Welcome to SW FL Fight Club Chapter #13. This first week will be like drinking from a firehose. There is a ton of information below that is pertinent to success. Please take your time and read through all of it. If you have questions, please contact your squad leaders.

You will need to develop new disciplines and become very intentional every day of your life for the next 10 weeks. Take time right now and ask Jesus to guard your actions and attitudes so that they line up with the LORD. This might be the most important 10 weeks of your life as you get centered on Jesus. I want you to know that all of us leaders are proud of you and we’re proud to battle with you. I will face the same battles that you do, but I do not plan to back out because too much is at stake. My family, my Savior, and the men of the 13th Chapter of South West Florida Fight Club! You can do this, but you must not procrastinate and put missions off to the end of the week. Start to Finish dudes, start to finish. I look forward to bringing my block back at Graduation and building a wall. How about you?  

BAND App:

Put up a BAND App profile picture with your face and FULL name in it. Not your back, not a tree, not a flag, not a building, not a go-kart, not ghost photos, but a picture with your face in it. Please do not put a picture of a group of men as we cannot tell which one you are.

Let’s talk about the Band App and some best practices. No one gets on the Band App, but you. This is our place to share honestly. I have seen men confess deep sin and hurts on the Band App. We need to ensure that this is a safe container that men feel the freedom to go deep. Also, some missions will require you to post on the Band App. The Band App can be a distraction if we are not disciplined. My recommendation is that you turn off Band App notifications and set aside an allotted time to post, view the posts and comment.

Weekly Missions:

The weekly missions will be posted each Thursday morning before 7am. You will need to read the missions thoroughly. Do not skim and assume. Take 5 minutes, read, and pray that God will use the missions to challenge yourself, develop camaraderie with your squad, and engage in authentic accountability with your triad.

Let’s talk about accountability and strikes. Each Fight Club man can only take 3 penalty strikes throughout the 10 weeks of FC. The missions will be labeled strike-able or non-strike-able. The strike policy is on the honor system. Strikes must be reported to your squad leader each Thursday by noon. The squad leaders will not chase you down. There will be multiple opportunities to earn extra strikes this chapter.

Strikes are not retroactive. This means that if men strike out, they cannot complete one of the opportunities to gain a strike in the following weeks to keep them from the strike out. Understand that striking out doesn’t mean the end of the FC chapter for men. We encourage men to continue to stay in the game, complete the missions and stay connected. We are better together! The man that has struck out has the ability to complete, but not graduate.

DON’T sacrifice your family to get missions done. Get up early, grab your headlamp and in some cases have them join you. The last thing you want to happen is for them to see Fight Club as a hindrance to your relationship.

Find a notebook that you can use as a Journal. One Day App. is a great online Journal, or a good old paper one. You will be asked to journal some thoughts throughout the course of the 10 weeks.

 

Book:

Order “Run Over by the Grace Train” by Joby Martin ASAP. The Amazon link is here. I always believe that it is better to have a hard copy of the book because I can focus, underline key points and write notes about what God is saying to me through the book. I also understand that some men comprehend better through listening. An audio version of the book is available on Audible.

Fight Club Limited version:

  • Must have graduated Classic version of Fight Club three (3) times before joining FC Limited.

  • Make sure to complete all Classic guidelines.

  • Make sure to select the “Limited Edition” on your registration.

  • Limited Edition men must attend Kick-Off and the Mid-Chapter meeting.

  • Limited Edition will have additional missions each week.

  • Complete a daily devotional assigned by FC leadership.

  • Must purchase and carry the FC Challenge Coin. If someone challenges you and you do not have your coin, you need to recite the week’s verse from memory or do 50 push-ups on the spot.

  • Drink 50% of body weight in ounces (max 100 ounces) of water 6 days/week.

  • Attend 7 out of 10 church services in-person that occur during FC Chapter.

  • Weigh yourself daily.

YOU CANNOT MOVE TO A DIFFERENT TRACK AFTER YOU START WITH ONE.

Guideline Notes:

Read the guidelines and make sure you are doing these regularly because these are strike-able, too. Here is a link to a video which explains the guidelines in more detail. Fight Club Guidelines Video

The daily proverb chapter will be determined by the date of the month. Missions start on February 27th so the first day will be Proverbs 27. February only has 28 days so we will not read Proverbs 29, 30 and 31 in February.

Start praying about what God wants you to give away. Remember that this does not have to be a physical item. For example, one of our FC men gave away his time to a local family by installing tile in his home. This guideline is all about giving of your time, talent and treasure.

The FC guidelines say that each man is to “find a place to volunteer in their local church”. Volunteering can take many forms where it’s each week or once in the 10 weeks. Find out where your church needs help and jump in, or just go on your own and clean up the grounds. Make an effort to impact your local church body. Let’s be a contributor instead of a consumer.

Remember if you have any questions or concerns contact your squad leader immediately.  If you become ill or have a major life incident, let your squad leader know so we can figure out a plan for you.

The Creed:

Read the creed and look carefully at the words, no whining or complaining. We work harder than anyone else! Fight Club is difficult, but rewarding and you have what it takes in Jesus to finish.

Physical Aspect:

  • We want you to be smart with the physical portion. If you have back problems, don't do sit-ups. If you have shoulder problems, don't do pushups. FC is about getting stronger and not about hurting yourself. Physical exertion is great and physical injury is not.

  • For each of the miles that we discuss during our missions, walkers and runner’s complete mile for mile. If you can physically run, you are to run. If you have an injury that prevents you from running, bike, elliptical and swimming are acceptable alternatives) If you bike there is a 3:1 ratio, elliptical is a 1.5:1 ratio, and swimming is a 1:3 ratio.

  • If there is something that you cannot do (and not just because it’s too hard or time intensive), please contact your squad leader and come up with an alternative. He will consult with you to figure out what is the best fit for you.

  • If you are already training for an event (i.e., half marathon, marathon, triathlon, body building etc.), stick with your training plan and this will count as your physical portion each week.

  • If you are training and in tip top shape, I challenge you to “1 up” yourself and complete some of these requirements to push yourself and be disciplined. A goal I have for you in these next ten weeks is for you to realize God has bigger plans for you physically than you may know or can imagine. I urge you to complete the physical missions with your family, kids, wives, friends, coworkers, and of course your accountability partner.

 

FC Kickoff Meeting Makeup Mission:

If you missed the FC kickoff meeting, you will complete the following makeup mission and start strike free. After about nineteen (19) of these, I can tell you that each strike is important and you don’t want to give up an easy one. The goal is to make it through the ten (10) weeks strike free. (Does not have to be done in this order)

Register ASAP at https://swfl.priorityone.org/fight-club


You will be assigned a squad leader after registration. The squad leader will contact you.

  • Arrange a time with your squad leader to pick-up a wood block.

  • Ask your squad leader for a triad assignment/contact information.  

Run ½ mile (or alternate exercise) and record your time in your journal.  

Complete maximum sit-ups and pushups in one (1) minute. Record totals in your journal.

Talk to 5 FC Squad men in person or on the phone (no texting or email). Ask these questions and write down their responses. The final call or meet up will be with your squad leader.
1. How did God speak to you at kickoff?
2. What is one area of your life that you need strength in this FC chapter? (Porn, food etc.)
3. How can I pray with you? (Pray with them at that very moment)

Post on the Band App your “why” for doing Fight Club this chapter and what you are trusting God to do in your life.

Contact your squad leader to let him know that you completed this makeup mission.