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The Walk Like a Warrior Test by Mark Hatmaker

 




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:

·        The Original Roadwork 

·        Walk Like a Warrior 

Or these three podcast episodes.

·        Walk Like a Warrior

·  

·        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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