Reddit reviews Beyond Stretching : Russian Flexibility Breakthroughs

This was the second training book I ever read and to this day, after three black belts and a degree in exercise science, this is still one of the best books I've read on the subject. My students who have followed my advice from this book have become far more flexible more quickly than those who have not.

http://www.amazon.com/Beyond-Stretching-Russian-Flexibility-Breakthroughs/dp/0938045180#

Many 'trainers' tend to portray dynamic stretching as somehow bad and unhealthy. A well known and respected strength and MMA trainer Pavel Tsatsouline has a couple good books about stretching and discusses the benefits of dynamic stretching. I highly recommend it

You start in 602 and move to 618 after 1st phase. These are three story barracks located on the base. 602 is a bit of a strange place because it's not so much a home as a temporary respite from the abuse of 1st phase. You're constantly on edge there though. 618 is a little more out of the limelight and relaxed. You have a mix of 2nd and 3rd phase, pus SWCC, separated by the floors.
If you're a married E5 or an O you can live off base, but you have an assigned room/rack in the barracks that you're responsible for maintaining.

Generally things aren't hectic at all. As soon as the Instructors are gone everyone just tries to catch their breath. Guys might sharpen their knives, or clean actuators, or eat some microwaved oatmeal and then quickly rack out. You need all the sleep you can get. On weekends and when you get over to 618 there's a bit of free time and guys might go surfing or get together to watch movies. It's the exact opposite of testosterone filled.

I'm a pretty big proponent of this method of stretching. Its not rocket science. Do dynamic stretches pre workout, and static stretches either post or on their own. Hold for at least 30sec per stretch but really its about listening to your body and pushing just a little.
I haven't seen the numbers but I have been told there is a statistical difference skewing towards more guys getting through summer classes. I think that can mostly be attributed to the pneumonia issue, as summer classes can be just as brutally mentally difficult.

Sub 8:30 is usually up there. The focus of CSS should always be maximum efficiency. You want to get the timing right on your breathing so that you've almost fully exhaled before initiating your down hand pull, that way you can slightly lift your chin and rotate your head (in a pool this should be an almost unnoticeable motion, your lips should just barely break the surface) and get a full breath. Work on swimming slow and perfect. If you can't do something slow, you shouldn't do it fast. You'll swim with fins a lot during prep and indoc and bud/s, so I wouldn't worry about practicing for that. Just like running in Bates, if you can do the PST, you're a good enough runner to handle the transition over to Bates.

I want to say 2 weeks, but it might have just been 1. We have a system that I can't talk about because of an NDA, but suffice it to say, it takes into account the fact that going to hands on is our last option. If I was going to recommend a martial art, it would be aikido and jiu jitsu. For all the touchy feely chi aspects of aikido, the focus on disengagement and control of the flow of battle has way more relevance to a well rounded warrior than krav maga or BJJ.

I don't think I have. I read all the SEAL books I will probably ever read back before I joined, with the exception of Chris Osman's "SEALs" book, which I read because as a new guy, it's shit hard to get an understanding of the structure of the Teams, and that book lays it out pretty good.

Just bite the bullet and do it. I can tell you the most frustrating part of your military experience will probably be going in. Boot camp is GAY. Recruiters are pretty scummy. PST is always a nightmare.
Yeah, my mentor was great. Most the guys said their mentors were pretty on it. Unless you're in the midwest where they might have one mentor for 4 States, you'll probably get to workout and get together once a month or so.

I suggest beginning by reading some of Pavel's various blog post or reading his book: http://www.amazon.com/Beyond-Stretching-Russian-Flexibility-Breakthroughs/dp/0938045180

I first saw his flexibility demonstration in 2009, and after about 7 weeks of pretty consistent training I was performing a complete split. He teaches you how to listen to your body and allow it to relax without your brain and your fear overriding it.