Jason Fox SAS - How I Got My Body

Every month, TRAIN talks to a big name whether it be in the sporting world all the way to Hollywood. This month, TRAIN’s digital editor, Altug Kop, caught up with former member of the Special Forces and star of the Channel 4 TV show, “Who Dares Wins”, Jason Fox to ask him how he got his body, among other things.

Al

Where did your fitness journey start? Were you always into fitness from young or did you come to enjoy it?

Jason Fox

It was semi auto pilot from the mindset instilled in my dad who is in the army. He encouraged us to play sport which made us do fitness training then I joined the forces and it carried on from there. To do that job you need to be physically and mentally fit and it’s stayed with me from there – If I don’t do my training now, then I get tense and angry. It’s my release.

Al

Which sports did you enjoy as a kid?

Jason Fox

Rugby…I enjoyed football but I was pretty garbage at it but we were always active which led to the fitness side of things.

Al

Was joining the special forces what you wanted to do as a kid?

Jason Fox

It was something Id always thought about but it just naturally progressed, i’m not actually the mlitary type of person as I don’t really like being told what to do but I enjoyed the other things a soldier does like rolling around in the mud and the physical training.

Al

What would you have done otherwise?

Jason Fox

I went through a phase, bizarrely of wanting to be a graphic designer but I was garbage at drawing. But I used to always listen to stories from my dad which inspired me to join the military.

Al

Going on to your training, how does your training vary from the military to now?

Jason Fox

I still train very similarly. It’s all about all round fitness. The course to get into the SAS is very much endurance based but when you actually get into the SAS, it’s everything because it’s such a multi functional job because you’re jumping walls, climbing ropes, running, walking, everything which is why Crossfit is a great platform to get fit for the military as it encompasses that. I still continue training in the same way, it reminds me of the old days. I change it up regularly – Crossfit, HIIT sessions, a bit of weight training, running, cycling..I get bored easily as well so I’m always chopping and changing.

Al

I read about some of the daunting missions you guys went on – what would you say was the most mentally and physically demanding out of the lot?

Jason Fox

They all are but the hairiest one I can recall is a hostage rescue where we were in a helicopter and about 6 minutes before we landed we were getting shot at by machine guns, rocket launchers and it puts your heart in your mouth. We jumped out of the helicopter into one of the biggest firefights of my life and we lost a guy straight away – I just remember running through a field, fighting, legs pumping and it was physically, emotionally and mentally demanding. If it wasn’t for the training and drilling the movements over and over again, we might not have made it, because essentially when you need it, it becomes second nature without thinking about it.

Al

You did the show ‘Who Dares Wins’, do you think with that experience, you can now say whether mental strength is something that is genetic or something that can be learned?

Jason Fox

I think we’re all a bit different and individual. Some might need a little bit of encouragement to learn it or be provided tools to work on it. Everybody has it but I think it depends on whether you believe you have it. Upbringing can be very important as well as your experiences – If you have both you’ll be at an advantage but it’s also how you’re wired inside your mind genetically I believe.

Al

Can you give us an example workout routine you do?

Jason Fox

See I love the burpee because it’s a real bitch. I love short sharp workouts and I have a workout that breaks down every stage of the burpee.

20 press ups

20 squat thrusts

20 squat jumps and then…

20 full burpees.

You can change the reps based on your level as well as how many rounds you do. Progress as you get fitter.

Al

What workouts would you do in the SAS?

Jason Fox

Everything from tractor tyre flips to breeze block carries. An awful lot of rope climbs, ladder climbs – big lifts – pullups I love, it’s the ultimate. All functional scenario based stuff. We used to do a lot of fight training too. Everyone had their own interests in a particular fight style so we’d often make our own dojo out of mats and we all taught each other bits and pieces. We’d have a little spar at the end as well which made it more fun

Al

Is there any specific fight training on the SAS course? What kind?

Jason Fox

A lot of it is quite nasty, quite practical but dirty to end things quickly. Techniques like pressure points, holds, that sort of thing. Then guys have a like and want to learn other stuff like karate, thai boxing or whatever and they go and learn that on their own or with each other like we did.

Al

How did the TV show come about?

Jason Fox

The TV producers had commissioned a show based on what ‘Who Dares Wins’ is now and were looking for some special forces guys but didn’t know where to find them. Someone on their team who I’d been working with on a different project behind the camera mentioned us and that’s how the show came to fruition.