The Field Fitness Project (Intro)

"Great moments are born from great opportunities."

-Herb Brooks

In a recent interview, I was asked an excellent question... "What does fitness mean to you?" My answer had caught the interviewer off guard because it had nothing to do with arm curls, sit-ups, or pilates. I believe that fitness is simply possessing the physical capacity to do what you want to do, when you want to do it. This is an important idea because our current state of physical fitness directly affects our ability to capitalize on the opportunities that life presents us with.

It’s a bit long-winded, I know, but it’s sincere none the less. If you’ve ever missed a hunt, hike, or fishing trip due to an injury or because you were de-conditioned, then you can understand what I’m talking about. My Field Fitness project is all about helping outdoorsman get conditioned, strong, and mobile so that they can capitalize on all the opportunities that life presents, while embracing a sport they love.

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With that said, I recognize that we are all different and I don’t believe in a one-size-fits-all fitness plan; but there are some general deficiencies that I see with the vast majority of the public that need to be addressed in order to get the most out of life. These issues I’m referring to are primarily orthopedic and postural problems caused by contemporary lifestyles. Unfortunately, these minor issues can lead to debilitating injuries as we age. So, over the coming weeks and months I’ll offer advice and corrective exercises in order to help mitigate these problems.

In addition to the topics referenced above, I believe that my work with tactical athletes over the years can also offer some excellent crossover applications to hunters- specifically, stress-induced shooting drills and tactical breathing techniques used in order to instill confidence and competency while in the field. It’s my belief that a better understanding of how the body’s processes work in relationship to the activities we perform in the field can be invaluable to the sportsman. For example, management of stress-induced (buck fever) elevation of heart rate through offseason training will inevitably result in a higher success rate when in the field.

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I plan on covering these topics and more and I enjoy working with anyone who wants to get more out of life. I’m looking forward to becoming a part of the Vortex community and if you have any specific areas of interest or questions related to Field Fitness, please feel free to post in the comments section and stay tuned for more tips and updates.


Sincerely,


Eric Auciello

Eric Auciello is a hunter and a strength and conditioning coach who owns and operates Phase 5 Fitness. Eric trains select tactical athletes who are attached to United States Central Command (CENTCOM), Special Operations Command (SOCOM), Tampa Police Department, and Hillsborough County Sheriff's Department. He also serves as the head coach of Team Florida - Tampa Bay, a USA Weighting and Track and Field club. In addition to these duties, Mr. Auciello is currently acting as a defense contractor responsible for on and off base physical fitness training and education for an elite airborne unit (JCSE).