on these things.
Endurance
3 miles under 21 minutes
5 miles under 40 minutes
10 miles under 90 minutes
The ability to do 10 100 yard sprints with 1 minute breaks in-between sprints

Strength
Bare min
Ohp 135
Bench 225
Squat 315
Deadlift 405
Goal. All for 10 reps
Pull-ups 20

Fighting
Grappling
Striking

I love this. There was a time when I could hit all of these metrics except the 3 mile and 10 mile run (I was several minutes slower at each of these distances - I suck at running). I've focused heavily on strength training and this motivates me to get back out on the road and get my conditioning back where it needs to be. I'm at a no-gi BJJ gym now and could definitely use the extra cardio for sure.