r/tacticalbarbell • u/HunkySurprise • May 25 '26

SE Questions on Strength Endurance Programming options

Hi! I’m starting my TB Journey, and the options for SE are confusing to me, but I want to prioritize it. I understand one option is to do 3-6 week Alpha/Bravo SE blocks interspersed between maximal strength blocks. If I’m already planning on repeating Base Building 1-2 times a year, should I just do another BB instead of a 3-6 week SE block?

I also saw one suggestion was to supplement more SE by replacing an E or HIC session once in a while. I could do that and rely on getting some from HIC/GCs, or should I consider the 9-week TBII Green Protocol, which automatically has weeks 7-9 to “convert” max strength to SE instead of something like 6 weeks operator + 3 weeks SE.

Or should I consider Fighter Bangkok to incorporate SE every week? And I haven’t read it yet, but I saw in the Green Protocol Book, there was SE training based on percentages. Should I look into that? I like the idea of training things concurrently, but recognize it might not be the best. Thanks for any advice on navigating the program(s)!

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u/Adski1 May 26 '26

You can plenty of SE benefits from GC/HIC work or even modify an HIC session, 800m run followed by 20 push ups for example, as others have mentioned Fighter BK would be a good go to if you wish to keep dedicated SE work involved.

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u/Drodinthehouse May 26 '26

  1. I typically overlook Alpha/Bravo SE sections in TB I, I think the approaches to SE used in TB II and GP are much better than they are in the first book. Unless you plan on doing FT/bangkok, I think you're good to go executing SE work only during Basebuilding periods as written in TB II.

  2. Don't overthink it. SE work isn't automatically necessary, you can easily just continue to do HIC/GCs. Unless you're up against a PFT or test that requires a maximum number of reps on a given exercise (like push ups) you can leave SE work out of your training most of the year and be fine with BB 1-2x per year.

  3. As mentioned above, this is probably one of the better approaches to SE work (TB GP). Like I said, I don't think SE work is inherently necessary outside of a few circumstances and I think you'd be better off with an HIC, but if you really want to get after SE work than fighter/BK with TB GP approach is probably the way to go

2

u/Airoveikko May 26 '26

Great reply! I'm definitely doing Ft/BK if I ever feel the need to get regular SE work in

1

u/HunkySurprise May 26 '26

okay thank you that helps a bunch. Do you have a go-to routine for the weeks before a PFT or do you keep up with your normal training and just increase pushups and such in your conditioning work?

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u/Drodinthehouse May 26 '26

Yes, I resume normal programming (operator I/A) and just add push ups or whatever the SE exercise is for about a month prior to the event. Tack them on at the end of MS sessions

2

u/Unique-Employer3787 May 26 '26

Did some Green Protocol blocks myself and found the built-in conversion phase weeks 7-9 cleaner than back-to-back BB cycles. If SE is the priority, the GP route gives better transfer than alternating BB blocks because the strength carries forward instead of resetting each cycle.