Job Specific Training

Performance Enhancement and Injury Prevention are the goals of all elite athletes. Enhancement allows us to just plain be better… win… save lives in this case. Injury Prevention allows us to do the job (or sport) without injuring ourselves or others.  

Firefighters are elite athletes. They show up, at the toughest of times, when the chips are down, to save lives. They dig deep into their hearts to make the difference that may save the life of the next Einstein. They need to be strong, and perform at peak levels to help people to the best of their ability. Further, they need to do this while preserving their health and physical integrity. This allows them to do the same the next week and save our precious parents and children! The CPAT exam process is used to weed out the people who are not ready or able to do the job.

The job of Firefighter is often performed by very big and very strong people. They do a great job as it is. Big people, imagine this: instead of carrying one adult out of that burning building, what if the big and strong person was even stronger, and could carry two people out at the same time? Or had the stamina  and VO2 max to go back in and get another rather than pant on the sidewalk when they are done with the first one?  Big strong people are important, and can be made even bigger and even stronger with job specific training. After all, why settle for mediocrity when greatness awaits?

This job is huge. The heart, passion, and mental toughness it takes do not always come in the biggest packages. Sometimes we are blessed with the burning desire, the brains, but not the brawn .  The small (er) can fit into the small places, and use sports specific training to get the job done safely. Again:” Why settle for mediocrity when greatness awaits?”

Here’s a common story: "I began training with weights seriously at age 12… because my big brother was 15 and very cool. I wanted to be just like him. He lifted weights A LOT.  I lifted, and lifted, and lifted. I got bigger and stronger. I became an elite athlete in several sports as the years came and went. I was better than I would have been without lifting. But, I got really effective when I started researching sports specific training and performance enhancement of elite athletes. (Of course, you cannot forget determination, or the value of knowing that I can do absolutely anything I set my mind to: which is invaluable.)". I have applied all I have learned in this area to help you train for your CPAT and your future career in the fire service.

I have been  the team doctor for many sports teams in my area: prevention to rehab. 13 years: taping, bracing, kissing the boo-boo’s… showing the way to the light at the end of the tunnel.  I have seen injuries of all types in athletes as well as dozens of work related injuries. I have seen fractures, dislocations, sprain-strains and blown knees, backs and shoulders. I have treated the acute and the chronic; all the way through the training needed to return to play and work. I have trained elite athletes in performance enhancement, as well as tended to their injuries, and help them with nutrition.

Anyway, over the years, I have studied a ton of information. It’s in my brain. I can’t pretend to remember where I learned some things, or why I know others. I just know them to be true. You’d have to know me to know why I say: take the leap of faith, and trust me on this one. This is my life, and I know I can help you get where you want to be… if you are just willing to do what it takes. I have spent my life learning so I can help you, so you can get to saving! The first step has to be passing the CPAT.

I have read and referenced  one  book dozens of times over the years. The book was called “Jumping Into Plyometrics”.  It’s by a man named Donald A. Chu, PhD. He wrote: “Plyometrics is exercise designed to enhance the athlete’s ability to blend speed and strength training”…”can start quicker, change direction, more rapidly, accelerate faster, and improve overall speed”…”Plyometrics is defined as exercises that enable the muscle to reach maximum strength in as short a time as possible… known as power”. His book is amazing, and his knowledge and writings are something you should reference, if not now, during your life. I have used what I learned from him, and learned over the years in other ways to develop this program. It will serve you if you will use it.

I have taken what I learned from him, along with a myriad of other sources,  and developed a very simple 12 week CPAT Training System that employs unique methods to ready you for the demands of your present or future job.

I have worked with injuries (treatment, rehab and prevention) since I was 18. Yep, that’s 20 years. If you  read this, and you do not yet have an injury, and you ignore this and do nothing, that will be very sad. You could get injured! You might cheat the children out of your potential. Get on with it… step on to the next place. It’s yours. Take it. Share yourself. Do what you know is right.

If you are a Firefighter, bless you.  You are already doing the job. Why not do it better? Why not take the bull by the horns and prevent the injury from happening? NOW! 

Try this system. Try the first workout… if it was far too easy, let’s get you to the next level! Save MORE lives! 

If you are not yet a Firefighter; If you need help passing the CPAT or other physical agility exams: put your ear to the ground: I am here. I want to help you. Traditional weight training is not enough. It’s old news. Let’s go straight to the top. Yes, it’s pass-fail… let’s eliminate the F-word.

Click here to find out more about the Fire it Up CPAT system