Do Mounties Do Dinosaur Training?

-- More Straight-from-the-Shoulder Strength Training Advice

(Do Mounties do Dinosaur Training? Many of them do — and I know that’s true because of the following email, which I received way back in 2005 or so. It came in response to my post entitled “Are You Ready?”)

The reader response to my "Are You Ready?" post has been off the charts. More of you wrote in to comment about this article than any previous dinosaur post.

One of the responses was from Sgt. John Irving, an instructor at a Canadian Law Enforcement academy. Here's what Sgt. Irving had to say: 

Mr. Kubik,

I really enjoy your e-mail newsletters, and have been doing workouts from Dinosaur Training for a few years now.

Some of the most fun I have is lifting things that nobody else will touch. I have logs and tree stumps at home that I lift and carry around the block, and I think it is a great compliment when my neighbors come out of their houses to ask me if I need an ambulance, or a truck to carry the stump home.

I have sandbags and a barrel at work that nobody else will touch, and people tell me regularly that I am crazy for lifting the way I do.

I have had people tell me I am stupid and walk out of the gym when I am not even halfway through the “Sandbag Workout” from your Dinosaur Training book.

Working out with odd-shaped stuff has really improved my fighting abilities. Core strength in your back and stomach make any technique you need to do better and stronger.

All the little stabilizer muscles and tendon/ligament strength gives me an edge over the recruits who are almost half my age, and helps keep me from getting training injuries.

Grip strength makes it easier for me to fight, grab, punch and shoot.

I honestly do want to thank you for your book, and for your attitude. It has had an enormous effect on me, and thus my students as well. Directly or indirectly, your influence is helping keep my officers safe.

The reason I am writing to you today is that I would like to distribute this e-mail to my students at work. I am the senior Use of Force/Physical Training instructor at the Justice Institute of British Columbia, which trains all of the Municipal Police Officers in the province of British Columbia, Canada.

I am always trying to encourage the new officers to develop their strength in real ways, and not just pump up over at the chrome and fern gym next door. A couple of real-life examples would go a long way towards developing some interest in STRENGTH training and not LOOKS training.

Thank you for your work. You have inspired me to read whatever I can from the old-time strength guys, and constantly work on building my own strength in real. and practical ways.

Sgt. John Irving

Well, that was quite an email. Here's my response:

"John,

Yes, you absolutely have permission to distribute the article. Thanks for asking, and thanks for doing this.

One of my favorite quotes is this:

"A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops." Henry B. Adams

If the article I wrote goes out to one of your students, who reads it, takes it to heart, and uses it to make a difference – then both of us have helped to influence the world in a very positive way.

Thanks, again."

NOTE: Sgt. Irving is doing his part to make the world a better and safer place -- and Dinosaur Training is helping him fight the battle. I know that many of you are doing similar things. Write in and share your experiences with the rest of us.