Basic Training – Boot Camp Fitness Program

Not a very professional organization.

One of my friends recommended that I try Basic Training at the Mather Field Sports Complex in November 2012, as a means of strengthening my left shoulder. In June of 2012, I fractured the head of my left humerus playing soccer and was subsequently in a sling for six week. After my doctor told me I could finally stop wearing the sling, I spent eight weeks doing physical therapy through Kaiser, which helped improve the flexibility of my shoulder a little bit, but my range of motion was still very limited and my shoulder was weak to the point where I couldn’t even do a full push-​up. So, I decided to take my friend’s advice and sign up for Basic Training in the hope that I would see some improvement in my shoulder.
I still remember my first Basic Training class and the feeling after I finished, happy that I survived and a little dizzy from pushing myself to hard. Basic Training hasn’t gotten any easier since that first class, but now I know what to expect from each class I attend and I love it. I’ve seen a lot of improvement in the strength and flexibility of my left shoulder and I now, almost, have my full range of motion back, plus I can do full push-​ups again. In addition to the improvement in my shoulder, my core strength has increased quite a bit, which has been greatly beneficial to my speed and endurance when I run a 5K, 10K, or half-​marathon. Basic Training has also helped alleviate the lower back pain I was having after running races, which I attribute to having more core strength.
DI Carson and the other instructors are fantastic; they motivate you to do your best, but at your own pace, so you don’t hurt yourself. They also place a lot of emphasis on doing stretches and workouts slowly and correctly, versus fast and in a way where you might injure yourself. All of the recruits I’ve worked out with at Mather have been very encouraging, friendly, and motivating. I never hesitate to ask someone how to do something correctly, because even after 9 months there are still workouts I’ve never done before. Basic Training provides a variety of different workouts, which I appreciate, because I don’t like the monotony of doing the same workout over and over again. So, whether you are coming off an injury, want to improve your core strength, or really do want to get in the best shape of your life, I highly recommend that you give Basic Training a try.