TACFIT
A time-based group training system with a
strong emphasis on injury-prevention is the
latest in the new wave of circuit workouts.
ACFIT (Tactical Fitness) is a progressive ballistic
movement fitness system that has recently arrived on
Australian shores from the US. It was created by
martial arts and fitness coach Scott Sonnon to help government
agencies and special forces such as police, fire fighters and
rapid response teams achieve elite level fitness while, crucially,
remaining injury-free.
This ‘safety first’ approach to fitness through progressive
movement, as well as its long-term development program, has
seen a number of government agencies and sports teams around
the world adopt TACFIT as their preferred training method (with
at least part of the appeal being the money and headaches
it can theoretically save by preventing unnecessary injury.)
Agencies that have used the system include the US Federal Law
Enforcement Training Centre (FLETC) and the US Army’s Special
Operations Aviation Regiment (SOAR).
Given this background, it’s perhaps not surprising that
certain elements within TACFIT have something of a militaristic
flavour, with some of the offshoot systems bearing the monikers
Commando, Warrior and Spartan. The stated aim of TACFIT is ‘to
strengthen and mobilise your body against injury, turn your mind
into a fortress against stress, and help you to re-develop your
primal strength and critical thinking.’
Impressive claims, so how does it work? Each 45-minute training
session draws on a library of 26 20-minute circuits based on one
of six timing protocols, with each exercise within a circuit having
four levels of complexity so that beginners th &