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  One of the things we hear the most from firefighters and fire chiefs when it comes to establishing a fire department fitness program is that they do not know where to start, nor do they know what to include.   Firefighter Functional Fitness: The Essential Guide to Optimal...

Think about it—nearly every fireground task we perform requires the use of our hands. Pulling hose, hooking ceilings, carrying heavy equipment, dragging victims, firefighters, and objects—the list goes on and on.  Similarly, when engaging in functional strength training, most...

For some firefighters, it may be difficult to know which exercises are specifically functional for the job.  Knowledge of basic exercises is good, but being able to apply progressions and regressions are key to getting the most out of each workout.  A progression is used to make...

While we believe that fitness is a fire service requirement regardless of status as volunteer or career, we know that volunteer firefighters can face even more challenges than their career counterparts when it comes to finding the time and resources to work out.  But while the...

One of the biggest hurdles for firefighters who want to improve their fitness is figuring out what they should do for their weekly workouts.  Unfortunately, these individuals don’t have specific goals of what they want to accomplish; therefore, they lack a specific plan for...

When it comes to Firefighter Functional Fitness, the level of success you achieve will always be directly linked to three cornerstones: Attitude, Accountability, and Action.  Simply put, you must accept the fact that being fit for duty is a fundamental requirement of being a...

One of the questions we are asked most often is, “What are the best exercises to improve firefighter fitness?”  Although we share over 100 highly-effective exercises, movements and stretches in our book Firefighter Functional Fitness, this article will provide you with the best...

Firefighters frequently ask us the best methods for losing weight, and with good reason.  The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) recently published the document Addressing the Epidemic of Obesity in the United States Fire Service.  It details the fact that more than 70% of...

One of the keys to improving your functional fitness and fire ground performance is to use The Big 8 of Firefighter Functional Fitness as your foundation.  The Big 8 concept is comprised of Core Strength, Cardiovascular Capacity, Flexibility, The Push, The Pull, The Lift, The...

When it comes to Firefighter Functional Fitness, you are only limited by your imagination with the tools and equipment you can use to improve your cardiovascular capacity, your strength, and your flexibility.  “Standard” exercise equipment such as barbells, and dumbbells, common...