Warrior Training at the United States Naval Academy

So you think you are a warrior? Are you ready to put your life on the line for your country or your beliefs? If you are or you have already then I commend you. Read on to be introduced to some of America's best.

On Saturday April 22, 2006 I had the honor of training 40 of our nations future Naval and Marine officers. For five hours the midshipmen (and women) of the United States Naval Academy went through grueling physical training that included hand-to-hand combat skills, knife fighting drills, and special conditioning exercises designed to enhance their warrior mindset and combat readiness. Sorry but if I give too much detail I may have to kill you!

After a quick run the Company arrived at the Navy Wrestling room. Although the training was scheduled to take place outside it was a rainy day and I think they were just being courteous to me. Once there they went through a dynamic stretching protocol and a more “intense” warm-up of “ape walks” and “crab walks”. Special partner push-ups and chin-ups using another person as an exercise tool followed. If you can’t control your body lifting a dumbbell won’t matter much when you are out in the field. Once I had their attention it was onto hand to hand combat drills. We focused on “stand-up” techniques that included punches, elbows, knees and kicks, with an occasional gouge.

After over an hour and a half of drilling we progressed to basic knife fighting skills then “live” knife fighting “games”. The midshipmen really seemed to enjoy the competitiveness and the combativeness of the knife drills. The drills were designed to develop a sense of awareness and agility while teaching real world skills. Stick wrestling followed the knife exercises. This is a very competitive and intense drill that has two people pulling and pushing on a stick while trying to upset the other’s balance. Stick wrestling will fatigue even the best-conditioned athlete after only a few minutes. I made these warriors try a few rounds after over three hours of very taxing physical, and mental, activities.

Sumo games and “snake body” exercises followed the stick wrestling. Sumo games are fun drills that instill not only a competitive drive but greatly improve the balance, strength and power of the participants. “Snake body” drills date back centuries and were developed by Chinese “internal” martial arts. They build upper body strength and a sense of total body connection needed by modern warriors and athletes alike.

America can and should be proud of every one of these fine young men and women. Despite the long training day there was never a complaint, only a request for more. They completed the training with smiles on their faces despite the difficulty and lack of breaks. Despite being around many soldiers over the last 20 plus years I was humbled to be in the presence of the midshipmen of the US Naval Academy. It is rare in today’s world to find young men and women with such a sense of honor, duty and a commitment to excellence. I hope to have the opportunity to return to Annapolis in the future. Hoorah.

If you are interested in learning any of the techniques mentioned above please check out my DVDs Western Strength, Eastern Power I and II, Martial Arts Agility and my book “Unleashing the Dragon”.

These techniques were presented, up close and personal, at Ryan Lee’s 2nd Annual Bootcamp,held September, 2006,in Stamford Connecticut.

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