Customer Reviews

The United States Navy SEALs Workout Guide : The Exercises and Fitness Programs Used by the U.S. Navy SEALS and Bud's Training

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I bought this book as a companion to CJ Caracci's Navy Seal PT videos. I absolutely enjoy the workout and this book definitely adds to the enjoyment by supplying lots of good information. What made me choose this book over other Navy Seals training books is that this one covers the advantages, disadvantages, and warnings for each exercise. I can look up the exercises from the video workout and get detailed instructions on how to perform them correctly and safely. This in itself makes it worth every single penny. I want to be as fit as I can possibly be, but without damaging myself in the process.

I've been a Firefighter for 15 years and even though it can be physically demanding I had no idea just how out of shape I've gotten over the years. I learned this when I tried out this book. I'm well on my way to getting back into tip-top shape after starting the Navy Seal workout. If you want a true FITNESS workout than this is the book for you. Forget about all those goofy workout videos on TV, they can't hold a candle to this workout. Just make sure you read the entire book before starting out(it won't take long due to the education and enjoyment you receive from reading it!) I read the book then started their suggested workout plan and over time have improved to the next level. Oh!...and I feel great and have much more energy too! If you truly want to be FIT! ...then buy this book...nuff said!

This book does the best job of presenting the various common military calisthenics that I've seen. However, before rushing out to buy this book, people should know that 75% of the information can be obtained directly from the official BUD/S website for FREE. The majority of the workout in this book is known as the "BUD/S Warning Order." Only Phase 3 seems to come from Mr. Chalker. Basically, this is the Warning Order with Mr. Chalkers own recomendations. Thus, I gave it only 3 stars.

Navy SEALs (Team members of BUD/S which stands for Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL) are a group whose training physically and mentally is tough, demanding, and requires ability far above that of most men. Most men will quit before passing through the months of before being permitted to wear the SEAL insignia. For those who do make it through they are extremely skilled and have a right to be very proud.

This book is not an official workout programme or an official Navy SEAL document. However the man who put it together, Commander Master Chief Dennis C. Chalker, is a SEAL. Now retired, he reminds people that one don't stop being a Seal -- one is a member of the Team until he dies. One of the things that makes BUD/S training so hard is that in addition to being tough every minute he can quit simply by ringing the bell and saying 'I QUIT!' A lot like fitness in real life - you can quit, or you can succeed; it is up to you.

In this book there is a little bit here and there about the history of the Navy SEALs. Lots of their training is secret, and much of their routine is kept from public eyes because of the nature of their missions. BUD/S training is heavy on running and heavy on swimming. Most of the book is pretty standard exercise manual content, concentrating on particular exercises that are used in training. They have motivational quotes from SEALs throughout the text.

Warm-ups and Cool-downs
Warm-ups and cool-downs concentrate on big movements that involve large muscle groups, just to get the body tuned up and blood and oxygen flowing through the muscles. It also gets the heart pumping more to be ready for the coming exercise. These exercises also include stretches that limber up the muscles.

Stretches are often the most overlooked part of an exercise routine, but just from simply counting the pages in this book you can see the importance it should have. There are 40 pages of stretching exercises, and 60 pages of basic calisthenics, which is what people think of when they think of exercise.

One good thing about the descriptions of the stretches and exercises in this book is that they list advantages and disadvantages of the exercise, and warnings. What will this exercise help you do? What are the problems in doing it? What should you be warned about? For example, with the Achilles stretch, the warning is to not overdo it by overstretch, because that is easy to do.

Calisthenics
Calisthenics are the core of fitness programmes for most of the military, and that includes BUD/S. One thing that is needed is a place to do pull-ups.

Free Weight Training
This book shows very basic weight training exercises. This is not a body-builder book that will concentrate on each individual muscle to maximize each one, but it does concentrate on overall strength building. SEALs need to be strong, not necessarily good looking.

Running and Swimming
This book does not give much detail about these. There are just three pages on running and five pages on swimming. Swimming in BUD/S usually involves equipment and scuba kinds of events so it is difficult for the person at home to do these. For swimming, BUD/S training prefers the basic side-stroke. For running, it gives some distances and advice, but that's about it for running. One thing that anyone who really wants a taste of BUD/S training is to do sand running in boots. Don't try this without being in good shape.

Workout Schedules
This small section shows just how tough the training is. It starts out easy enough - low reps and low number of sets for basic exercises like push-ups, sit-ups and pull-ups, not too much running or swimming, but within a matter of weeks the dedicated are pulling 20 sets of 25 sit-ups (and yes, the math makes that 500 sit-ups) and running 13 miles a week at a fast pace and more pull-ups than anyone would ever think possible!

Airborne, Nutrition, Team, Motivation
These small pieces at the end talk about the addition stuff that SEALs do. One advantage of working out so hard is that one can eat almost anything and still lose weight! SEALs during some weeks of training are shoveling in up to 6000 calories a day and still dropping weight. So SEAL nutrition isn't really what is called for in civilian life certainly. BUD/S graduates attend Basic Army Airborne School at Ft. Benning Georgia for basic parachuting, and this is talked about.

This is a tough book, and it is demanding. Because of that, it might actually be discouraging to an extent for people who can never reach the level of doing all that SEALs do. But don't let that discourage you - do your best, and this book will help.

This is great book to have if you want to get fit but dont have a gym or weights. There are pictures of all the excercises.
The book has the Seal workouts phase 1& 2 and also phase 3 which is very tough. There is also a section about weight training if you want to add that in as well although most of these workouts centre around Pull-ups, push-ups and sit- ups and running. Nutrition is covered ,but not as well as i would like so thats why i give the book only 4 stars..but apart from that i would rate this book highly.

This is a good book for calisthenics and stretching exercises. The descriptions are easy to follow, and every exercise is illustrated with several photographs plus (what I really like) a drawing showing the muscles used in the exercise. Is it well known that stretching and certain exercises such as squats can be dangerous if done improperly. Perhaps the best feature of this book is that SPECIFIC warnings are given for a lot of these exercises about the dangers involved. I have already modified my strength training routine based on the advice given in this book. It is commendable that a book of this sort avoids "no pain, no gain" stupidities, and instead offers exercises that are founded on sound physiological grounds.

This is possibly the best book currently available on the US Navy SEAL's physical training program.

As an introductory text, it is thoruogh and concise telling the reader exactly how to perform the exercise, what muscles it'll benefit and warnings to make sure that no injuries follow from using bad form. Plenty of good illustrations and a straight forward text makes this an pleasant and informative read. Both the novice and experienced reader will be able to find a challeging work-out in this book.

With advise on running, underwater swimming and mortivation, the prospective BUD/S student will find this book indespensible.

I'm a former SEAL, Author, and Commerical Diver. When ask about a work out that will put you in top shape, this is what I recommend.

I think that it's kind of funny that most of these Navy SEAL/Marine/ Ranger and Firefighter workout guides, basically spend 75% diagramming exercises, 15% giving an introduction to the SEALs, Marines etc, and 10% with actual workout plans.

Unlike similar books, THE UNITED STATE'S NAVY SEALS WORKOUT GUIDE goes beyond the BUD/S warning order, which is available free on the internet. This book includes a third phase "Schedule III" which is the best part of this book. I'm not interested in going to BUD/S, but if you can complete the "Schedule III" workouts, you should be good to go.

This is the best book I know of if you are considering BUD/S or any military service, but it's not really for the average citizen just looking to get in shape. If you are more interested in just achieving a high level of fitness, I would recommend Stewart Smith's MAXIMUM FITNESS: THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO NAVY SEAL CROSS TRAINING.

This is no doubt the best all-round fitness guide on the market. It shows how to get upper-body, lower-body, calisthenic and cardiovascular fitness and strength. Everything you need to have all-round conditioning is here. It is based on the BUD/S workout, in much greater detail and with Master Chief Chalker's own unique read on it. If you need physical conditioning, buy the book, follow the program, and with plenty of effort you'll get there. One warning: NOT FOR THE FAINT-HEARTED (OR THE LAZY)