Competing in the Tactical Games, Where ‘Crossfit Meets Com’ (VIDEO)

Five months ago, I found a picture on Instagram of two buff dudes wearing full-combat gear while carrying 180-pound barbells toward a shooting box. It looked more intense than your average two-gun event. After a little digging, I learned the exercise was part of an event at the new Tactical Games.

According to the event’s website, the games invite “tactical athletes” to compete for the title of “most dangerous man on earth” through a series of events where “crossfit-meets-combat.” While anyone can participate, slots are limited to 120 and the pre-screening process has a high bar as participants must demonstrate an ability to complete both fitness and shooting challenges.

Then, I noticed the second annual Tactical Games was scheduled for October at a range in Autryville, North Carolina. As a competitive shooter with some athletic ability, it looked like a fun challenge, so I signed up. 

The event’s founder Tim Burke said he based the obstacles on training exercises he learned during his decades-long career in Army Special Forces and federal law enforcement. He described the inspiration for the Tactical Games traces back to 3-gun competitions and crossfit.