So, a few weeks back I
removed myself to Apache, Sinagua, Navajo, Yavapai canyonlands to acquire some hard-to-find
resources and, perhaps most importantly, put to test a few Old School ideas
that I’ve been studying on for some time.
I wanted to test tactics [conditioning,
movement, and combative] in the environments where they were borne to give full
consideration to whether they held any merit or were mere legend.
One of those experiments was
seemingly simplistic—the mere act of walking.
But…as with all things—be they
the correct way to throw a jab, swing a tomahawk, nerve glide a
double-wristlock, there is more than meets they eye, as the devil is in the
details.
One of the most jaw-dropping
experiments that met with rousing success was Warrior Walking.
Walking?
“Are you kidding me,
Mark?”
Snore, right?
Stay with me…
Indigenous
Warrior Walking
There’s more than meets the
eye or foot here.
·
There is beaucoup
method.
·
There is stride
length and why and when it varies.
·
There is foot-strike.
·
There is the
hand tensioning.
·
There is the shoulder
instruction.
·
There is the
tuck.
·
There is, well, …more
later.
Early Boxers, Wrestlers, and
Physical Culturists used walking for wind [or “bottom” as they called it] and
the leaning effect.
The most up-to-date and
sound exercise physiology/kinesiology studies confirm that it is far more
leaning than the much touted HIIT. The mechanism behind it is, well, we’ll
cover that in material to come.
So, Old Time boxers, pugilists,
scufflers, wrestlers, physical culturists advised against running.
Apache Warriors and other plains
tribes disappeared into canyon land with what the often lagging behind cavalry
called a “miles eating pace.” [Keep in mind this is not easy terrain and at elevation.]
For a bit more historical
background see these two articles:
Or these three podcast
episodes.
·
·
The Original Roadwork Part 1
·
The Original Roadwork part 2
·
Disclosure:
Gear & My Skeleton
·
No special gear
is required—I hit winter canyon land and lava fields in a pair of worn Merrel
shoes with holes in them and a pair of wool socks to come close to the moccasin
effect. [My moccasins are coveted and I did not want to risk the investment.]
·
Boots to the
Old-Timers were anathema—needless weight-over-time, they alter stride and kill
contact aesthetics and, well, much more on this later.
·
FYI: I used this
same footwear where others were having a hard slog even with hiker’s crampons
and Yak-Trax additions. Lots of ice on steep elevated pitches. No concession to
the terrain was given.
·
My skeleton is
57 years old.
·
I have had one botched
knee surgery and told hiking days are done.
·
Two-years ago I
was advised to have a total hip replacement on the left hip.
· Have been told that without a hip-replacement even a walk at Dollywood would put me down for a day or two.
Experiment
Results in a Nutshell
·
Hiked [Warrior
Walked] 2 excursions per day for six-days straight…
·
With “sub-par”
footwear.
·
Rate of speed--High.
·
Wind—never at a
loss even at elevation. [I live and train at 886 feet of elevation. I spent a
week at 6,000+ with zero detectable effect. Not been the case for me before.]
·
Post-excursion
no ibuprofen, no ice, no “prop up that leg” no nothing.
·
Hell, not even a
blister to show for my effort.
·
PS-I’m not
saying hip-replacement is not in my future. I am saying, I’ve had three Docs
say, “Let’s go ahead and do this” but…
·
Three years of
Unleaded Training and disciplined adherence to learning the Warrior’s Walk,
well, sure feels like I’ve kicked that can down the road.
Coming
Soon
The Detailed How’s, Why’s, and
Internal “Feel” of Warrior Walking.
We will present these via
blog and podcast episodes.
More importantly…for those
who want to apply it in their own lives, their own training we will offer 2 Training
Plans.
·
The
18 Week Warrior Walk Plan for Everyday Folk who wanna lean up, whip the skeletal support into shape and build cardiovascular
efficiency all the while taking in the scenery. Man or Woman—Warrior Walking is
an equal opportunity invigorator, re-juvenator!
·
The
30-Week Plan for Warrior Walking: Ready to Raid! that will put you right where you need to be whether
for easy stripped lean and mean Unleaded
Physiques or ready to raid in
Canyonland.
You can read about it,
or you can lock in your stride.
I’m telling you The
Black Box Brotherhood is where its at.
The Black Box Combat
& Conditioning Training Warehouse
https://www.extremeselfprotection.com/
The Indigenous Ability
Blog
https://indigenousability.blogspot.com/
The Rough ‘n’ Tumble
Raconteur Podcast
https://spotifyanchor-web.app.link/e/1GLJ6aS5mwb
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