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Meet Hero Rush Training Chief Mike Stefano
Hero Rush is all about getting you ready to respond — firefighters go through rigorous training to prepare themselves for the dangerous and courageous mission they face every day. Getting you ready for our obstacle course is no different — you’ve got to be ready!
With that, we’re pleased to introduce the Chief of Training for Hero Rush, FDNY Fire Captain (retired) Mike Stefano, one of the most well known health and fitness educators in the fire service.
Stefano is the creator and author The Firefighter’s Workout Book (published by HarperCollins in 2000). Currently, he owns and operates AKC Fitness Long Island, a one-of-it’s-kind, firefighter and kettlebell fitness center on Long Island, New York.
Combining his vast experience as a 22 year veteran of the New York City Fire Department, 20 years in the fitness industry, and as a Master Kettlebell Coach, Mike works with literally hundreds of aspiring lifters, firefighters, and fitness enthusiasts from all walks of life, teaching people how to achieve ever-greater levels of elite fitness.
We’ve known Mike for many years, when the Hero Rush founders created Firehouse.com, at the time the first major web portal for firefighters worldwide. Mike was our lead editor on health and fitness for firefighters. His book, The Firefighters Workout Book, uses the same principles that worked for firefighters to create safe and effective exercise routines for the general population. As fire captain, he was directly responsible for the safety and efficiency of his unit and has been recognized by the department four times for acts of heroism.
Mike is preparing some great training content to get you “Ready to Rush”, including an introduction to getting ready for Hero Rush, specific video workouts, numerous workouts based on firefighting tasks and regular workout tips. His program will help you build up your grip endurance, breath control, leg strength, explosiveness — all while climbing, crawling, carrying, pulling, pushing and more.
To learn more about Mike, visit his web sites at FirefightersWorkout.com and KBGym.com.
