physical physique

[yapudan]

I met a few Royal Marines on the train back from the prmc and noticed they were't that physically intimidating. They didin't look like they could bench or squat or deadlift that much. I know they could run though but my question is what are the corps goals in training us. Do they want to develope a strong powerful soldier who is muscular and fit or do they place more effort on the training of endurance and cardio. I was kinda suprized in a way that the marines were not very developed physically. I know that all the endurance work and stamnia they train for develops slow twitch muscle which is like marathon runners fast twitch would be more developed physically maybe a 200m olympic sprinter would be a good example as they are well developed and have reasonable endurance to. I do understamd though that it is not useful to have people like Arnold who can't run but I think it is important that Marines should be physically developed through strength training and weightlifting not just running. Do the Royal Marines place importance in hitting the weights. I know they do the push ups and the pull ups and the sit ups but what about the weights (squats,bench,deadlifts)?
Do you guys know if Marines train in the gym using free weights or do they just run?
My recruiter asked me what kind of training I've been doing and I told him what stuff I do in the gym. He was more interested in my running than how strong I was. Do you guys know if they got a gym in Lympstone with free weights and stuff? Can you use it?
Well hopefully you guys can shed some light on this, I just was always under the impression that you would know a Marine when you see him.

[El Prez]

The training is more orientated to stamina and endurance. A muscle Bosun may look intimidating, but if he runs out of steam 2 hours into a 12 hour yomp he's not much use to you. The guys you met would still be moving long after your average gym hero has gone to bed and been kissed night night by Mom!

[davo141]

hey yapudan..

it is true that the RM take pride in there endurance and stamina...as pictures from the war in iraq shows...i remember seeing a broadcast of Marines been dropped at an LZ and an interviewer asked what they are doing and one replied something like ''well we have a nice walk now about 25 miles with withs weight..the weight was 60lbs..each or there about...i would be amazed if Arnie or anyother bodybuilder would have the stamina to carry this weight for that long?
and as for some of your other questions...yes lympstone does have its own gym and weights...the first couple of weeks if commando training takes place mainly in the gym and assault couse to build strenghth and stamina...emphasis is placed upon upper body strenghth in this stagee...

hope that helps

dave

[jonboy]

How can you tell if some1 cant bench or squat much, if they are fully clothed? you could just be well cut without much fat (so it dont show). And some of these blokes who you think are bulked up with muscle are actually just quite fat. Dont go by apparances to much.

[HP]

Well said jonboy. Common mistake this one. It tends to be a myth in the civvie world that to be a Marine you must look like Arnold Schwarzenegger. In my RMR troop (out of 30 guys approx)only one guy is built very big. Also he tends to struggle on the speed marches and load carry! The rest of the guys are slim but muscular build. When I was at Lympstone I was pleased to see how many regulars their were just like me - 6 feet + with zero fat and loadsa tenacity to make up for lack of bulk. Well thats how I like to see it.

[dimond]

well im 5'7'' and 10stone 5 but il carry the load till they tell me stop.!
evan if it ways more than me!

[Sully]

Dont go by apparances to much

Too true jonboy. It really takes all sorts - Bob Consiglio who died in the Bravo Two Zero episode was a former bootneck and a little over 5'. Don't lose sight of the fact that bootnecks are soldiers not athletes (many are/were good athletes as well but that's not part of the job description). You'll need to be ready for 'fastballs' when things go tits up as they always do - which often means you'll need to be able to sleep less and yomp further than the baddies.

Being a bootneck isn't as glamorous as it may appear from the outside. When you've made it you move into a world where everyone has a green lid and a lot more experience than you - so it's no big deal. There won't be a FHM reporter around the corner ready to take phots and tell your amazing life story. By the time you've cracked it though you'll know what's important and what's not. Image isn't, substance is.

(Not sure what this has to do with the topic - but I think there's a connection there somewhere )

[barryc]

I noticed from the Joining the RM thread that a lot of would be Booties seem to be around the 6' foot mark. I certainly had some 6' plus oppos when I was in but many more were around my own 5'9" and of a very similar build, a build that was unremarkable when clothed (or indeed starkers) but was reasonably stocky/solid. Also, as we all know, much of the Marines strength isn't in the physique, it's in the mind, that `can do' attitude linked to competitiveness, determination and sheer bloody mindedness, all mixed in with a pretty aggressive spirit.

All in all we are pretty damn wonderful (as well as now being plump, grey, and aching in every joint, but still 18 inside)



Barry

Barry

[Chester]

I'm just under 5'7" and weighed 10 and a half throughout my training, I think us smaller blokes had it easier rather than the long hags, always at the back on speed marches etc. Usually last on the firemans carries as well for some reason - Bit of a bind getting through the smartie tubes on the endurance course as well - Being a little bloke, I flew through

[Twenty One]

Yes Chester, wee shites have got more stamina apparently.

[JulesB]

Mine was a lanky streak of p*ss! Long and thin, runs marathons, 10k's and the like and has very good times. So theres something to be said for each different build I guess....

Your Arnie build is just a stereotyped image of a bootie though.... Must admit it's what I thought before I met mine!

[always go commando]

I'm scraping in at roughly 5ft 7 and I'm nearly 13 stone. But all this weight is in my upper body (not belly). It’s a nightmare to run with. My legs are skinny and I haven’t really started to do any distance running, (I’ve just started training to join the RM. But I haven’t signed anything yet though) To look at, I don’t look that strong. The size of your muscles is all about the type of training you do and the steroids you take.
Don’t know if you heard but Arnie recently had a heart attack (well a coupe of years ago)
Anyone suggest good running distances to started of with and times to aim for?
I currently get shattered doing a 3 mile run and have never bothered timing it.
The press ups sit ups and pull ups are all irrelevant because I’ve been rock climbing for about 3 years and frankly i could do them all day.

physically intimidating

who needs to be physically intimidating on a train

[Cronkilla]

Being a little bloke, I flew through

Just like ill leap over the 8 ft wall