Should "American Ninja Warrior" baseline the new HT/WT and PT standards?

MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca — Thu, 03 Jul 2014 15:26:44 -0400

I accidently landed on this show while channel surfing a month ago and now my wife & I are hooked. You kind of go, "Huh?" when you look at the tone, physique and prowess of these competitors (some of whom have a military backgrounds) and compare that to the "general overall" condition of SMs. (believe me I was no HT/WT, PT stud muffin and contributed to the problem) Barring the super-human feats that these folks accomplish - like the upside down angled rock climbing wall 30 feet in the air I saw the other night - should the services strive for a base level of strength, dexterity and endurance that these folks display, something the current PT program IMHO does not provide for?

Response by SGT Thomas Sullivan made Jul 3 at 2014 3:31 PM

SGT Thomas Sullivan — Thu, 03 Jul 2014 15:31:44 -0400

I think that baseline is just a little too high. But It could definitely use some raising.

Response by COL Vincent Stoneking made Jul 3 at 2014 3:36 PM

COL Vincent Stoneking — Thu, 03 Jul 2014 15:36:58 -0400

No.
To clarify, INDIVIDUALS, if they want should so strive.

However, these people are almost all athletes in their own right, whether pro or amateur. Either way, I would guess that they put in 20+ hours a week of training at the low end of the scale. For some, it is a full-fledged second (or first!) job. I kickbox, and did MMA before that, and daily run across similar people who live in the gym and go to work to earn the money to pay gym dues.

That's fine if that's the life you chose. (I have moved to 3x week doing two a day workouts - goodbye gut! knock on wood.) However, the military needs people doing their jobs. They can't do that if they are spending all day working out, measuring their protein powder & chicken breasts, and icing today's injury.

The baseline standard should be just that - overall good health. For the more physical MOS's, there should be a higher baseline - but still below the obsessive level of Ninja Warrior or professional athletes (Yes, I know all about the "Soldier athlete".....stuff going around), with maybe the exception of SO forces.

Btw, love American Ninja Warrior. But the Japanese original is better. :-) No "top thirty go on", you either finish the course, or you don't.

Response by MSG Wade Huffman made Jul 3 at 2014 3:55 PM

MSG Wade Huffman — Thu, 03 Jul 2014 15:55:21 -0400

OK Maj Petaraca...I really think you need help! Have you been spending too much time with LTC Private RallyPoint Member ?? You're really coming up with some off-the-wall stuff here! LOL!
Oh, and in answer to your question..all I can say is that if the Army considers raising the bar to anywhere near that level, I'll be really glad I retired first!

Response by TSgt Scott Hurley made Jul 3 at 2014 4:07 PM

TSgt Scott Hurley — Thu, 03 Jul 2014 16:07:23 -0400

What they do on Ninja Warrior, is great and all. And it does show physical prowess to. The problem is, the US military would have to that 5 days a week, at least 4 hrs a day. Which would not enhance the military overall. It would just make us tired as hell.... We do not need to make PT harder than what it should be. That was one of my arguments about the AF PT standard. It was getting harder do to the constant changes that were incorporated every year.

Response by LTC Paul Labrador made Jul 3 at 2014 4:09 PM

LTC Paul Labrador — Thu, 03 Jul 2014 16:09:18 -0400

Couple thoughts:

1) as LTC Stoneking pointed out, these folks are freak of nature athletes who not only have natural ability but spend an inordinate amount of time training for this specific challenge.

2) Let's see them do those stunts in full battle-rattle before we get too excited. Yeah it's fun to watch, but if you're going to extrapolate that to the military, train as you fight....

3) Amercian Ninjas is nowhere near as fun to watch at the original Japanese version (or even the early American version called WipeOut with the Mystery Science Theater 3000-esque voice overs). Not only were the challenges hard in the Japanese version, they were also kinda goofy and fun to watch folks wipe out on.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 3 at 2014 8:49 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 03 Jul 2014 20:49:35 -0400

Yeah they can like spider climb and stuff. But can any of them animate PowerPoint Slides?

We need American Ninja PowerPointer. Give folks a random set of data and ask them to assemble everything into a quad chart, bar graph and storyboard in under 3 minutes. If the General falls asleep, you lose.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 3 at 2014 8:59 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 03 Jul 2014 20:59:05 -0400

FYI: As you all tune in to ANW (that's insider parlance for America Ninja Warrior), check out the Ninja stylings of Mr. Ryan Stratis. Stratis, a six-year Veteran of Sasuke, is a former Georgia Guard Captain. I worked with this guy and I can tell you he eats, sleeps and breathes ANW. Dude's training regimen is insane. Best part, he is a genuinely nice fellow who gives back to the community and is humble about his accomplishments. Stratis is in the hunt this year in the ANW competition.

Here's a video of his run at the 2013 semi finals in Miami. Dude is a beast.

http://tv.esquire.com/videos/70536-ryan-stratis-at-the-american-ninja-warrior-2013-miami-finals

Ryan Stratis At The American Ninja Warrior 2013 Miami Finals

Ryan Stratis wows the crowd at the Miami Finals, proving once again that he is an American Ninja Warrior legend.