New weapon in the fitness arsenal

Published Dec. 20, 2011
By Airman 1st Class Siuta B. Ika
49th Wing Public Affairs

HOLLOMAN AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. -- With Air Force leadership focusing heavily on fitness improvements in every flight, squadron, group and wing throughout the U.S. and bases overseas, Airmen everywhere have had to step up their fitness level or face severe consequences.

At Holloman, another tool for helping Airmen achieve a higher fitness level has been made available -- the TRX® Force™.

While most traditional fitness products use plate weights, elastic or pulleys for resistance, the TRX® is an industrial-grade harness of soft nylon webbing. It allows users to safely suspend their bodies and employs the user's bodyweight in a variety of positions and at different resistances, which creates a total-body work out that delivers strength, flexibility and core stability all at once.

"Anybody on any level can use it -- you can do anything with it because it is so versatile," said U.S. Air Force 1st Lt. Jesse Murillo, 49th Force Support Squadron fitness director. "My goal is to build healthier, stronger, more effective Airmen and I believe TRX® is the perfect vehicle for that because it's simple, portable and effective."

The TRX® itself weighs less than a combat boot, can be used in an area smaller than a parking space and be easily carried in a duffel bag or ruck-sack, which is what led Murillo to bring the TRX® to the Domenici Fitness and Sports Center, he said.

"When I first looked at all of the workout equipment out there, the TRX® grabbed my attention because of people being able to take it down range," Murillo said. "We all know Holloman is a high deployment base, so the more people we get trained on using the TRX®, the better chance they'll have of staying in shape while deployed. Especially since you can use it almost anywhere."

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Joseph Sapikowski, 49th Security Forces Squadron Special Reaction Team NCO in charge and fitness enthusiast, shared his thoughts about the TRX® and why he and the rest of the base's SRT will be using it.

"It's a great system that brings multiple foundations together," he said. "We did a 10-minute workout and my body was smoked. You can incorporate this workout into multiple routines because it's quick, efficient and easy -- you just hook it up to the wall and go."

Because of the systems scalability, anybody from a pro athlete to an injured Airman can benefit from using the TRX®, said Murillo.

"There is no muscle group that you can't touch during a workout," he said. "The bottom line is there is an exercise for everyone. No matter what your PT score is -- you could have someone who has scored an excellent and someone who has failed in the same class doing the same exercise with just a different progression, and both will get an intense workout that will improve their fitness level."

The fitness center currently has 19 TRX® straps available for use.

"To use one, all you have to do is walk up to the front desk and ask to sign out one of the straps," Murillo said. "If you need further help, we have 12 certified individuals on staff so they can lead PT, figure out a routine or set up a plan for you. Soon we're going to have an A-frame out by the football field that can accommodate 30 people at one time, so you will be able to hold squadron PT there."

The future for the TRX® at Holloman is very bright, said Murillo.

"This is the first time Holloman has ever seen this," he said. "This is another weapon in our arsenal to help our Airmen achieve their fitness goals. We want to take this to the squadrons and implement this into squadron PT. This is also a rehabilitation tool so the [49th Medical Group and 49th SFS] are going to jump all over this. But the best part of this is it is readily available at the fitness center."

USAF. (U.S. Air Force Graphic by Rosario "Charo" Gutierrez)