Playing in the Breakdown sand

In 1980, after the failed operation to rescue U.S. hostages held in Iran, the U.S. Navy formed a new SEAL Team dedicated to counterterrorism. The team was originally and is still commonly referred to as SEAL Team 6. A SEAL officer named Richard Marcinko was selected as the unit’s first commanding officer and built the unit essentially from scratch.

Marcinko wrote about his experiences in his autobiography, entitled Rogue Warrior, as well as authoring a couple of books on leadership, which included his “10 Commandments of SpecWar.” YHC stumbled upon Rogue Warrior in college and proceeded to read every one of his books YHC could get his hands on.

Richard Marcinko passed away on Christmas Day 2021 at the age of 81. YHC Has been working on a workout to honor both him and the warriors, past and present, of Seal Team 6. When I had to reschedule Punch Out’s #fightgonebad Q, YHC decided to debut the first edition, teasing it with one of the 10 Commandments, I shall punish thy bodies because the more thou sweatest in training, the less thou bleedest in combat.

Warmup:

Pledge/Disclaimer

SSH x 8

Good mornings x 8

Good Evenings x 8

Cotton Pickers x 8

Imperial Walkers x 8

Don Quixotes x 8

6 exercises for ST6, 8 reps each for the 8 service members killed during the Iranian rescue mission.

The Thang:

Thou shalt do nothing I will not do first, and thus you will be created Warriors in my deadly image. Or, don’t Q it if you can’t do it.

I am the War Lord and the wrathful God of Combat and I will always lead you from the front, not the rear.

Thou hast not to like it, thou hast just to do it. Given that, our next exercise was one that YHC hates: running. YHC’s original intent was to do an Indian Run to the volleyball court, but four people didn’t work well, so we just ran- with YHC leading (most) of the way. On the way, kudos to Bookworm for knowing that SEAL training occurs in Coronado, California. Right next to (and on) the beach. Where there’s plenty of sand. And although Boyd Lee Park doesn’t have a beach, we do have sand. So, our next set of exercises involved us playing in the sand.

I will treat you all alike- just like….. (I do need to keep it PG)

Respect is earned. So, we did a few exercises to hammer that point home. And of course, we did them in the sand.

R anger Merkins x 15

E 2K x 10 (on your 6, left leg crossed over bent right leg, hands behind your head, right elbow up to left knee)

S quats x 10

P lank Jacks x 10

E 2K x 10 (switching legs from the previous time)

C arolina Dry Docks x 10

T urkish Get-ups x 10

That was a total of 75 reps, for the original 75 members of SEAL Team 6.

Now, the SEAL qualification test contains running, pushups, situps, pullups, and swimming. We’d already ran. We then did Merkins and LBCs, 10 reps each. We didn’t go in search of water to swim, but we (sort of) swam in the sand with a modified sugar cookie (hey, it came from the Exicon) that is probably better described as a reverse flutter kick. On your stomach, hands out in front of you, feet off the ground kicking in cadence. 4 count exercise. We did 3 sets of 10 reps.

We then moseyed our sand-filled selves to the center circle for Merkins, LBCs, and dips. Then moseyed down to the intersection near the traffic circle at the entrance for more Merkins and LBCs. Then, off to the rock pile.

Rock Pile: Grab a coupon and circle up. Sets of Curls, Tricep Extensions, and Bent-Over Rows, 24 reps each. Rotate after each set of 3. With 4 PAX, we had time to give everyone a go at everyone else’s coupon. Why 24? Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL Training is 24 weeks long.

Mosey to the Wall for People’s Chair- 6 count down the line. Switch to Balls to the Wall for a 6 count. Repeat. Second time, do either 6 wall merkins or chicken peckers when doing BTTW.

Back to the flag for a couple of Mary exercises until 6:15.

COT: countrerama, name-o-rama, prayer requests, took a knee and prayed out, and took a picture.

Thanks to all who posted.