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KB Fire is one of the first DVD's to address the conditioning of someone who actually works for a living,.. a Fireman. Fortunate for me that I have many friends and associates who are in this profession so the subject of conditioning for this lifestyle is something I am familiar with. Tom is clear in his representation of the basics of using a simple tool (the kettlebell) and how it fits well into the various unwieldy tasks the Firefighter has to contend with. He then goes onto to warmups, workout templates, and unique exercises that adapt the metabolism and musculature into a well oiled machine that will not let you down when the difference can be life for death.

The subject matter presented could install a lifestyle change for those Fireman who have let their conditioning slip and need a new lease on life so to speak. It also provides a breath of fresh air in the Kettlebell DVD industry where making things more complex seems more important than sound communication provided by someone who has actually lived his resume.
I'd say Tom Corrigan is the "go to" guy when it comes to taking the next step in "Blue Collar" fitness. I highly recommend his DVD. It is professionally produced and uses more than one set, or back drop. He spared no expenses in providing good instruction at a good price.

Contact Tom at http://bluecollarfitness.blogspot.com/ for DVD's, Instruction, or just to talk training!

I had a look at Fireman Tom's blog and website based on your blog entry. I was originally going to give it a pass (discounting the "Dan Kennedy factor" in any advertising from DragonDoor,) but after actually seeing what this guy has done, I am impressed. GS training AND the SSST, eh? Not bad at all.

Of course, Sonnon will probably find some reason to disapprove of the product and the program as improper use of a kball, since FT is applying resistance to movements that simulate the actual activities he's training for. But the disapproval of the CST camp is a burden that all us linear trainers must bear from time to time. (That's OK, Scott, I still think you're a movement genius.)

Tom Corrigan has done his homework and walks the walk. Fighting fires is impressive work. I've been working closely with the Miami Beach Fire Department for 25 years.

ABW,

Stimulation not Simulation can become dogmatic. The Late Mel Siff actually published this first in his book SUPERTRAINING. But it relates to sports performance enhancement. In athletes of high skill, taking them the last 20% is a sweet science. That's where "simulations" can be detrimental. For many athletes - especially "blue collar" folks - it's not going to be that neuromuscularly competitive, and the general carry-over may outweigh any "skill" issues.

A lot of the people over at RMAX are martial artists, and swinging around a Clubbell like fighting skills can become a problem since fighting is mostly athletic: too easy to over-train. And it can be bad for our tin-foil underwear.

Tom has been to my gym. He's a good guy. We're talking about an inter-city firefighters challenge between Everett and Bellingham - should be fun.

Watch Wanderlei Silva lift weights. He simulates everything.
I am not saying I train athletes this way,... It is just something to consider.

--Tom

Tom,

No doubt Silva's a monster. But there's no arguing that most athletes do well in spite of their conditioning rather than because of it. Some of the guys at my gym could sneeze hard and get bigger and stronger. They just have inefficient nervous systems (not in a derogatory way, but that they're wired to adapt by getting bigger, rather than on using less effort - better "technique.")

Siff may have been a very disgruntled man in his final years, but he implemented his research successfully in many Olympic athletes. I suspect that when it comes to most Olympic sports, efficiency is king, so the type of athlete which gravitates to that insane degree of commitment tends to be on the efficiency side of the gene pool. Maybe not.

But at least the athletes that I tend to attract are like myself: very difficult to gain, but easy to improve. If I'm off even just a day on my meal timing, I'll drop 4-6 pounds in a day.

I suspect that the non-simulation principle applies more to those with efficient nervous systems, than with the inefficient wired ones. (Again, that sounds like it's perjorative, but to be honest, I wished to hell I could just stay about 200lbs for more than a month.)

Sorry, if this hijacked the review of Tom's DVD. I find it a really interesting subject.

That was an excellent clarification, Scott. It answered several outstanding questions I hadn't codified properly. Muchas gracias.