Convict Conditioning

Being a physician, martial artist (for over 30 years), and a former US Army commander, I enjoyed an intimate understanding of health, fitness and practical strength. This is one of the finest books I have read on a realistic and healthy approach to tremendous practical strength. I have trained, in the past, with many of the exercises demonstrated in this book but, have been unable to progress, in most of the 6 fundamental movements types, to what Mr. Wade calls, "master step exercises". His 10 step approach for each of the six movements starts at the level of near rehab level and takes you to superhuman levels of coordinated, practical strength in a very doable systematic manner. With this fine breakdown of steps virtually anyone can benefit from this strength program. The program is very portable and inexpensive since it requires no special equipment, except for a pull-up bar. The book seems expensive at first glance but with nearly 300 pages chocked with color plates its a bargain. So much so I bought 2 extra copies for my adult children. I cannot say enough about this revolutionary, systematic approach to strength training using only your body mass...simply brilliant.

I've been working out for a solid ten years now, always trying different books and methods and ideologies, and I am positive that this book the answer to all my years of searching and experimenting.
I am now about fourteen months into this style of training, and the results are absolutely undeniable.
I've posted a picture of my results on facebook with a message condoning convict conditioning and I have had numerous friends ask me about calisthenics and how to begin and all that. Just to give you an idea of the results that I personally achieved at least.
Small caveat, you won't get big. With a shirt on I don't really look any more imposing than I used to, or the average person does, but with a shirt off I am looking muscular and athletic (something I've never been before), statuesque even.

In short, you will gain strength, size, repair damaged areas of your body, build a physique, all without wasting money at the gym or on stupid supplements.
What you learn in this book can be carried over to other exercises which can be added to your routine, for example I've added some gymnastics moves like the iron cross, but it's all built off of the knowledge that I learned in this book.

This book is one of the best purchases I have made in my life, period.
No joke, If I could find my ten year old self and give him some piece of advice or knowledge, I'd hand myself this book.

Convict Conditioning is a game-changer. If you are looking for REAL results, superhuman strength, and rock-hard leanness from head to toe, then Convict Conditioning is for you. Coach understands that looking good and feeling good go hand in hand, and anyone who truly implements the CC principles is not only sure to reach new levels of physical prowess, but also lifelong vitality and joint integrity. Take it from Coach, who understands the philosophies of the greatest minds in the industry, in addition to the evolution of fitness itself, these methods and progressions work.

Coach Wade takes what one could consider "self-limiting exercises" and puts them at the disposal of anyone and everyone who has a true desire for physical superiority - regardless of weight, size or body fat percentage. Convict Conditioning is a must have. Give the progressions a try; you have got nothing to lose except weakness, unresolved injuries and stubborn body fat.

I started to use this book about 5 years ago. During the initial phase of my time processing and putting into action the contents written by coach Wade--I became obsessed. Obsessed not only by the spartan training but by the shear intoxicating notion that I could be strong,agile and lethal all through the methodical training progressions of old school calisthenics. This obsession led me to read the book on a daily basis for 2 years straight (I jest you not). Nuances where (and are) taken to pieces to gain a great understanding of the movements of the big 6.

Any person looking for a manual that's worth its weight in gold,that could serve to fix ailments through systematic and steady progressions this is for you. Couple with the no nonsense yet highly informative writing style of coach wade this book is a win/win for me. Did I add you can get seriously strong as well--YOU CAN. This is NOT an overnight cure to all ills or a snake oil remedy no sir! This is legit solid form of serious training that (cue the double think) is fun as hell to do. The body can really benefit from this book (or series of books) greatly. Take your time with the convict conditioning series of books & a like as it can turn you into brute of awesome strength. Highly recommended nothing but praise for this masterpiece.

Convict conditioning student
Joe

Convict Conditioning has changed my life! A year and a half ago I was 230 pounds and in the worst shape of my life, both physically and mentally. My wife and I split after 20 years and I was in the pits, literally. My brother gave me this book and pleaded with me to give it a try. I was on the brink of diabetes, had high cholesterol and high blood pressure (the cocktail of death). The Doctor threatened me with medication every time I had a checkup. They even scared me with a heart issue putting me through a series of stress tests telling my I have branch bundle block and bradycardia. 15 months later, I am 170 pounds of ripped muscle at almost 51 years old. I can do 10 pullups, and am progressing through all the other standards with great success. I truly love it and I cannot tell you how much it has meant to me to get my life back!

My bro also gave me CC#2 and I will buy CC#3. I quit the gym ( which I never went to anyway) and only do calesthenics as prescribed in your bible of fitness. I jump rope like a boxer for 30 minutes, ride my bike for an hour, run the stairs, paddleboard, surf and have recently taken up skydiving. I am in better shape than most guys I see that are half my age. I am working on the planche and the lever and I feel like a kid at a freaking playground. I do every exercise as prescribed in the book and follow it to the T. Everywhere I go people ask me how I did it and I am more than happy to tell them. Of course the diet is key and yoga as well.

I truly cannot thank you enough for helping change my life!

I have been experimenting with the various exercises in this book for a while now. I am on step 10 for all exercises except the one arm handstand pushup (currently step 9). Since then i have gained 25 lbs of muscle and have lost excess fat. The amount of functional strength I have gained blows my mind. After applying this book I can and always have easily won many fights with guys that are 25-75lbs heavier than me, and have had them surrender in a matter of seconds. I am warning you now that if you buy and complete this book you will be completely unstoppable in power, stamina, and health. 12/10

Hands down, the best investment I've ever made in training. Logical and well thought out progressions allowing for consistent strength gains, and remaining injury free. In fact, the only time I develop over use injuries is when I've strayed away from doing Convict Conditioning and dive into some other training program for a time, over train and end up with Inevitable tendinitis. I then find my self coming back to Convict Conditioning once again, start back on the CC progressions, get strong again while rehabbing the injury and remain injury free. Convict Conditioning is the long haul program of choice. My advice: Don't stray and fall for the latest training fad. Just trust in Coach. He won't let you down.

I've trained athletes, and pre-rehabbed and rehabbed patients, for over twenty years. Body-weight training is hands down the best, but no one has made such a systematic and progressive total presentation of how to apply body-weight modalities.

I use the principles in this book for myself, and for my athletes and patients, and I witness daily the benefits condensed in this book.

Neal Warren, BA, ACSM-CPT

I'm 52 and was a teenager in Europe during the original Pumping Iron craze when Schwarzenegger was just hitting it big and the Dassler brothers were competing with their shoe companies Adidas and Puma against the American upstart Nike.

Those were the days when coaches wouldn't let us drink water in order to toughen us up, and we drank milkshakes with raw eggs and ice cream to get extra protein.

The science of athletics has evolved astoundingly since those days, but after all those years, with everything I have learned (and I can do 5 sets of ten pull ups at my age and enjoy swinging on the rings in Santa Monica), this is the single best book I have ever read on fitness and strength.

Paul Wade confirms everything I've learned about strength conditioning, solves puzzles I've wondered about for years, is totally consistent with my yoga and Tai Chi teachers as well, and goes far beyond anything I knew--but I've tried it and it works.

The secret is his progressions--how they start and how they transition beyond ordinary push ups, pull ups, and the other four exercises.

Well done Paul Wade--you are a master!

I've been doing the fitness thing for over 25 years. Originally, I entered the Navy at 5'11 and 127 lbs. Very skinny, not imposing, and totally insecure about my appearance. Four years later, I was 240 lbs of muscle. Yeah, I used roids and yeah, I worked my ass off. I also damaged my joints and probably am a walking time bomb due to the drugs.

So, in the last few years, I started reading Pavel, and Sonnon (even buying many of his fine products), doing TacFit (great, BTW), backyard training, etc. All of it worked, to a degree, but my lack of flexibility and joint problems made some of the moves impossible.

Enter Combat Conditioning. After reading, in one day, CC opened my eyes to not just sound training, but a way to possibly fix my ruined shoulder and knee. It promised to develop real power and control (hey, I was curling 80# dumbbells for reps) while also laying a solid foundation of joint, ligament, and tendon strength.

So, even though I consider myself to be in decent shape, as well as strong, after reading Coach Wade's suggestions, I decided to start at Step 1 for the four exercises while using his "New Blood" routine (later adopting New Blood 2.0 because I have training experience and decent recovery). Since I wanted to follow Wade's prescription exactly, I only went with the four exercises he recommended and followed the 1-2, 1, 1-2 program precisely. I also saw an excerpt of CC Vol 2 in an online review and added flexibility training (though I already do Sonnon's Intu-Flow), along w/calf and forearm training (for my push-ups, I simply switched to fingertip vice flat palm (figuring this will develop those parts of my forearm in a nice, slow progression).

LONG story, short version, is these exercises (I'm on Step 2 now for all of them) work. My shoulder, though not perfect, feels better, as does my knee. I've planned to get to Step 10 in all six exercises over a 3-4 year period (if you are a young man or woman, this may seem like a long time, but for us older folks (I'm 44), hopefully you recognize the time value and the amount of REAL work required to get there. I have zero desire to rush this, but I look forward to being a 48 year-old man who can do what men half my age cannot.

In summary, this book is SO WORTH your small investment of money. Though it will take a few years, it's only 10-15 minutes of work every other day and before you know it, you'll be sproutin' new muscle and ability. Keep what you are doing quiet for a year and perform the exercises in solitary fashion. In a year, you WILL be stunned at your progress and physique. Give it another year or two and damn, you'll be in the top 1% of athletic performers.