I've been thinking more about the post I made last night above re 336 exercises.
I want to come back to that later this weekend, and explain the concept and context better.
Just a taste now. Ok, maybe a plate full, just for conversation.
Of course, this could be done with any rifle or shotgun -- even something large, like a mortar or bazooka (do militaries still use bazookas?), especially for fullback sized guys that press 250 -- but for me, it's most useful with my main rifle, and that's my 336(C). Besides, putting all four fingers in the lever adds to control. And of course, this is the 336 club, and topics need to be relevant to it. I think this is, and adds a new dimension to what we usually discuss on gun forums, a new dimension to our relationship with our rifles that I think is useful -- at least for me.
It's not my only exercise regime, just part of a larger one, based mainly on Ross Enamait's body weight and simple tool regime (if you've never checked him out, I recommend it; he's intense; fighter strength training; he advocates body weight squats; really, try doing 50 right now). My quasi-nomadic status for five years has prevented development of a good home gym with bar and dumbells (although I'm prone to have a 5' barbell), so I take the 24-hour Ghetto fitness approach (search that as "video"): use what ya got.
I'm also a student of stick martial arts, mainly Glenn Doyle (Irish walking sticks) and Kelly McCann, but also some bo staff (my walking stick is a 53" white waxwood), mostly improvised from Doyle's training. I often use heavy barbells to do exercises that mimic stick moves in slow motion to strengthen relevant muscles.
And that's where I'm going with the 336 exercises: strengthening muscles needed to handle it properly in a variety of positions, including not normal ones) and reduce fatigue --- I'll try to explain later, but maybe you get it. I'm trained in physiology, and have taught human A&P for medical students, and am interested in not only exercise -- including alternatives -- but also exercise physiology.
In a pinch, say if attacked by a gang of hooligans in the woods, in close quarters, that rifle can become a stick. A punch with the stock or a jab with the barrel would not feel good. (Of course, military and others who train in CQC know this.)
And it gets me up out of my chair in front of a laptop -- where I spend too much of my day (I'm a writer now making and editing videos) -- and moving, stretching, toning muscles while I hold my favorite rifle, getting familiar with it again, ready for the woods and range.
Yeah, something like that ...
