The Tactical Strength Challenge is a twice-yearly event with participants all over the globe. For one day in April/May and October, people on six continents are joined together in three events.
What are you Training for?
The old saying goes, “if you don’t know where you’re going, any road will get you there”. Training is no different. If you lack a specific goal, the time you spend training may easily become a collection of random acts.The StrongFirst Tactical Strength Challenge™ is a goal worthy of your efforts.
What makes the Tactical Strength challenge so popular is that it brings out the perfect blend of strength and conditioning for all individuals- regardless of background, profession, gender or size.
The barbell deadlift favours heavier people and tests your absolute strength. The deadlift is the greatest predictor of overall strength and the most natural movement you can imagine. Deadlift’s build strong hips, back and leg strength.
The tactical pullups tests a persons relative strength and mastery of your own bodyweight. If you pursue absolute strength to the extent that you put on extra body mass, your pull up numbers will suffer. The pullup is a natural complement to the deadlift in that striving to improve both is extremely likely to result in an athletically functional body- and one that turns heads for all the right reasons. All of this said, the pull up will favor the lighter athlete.
The kettlebell snatch represent’s the strength endurance component of a well-rounded strength and fitness profile. High repetition kettlebell snatches are a demonstration of strength and power that can keep going. Strength without endurance or repeatability doesn’t align with the origins of the TSC where military personal where expected to be strong and enduring. Training with the snatch will see your pullups numbers go up as your waist size goes down.
The TSC is our triathlon. Whether you achieve your first pullup or set a new personal best to a room full of cheers and ultimately advancing into ever-tougher divisions. The TSC has a level for everyone no matter where you are on your health and fitness journey and is an event worth training for.
What is involved?
Held twice each year—the “community” event in early May and the “competition” event on the last Saturday of October—the Tactical Strength Challenge™ is comprised of three exercises:
- A max powerlifting deadlift (three attempts).
- Pullups for max reps (palms forward, no kipping, chin or upper chest must touch the bar) or flexed arm hang for time (in the Novice Women’s category)
- Kettlebell snatches for max reps in a 5:00 time period (unlimited hand switches and different weights for different competitor categories).
Preparing requires your focus on different types of strength and endurance—as demanded by real life’s challenges.If you are interested in having a go at the TSC send us a message we would love to have you involved no matter what your experience or level🙂
Who is it for?
The TSC really is an event for everyone but I’ve tried to break it down into some categories-
- The Competitors: For some, The TSC has become their sport. These people are in it for the competition. Be that to win in their local event, break into the global top ten or to straight up win their division.
- A personal challenge: Some view it as a personal challenge or as a bit of fun. They might be a non-competitive health focused trainee.
- The everyday person: These people don’t train for the TSC specifically but tend to use the TSC as a six month “status check” on their general, overall strength and fitness
Although there is an official, global leader board and “division winners”, the TSC isn’t just an event for elite competitors. It has many purpose and applications
TSC: C= Challenge, not Competition
One of the brilliant things about the TSC is that while you are able to compete with people all over the world it is also a great way to train for fat loss and body composition goals. So even if we aren’t a competitive participant it can hold value for us.
The TSC is an event that links us to a healthy community of like-minded people and allows us several different reasons for entering. So what ever your focus or goal, there is a good chance that training for the TSC can help you move towards that goal.
