FIGHTER BOOT CAMP
In 1989, the Washington, DC metropolitan area woke up to news in all news media about a well built man in a military
style uniform leading men in exercise fitness. Exercises just like boot camp in the military.
I remember waking up and seeing all these guys who were mostly Viet Nam and Korean War veterans, performing jumping
jacks, push ups, running around Wilson High School’s (DC) track with a huge log on their shoulders and “The Sergeant”
in their face screaming and yelling.
The participants claimed that they tried everything
to get rid of their jelly bellies but all of them said there was nothing like the training they had at boot camp. They hated it as young men but enjoying it in their middle age. They
informed all their friends about this unique program.
Now boot camps are a common fixture from late
spring to early fall in the US and Canada. Adults, mainly white collar
adults, enjoy the hard training and discipline of fitness book camps.
The man in the picture above is Patrick Avon. He is the inventor of the concept of fitness boot camps and he started “The
Sergeant’s Program” in 1989 in Rockville, Maryland.
The keys to his program are intensity and discipline.
The fitness industry is really grateful for Mr.
Avon’s inventiveness, but we in the boxing and martial arts fields can add to our programs by incorporating boot camps
also. Some gyms and martial arts schools have after school programs and summer
camps for children which are big money makers. But there is the segment of society
who would like intensive and closely monitored grappling, boxing and martial arts training for adults.
Most of these are white collar professionals who
may not be interested in the sparring and fighting. But they would like to go
through an enlightening routine of grappling, boxing and martial arts that would help them get fit while training.
The screaming and yelling add to the intensity
because it give the participant the idea that he or she has to stay alert and that no one will be coddled. Everyone will have to keep up. Just like a military unit.
Boot camps come in various packages. You can have them on weekends, weekdays or the whole summer depending on your curriculum.
They are usually held outside in parks, playgrounds,
and even vacant lots. If you plan to start a boot camp, be sure you receive a
permit. So there would not be problems with other individuals or organizations
using your location.
Weight loss and fitness is the theme of boot camps,
but our boot camps can contain a lot more such as:
- Improving
punching power
- Defensive
fighting.
- Self
defense
- Improving
speed for boxing
- Improving
speed for grappling.
- Sparring
camp
- Throws
and take downs
- Escapes
- Core
strength for boxing and kickboxing
The list can go on but you get the picture. Boot camps are a refreshing change from the gym or studio. You will have no walls, so people will walk up to your group and watch the workout. Since the camps are intensive, it adds excitement to your potential customer and aid in recruiting new
members.
If you are an individual boxing instructor
who is trying to build up more clients to train in your gym, then this is a perfect way to isolate your self from the other
instructors and build your clientele base. Everyone can see you and only your
program; leading to increased earnings.
If you would like information on Sgt. Patrick
Avon and “The Sergeant’s Program”, just log on to:
http://www.sarge.com/
KEEP YOUR GUARD UP AND START CAMPING!
