Why You Should Get Comfortable Doing the 'Grinder Reminder'

There are places that are not comfortable when doing sit-ups. Certainly, you can think of better places to practice sit-ups than on concrete, but if you are preparing for BUD/S training, expect sit-ups and many other exercises done on concrete. At SEAL training, this concrete PT area also is known as "The Grinder." Here is a question from an observant SEAL candidate:

Hey, Stew,

I have recently been working on my push-up and sit-up scores using the workout you designed. When I did them, I was in a room with carpet. But I saw a Navy SEAL PST video where they do the sit-up test on concrete. I went to my back porch, which is concrete, to do some sit-ups and immediately felt pain in my tailbone from lying on the hard surface. Is there any way to avoid this pain, especially while taking the PST? 

Thanks,

Sam

Sam,

Sit-ups and other ab exercises on concrete are not fun. You will do many workouts in the sand and on concrete at SEAL training. The good news is that usually an actual physical screening test, or PST, is only done a few times at BUD/S before First Phase.

You may do one of the sit-up tests on grass one day, or they could be done on the pool deck or Grinder area as well. You just have to find the right angle on your butt to lean so your tailbone (coccyx) is not rubbing directly against the concrete. I used to lean on my left or right side just enough so I would not feel like I was breaking my tailbone. But you still received some form of sore, no matter what.

At SEAL training, we called these the Grinder Reminder, because as soon as you jumped into saltwater, you quickly were reminded that you had a bloody sore on your butt. The goal is to keep it clean throughout the day, bandage it every so often and let it dry out overnight with some alcohol or hydrogen peroxide.

Consider the Grinder Reminder as a rite of passage. It is one of those aches and pains at BUD/S that is a part of the program.

Time to get "comfortable being uncomfortable."

Stew Smith is a former Navy SEAL and fitness author certified as a Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) with the National Strength and Conditioning Association. Visit his Fitness eBook store if you're looking to start a workout program to create a healthy lifestyle. Send your fitness questions to stew@stewsmith.com.

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