Training for the Return To Afghanistan
Matt swing a bell under blue skies!
Awesome to see Matt behind the Camera on an epic adventure!
Return To Afghanistan: Behind The Scenes – Sky1 HD.
So lets rewind almost 2 years. I got an email from Matt in March of 2010. He was looking to get back into shape and asked if I could help out.
Matt is a Producer/Director/Camera Man and all round nice guy.
Matt had come back from doing a documentary “Joanna Lumley’s Nile” and had spent to much time in the chair editing and not enough time running around with the camera 
. So he really just wanted to shed some weight and get back to into fitness.
Matt enjoys the outdoors and running, so we arrange to do runs in the forest and I often set up circuits using bells, power bags, tyres and anything the outdoors had to offer.
Matt Behind the Camera
I needed Matt’s training to be relevant and challenging. Which I presume is why he came to me. Forget the comforts of the warm studio or the social hours of 9-5. We trained in ever condition imaginable! Most would stay home or fake an illness. But we were out running, swinging Kettlebells or just generally destroying Matt in every way possible. One particular morning we headed out to mountain bike in -15 degrees and thick snow! Matt’s warm up was pushing my car up an icy slope and out the snow. Thanks again Matt!
But when you consider the alternative you understand Matts determination and my persistence to get him fit.
Matt needs to be fit! He needs to be able to keep up with Ross and the British Soldiers while carrying much of the same gear they do, plus a massive HD camera as the Matt would often need to be camera man too.
Ross comments; “The lens on a HD camera means viewers get a far better understanding of how close to the artillery rounds we really are,” However, filming in HD does present its own unique problems. “The HD camera is bigger and heavier,” says Ross. “Because of its size the Taliban would target us thinking we were carrying weapons. It was worth it though to come away with the quality of footage we filmed”.
Matt needed to be strong enough to lift heavy cameras and kit everyday, without gaining muscle that would weigh him down when he needed run or hike all day following Ross and the Army.
We worked on strength endurance primarily. This gave Matt all the strength benefits without the draw back of excess muscle.
To be able to work with Matt on something like this has been a privilege and I enjoyed every minute of it!
Congrats Matt and Ross! Another awesome series.
