Good shit, bro. I’m so happy for you. Such an amazing accomplishment. I think overcoming mental obstacles can be more challenging than physical obstacles. Way to go. I knew you could do it.

@jimmy-et1pm

11 ай бұрын

That was AWESOME....that is a TOUGH TEST. GREAT JOB!

@johnkasarachi836

11 ай бұрын

Hey, GREAT JOB 👍👏

@giving7389

10 ай бұрын

Curious how Olympic synchronized swimmers would hold up?

@Kenny-yl9pc

8 ай бұрын

But physical obstacles are ultimately mental obstacle when you break it down

In 1971 at Army dive school I drowned 2 times. I finished the school, went to war in South East Asia as a USAF Pararescueman and nearly drowned in the South China Sea rescuing a downed Navy pilot. I still get chills in the pool and the ocean. I have a love/hate relationship with water. You did well and pushed thru the hell of water confidence.

@-N-A-

Жыл бұрын

Jesus, you’re mental strength, toughness, and perseverance is next level. Thank you for your service

@TatisRingwormCreme

Жыл бұрын

Thank you for your service 🙏

@jonathanlovo5798

Жыл бұрын

Thank you for your service!

@mr.broski2427

Жыл бұрын

Thank you for your service!

@malaepule5145

Жыл бұрын

Salute to you brother🫡

Tough times don’t last, tough people do 👍well done mate

@AustenAlexander

Жыл бұрын

Thanks Steven 🙏

@ivonbeton4725

9 ай бұрын

I don't really like expressions like those. I know people who pushed through terrible and debilitating illnesses with a mental fortitude I can scarcely imagine, yet ultimately succumbed. They were tough people, even though they didn't last and their tough times were endless.

@leavingsoonduetocensorship3453

22 күн бұрын

No they don't...they tend to have done some really foolish things to their bodies that you cannot actually recover from by pushing boundaries they never should have pushed.

“The more we retreat in our minds, the weaker we become.” “What’s something you’re afraid of, and when the last time you trained for it?” Those two phrases really resonate with me. I think I needed to hear that today.

@ykwhatidek

10 ай бұрын

haha, I am afraid of getting my finger bitten off and I have a phobia of holes, want me to stare at holes and bite my fingers off?

@ykwhatidek

10 ай бұрын

it’s just a joke I don’t mean to start an argument lol

@Pooh0Bear8

7 ай бұрын

Agreed

Man you are inspiring me on a level I can’t put into words. As someone who failed in 2014 and is getting the opportunity in the next few months. This almost feels like a sign that I have to make it.

@AustenAlexander

Жыл бұрын

Thanks man! That’s awesome you are getting another chance 👏 you can absolutely make it

@wannabecarguy

Жыл бұрын

​@@AustenAlexanderDavid Blaine did a good video where he talked about his underwater quest. I think he holds a record now.

@eveleinnyokabi

11 ай бұрын

​@@wannabecarguyBlaine on KZread?

@johnkasarachi836

11 ай бұрын

You'll make it!

@mari422

11 ай бұрын

You got this is! You have to tell yourself the entire time that you’re gonna pass. Reassurance 👍🏽

I’m a competitive swimmer and we do drills just like that all the time to train lung health and mental fortitude. It never gets easy.

@yush2989

Жыл бұрын

yeah I was watching this and thinking "damn I'm probably doing this Friday" and realizing that I'd be fucked up by this test hard if I didn't do stuff like this so often at practice

@Miles26545

Жыл бұрын

Yeah I just got out of comp. Swimming (8 years, 8-16 y o) and this stuff is really hard. Never gets easier, but for breath you can go way beyond you imagine, just get past the surges and instincts to gasp.

@Woodsaras

11 ай бұрын

You are lying. If you are a real swimmer, this is a joke. Im not pro, i just live where there are plenty of lakes and this sort of thing is just pure easy bllsht. Childs play to anyone in my area. So yall full of sht or yall big ol pssies.

@cruxer666

11 ай бұрын

I'm no competitive swimmer, I just love swimming, this test is super easy if you are familiar with water. He clearly did not spend enough time in water when trying first time, you can tell by just looking at his breathing and the way he is swimming. First thing that is clear, he is holding too much air in while bobbing, this is why he does not sink fast and this is why he cannot fully inhale again on the surface. Clearly lack of experience in this environment. Nothing more, just not enough time spent in water. You can float in water for hours with this kind of restrictions. But you have to spend enough hours in the pool until you get comfortable in this environment, there is no other solution. Poll is super easy, you just have to put hours in and also have fun in water.

@maxpoppe

11 ай бұрын

@@cruxer666 I mean yea it's not hard, from me the harderst part would be sinking to the bottom, but that doesn't seem te be a requirement? like you can do flips in the middle of the pool as well, I lituarly float even if I release all the air out of my longues

I honestly REALLY appreciate this episode and the vulnerability. You are in such great shape and I've always struggled with fear, but the fact that you are vulnerable with the fact that you were afraid, but that you would keep trying, helps me. Because even if I don't get it the first time, it's okay. Just keep going back and trying. Train and really grow in it.

@TechReviewTom

Ай бұрын

Bro yes EXACTLY!

Love the mental block aspect of this and getting over it Austen!

@AustenAlexander

Жыл бұрын

Thanks for the support!

@ajcook7777

11 ай бұрын

Oh ya, he got over the mental block long ago, this was just engineered for a story/teaching...

@paulm1690

9 ай бұрын

@@AustenAlexanderRemember going down on me on the hpu boat??

From all tests in the military, this one must be the hardest. It is not only physical but greatly psychological. Lots of people who fail water tests lack the necessary mental discipline to stay calm and use the appropriate techniques leveraging the physical capabilities they already have. It takes lots of training to most people. Congrats to all that pass the test also to the ones who keep challenging themselves to improve their performances.

Incredible to watch… made me a bit emotional and almost teary-eyed to watch. So proud of you and thankful for your vulnerability and persistence.. was a definite encouragement to me and I’m sure to many others. ❤

I was traumatized throughout my 21 years of life about swimming. This coming May, I will do my best to learn how to overcome my fear of water by learning how to swim.

@COlson-rh3dg

Жыл бұрын

Go for it!

@nvgboiyes6386

10 ай бұрын

Go for it, and I’ll tell you this, swimming once you get it down is fun. I like to imagine I’m in space or flying when ever I swim.

@nvgboiyes6386

10 ай бұрын

Also if you look at things as fun you tend to do better.

@C.H.K.N_tenders

Ай бұрын

Man trust me. I'm not a swimmer, but I swim in my free time. I'll tell you what, its just so peaceful underwater. Its quiet and relaxing. I would recommend trying to beat your fear!

Dude. Really appreciate you being real and showing the great stuff along with the tough stuff. Thank you for not shying away from showing the journey and not editing out your learning moments. I absolutely have those anxious moments and mental barriers that sometimes feel insurmountable. Way to keep hammering and way to overcome!! You should be very proud of pushing past that mental edge. Outstanding work.

During swim week for Marine BootCamp, I failed for 3 days because I couldn’t breakthrough the uncontrollable weight of having boots on and full utilities. I was able to find a rhythm on the fourth day. I still have a problem floating, I’ve never been a good swimmer but I do see progress with the more times I do floating exercises.

@rymaxrules6416

Жыл бұрын

Yeah certain people have different buoyancies, and if you have a negative buoyancy it will be WAY harder

@Thecodeist

Жыл бұрын

I know the feeling bro it took me until the last day because I was trying to strongarm the 50m swim and I reach out to grab the finish line and my body would just go into shock as I grabbed the line and I would just sink to the ground but once I practiced the ways the swim instructors told me to conserve energy to make it last I was able to ace the rest of it on swim week. I know lot of us marines downplay it but it’s no easy feat to do especially when you see how many people get dropped from training cause of it.

@michaelbateman8469

11 ай бұрын

​@Thecodeist I was basically an infantry instructor for USAF Security Forces, if troops could just learn to listen and apply what their instructors are saying, life would be so much easier for them. Instructors of all branches, be it basic training, specialty school, advanced training, etc, they WANT you to succeed. Advice, instructions, orders, etc, are all designed to teach you SOMETHING. It, no kidding, may take years for you to figure out why they taught you this thing, but there's a good reason. Instructors don't just flap their gums. We generally don't have time for that shit. If it comes from "the man", there's a reason In spite of "hurry up and wait", painting rocks, mopping parking lots in the rain, etc, etc, the US military is the most efficient governmental body in our government. While flying over the damage from Hurricane Katrina, then SecDef Donald Rumsfeld was asked about military intervention in the disaster. [Paraphrased] "We use the military because they are the most efficient government agency there is. We tell them what to do, not how, and they always surprise us with how fast and how well they get it done" So, listen and learn.

I've failed swim tests in the military. That type of fear is almost incomparable to anything else. I went from being able to stay at the bottom of the 15 foot deep end in any pool to struggling to go all the way under 5 feet of water. I did make it back to the bottom of the pool, however, I know that I need to get my swimming fish sense before any test. If I am uncomfortable in the water during a swim test, I am going through hell.

@Ethan.Grimmett

11 ай бұрын

Thank you for your service🙏

@agoatonearth

6 ай бұрын

No u havent😂

Growing up in Hawaii before the tech revolution, about the only thing we could do for fun was go to the beach, swimming, surfing, spearfishing even at night. I'm Asian but for my entire life up to HS, I was literally a brown turd from going to the beach so much...I can see how hard it can be for people who didn't have a chance to grow up learning how to be a fish. I feel very fortunate to have grown up near the ocean and enjoying and learning as much as it had to offer. I imagine the Hawaii boys have a much easier time with military water training.

@sophimahi3516

Ай бұрын

Immigrant!

@_DMNO_

Ай бұрын

​@@sophimahi3516 Everyone knows you're dumb, but you don't see us shouting it at you.

Inspiring to watch you press through this. Proud of your persistence-especially mentally. Huge Congrats Austen!! Agree with you that facing fears and overcoming challenges is the best way to live without regrets. That’s how I feel about Hybricon😆 Best is how you share your vulnerability and overcome failures. Thanks for always being real.

I’m so proud of you brother not just for doing this test but for everything! I’m proud to have served with you and I’m proud of what you have accomplished created and overcome! Love you brother

I absolutely loved this, Austen!! One of your best videos. So proud of you for pushing through and succeeding and taking us along with you. There are so many great takeaways from this that I know I’ll start applying to my life. Congratulations and thank you so much for this! 💪🏻☺️

@AustenAlexander

Жыл бұрын

Thanks for the support, Linda! Really glad you enjoyed it and can benefit from it

Austen! You're an inspiration! When met with failure... not once but twice. You refused to backdown. You hit the darkness head on and didn't stop until you reached light. GOOD JOB!!!!!!

Love this! So proud that you pushed through and you didn’t give up! I always said, in order to succeed, you have to learn how to fail.

Good for you man. As someone who has done a number of the "cool-guy" schools, much of the mental toughness soldiers get comes through the day to day life and training. So when they get to these schools and tests, they would have an advantage over folks that were never combat military. For me, the individual tests like this wasn't the hard part. The hard part was everything between all these types of tests. The sitting in cold water for a few hours, being in the woods or swamps for 2 or 3 weeks, Being made to stay awake for nights on end. I would just get bored and being bored literally drives me crazy. I remember one school I went too, we were in the woods, below freezing at night, rainy all day, no fires, no cold weather gear, only one meal a day if we were lucky. I looked over after day 14 in the woods and one of the toughtest dudes just broke down in tears sobbing. It lasted a minute or two, then he wiped his face and carried on.

@cpecka

14 күн бұрын

Rangers Lead The Way!

Im proud of you man. Love you. Love your videos. You are such an inspiration to so many. Its such a psychological challenge and you endured

Your commitment and mental and physical fortitude are truly inspiring. Well done. 💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻

Excellent! Very proud of you. And you should be very proud of yourself. You both said it perfectly -- lean in to the fear. It's time to grow!

This is awesome. Thank you for sticking with it and showing the breakthrough. This is instrumental, metaphorical and literal. Your courage helps me.

This really got my heart beating, the feeling of having your hands and feet stuck together can get you fear. It has this feeling of being unable to swim, but somehow still doing it. Really good job!

Funny how mind can stop us from something we could do with no problem. Thank you for showing this. For showing, that we can overcome our mind. I am experiencing it for cantering on horse. I can do it, my body can do it with ease, just in my mind, I see me falling from that horse, so I have problem to do it. I overcomed it multiple times, but my mind from time to time plays tricks on me 😂

@allegraadams3037

Жыл бұрын

Never give up. I am sure everyone watching you is proud of you and your horse. Trust him/her and encourage it to trust you, but don’t let your doubts bleed into your horses mind. He’s got you. I’ve been there.

As a person who has a huge fear of water, this was so inspiring!! Congratulations!! The world today has no resiliency, and I hope this inspires others to never give up!

I haven't done this particular test. But one of the things that messes with your head when you're underwater with your hands restricted is that it's so difficult to get your body oriented the way you need it to be in order to be able to either bob up or flip or kick your way forward. You have to have a lot of patience in waiting out the exact movement when you have managed to get your whole body on top of your feet before you press of the floor, or you will not go straight up. And patience is pretty hard when you are operating on high CO2 in your lungs and everything is telling you you're about to suffocate if you don't breathe soon. I imagine trying it on different occasions is a big help in overcoming all this stuff. Great stuff!

It’s an awesome feeling breaking that fear with water and entering a comfort that feels so unbelievable you wish you never had to surface. The peace and strength of your environment.

Seriously, huge props to you. I get freaked out even just looking at the pool floor during front crawl, particularly as I see it go further down as I swim to the deep end. My local pool is only 2 meters at its deepest. I also freak when I do a flip turn off to head back. Part of the reason I love swimming is because it frightens me, I like the challenge. But this challenge you are doing is beyond amazing and so far beyond what I could comprehend. Just wow!

Congratulations Austin ! 🎉you really inspired me to takle a fear .. thankyou

Best video I’ve seen on this channel by far, congratulations brother!

This was awesome to see! Way to go big dawg! That’s how you get it done and you motivated the helm out of me!

Outstanding job! I know the feeling of being underwater and stressing. That mental stress, in water is very difficult to overcome. Congratulations on a big accomplishment!!

I've been wanting to try this out ever since I watched the first video you did on it. Awesome Austen!

Great job MA! I’m a former MA1 and retired Police Officer. There were many shifts that I had to push through barriers. This is a great lesson for the young folks. Life is hard, but not hard enough to break us. Push through and go beyond your comfort zone.

Austen my daughter and I have seen some great videos on this channel but I have never gotten teary-eyed on any kind of video like this until today. My daughter is in track and runs the 200 meter then throws shot put and discus. She’s beating her run time and shot put distance a little every meet. Watching you overcome and succeed literally made my eyes tear up. You set a goal and made it happen. Over coming any mental block can feel darn near impossible but you did it. Kudos my friend I have nothing but respect for you.

Another awesome episode, and actually my favorite one by far! Thank you for your honesty and openness in sharing your fears, anxiety, doubts, mental blocks, etc. that were causing your problems and hindering your reaching your goal and passing this very difficult and dangerous test. I have no doubt that it inspired many others who experience fears, doubts, anxiety, etc. in many areas and have kept them, so far, from reaching their full potential. Was so happy to see you stick with it, return, and pass...and even go beyond the minimum requirements. And, I loved your ending thoughts..."When I see an obstacle, I see an opportunity, and when I feel fear, I know I have room to grow. ... What's something you're afraid of, and when's the last time you trained for it?" And Prime's recommendation, "When you find yourself at an obstacle like that, lean in, approach versus avoid." So true! Thanks guys for the inspiration and for your service to our nation!

Awesome stuff bro. Congrats. Watching this inspires me to keep after my demons. Thank you.

Well done. Inspiring. You never gave up. You failed attempts but you never gave up. And finally, you were free

That is truly awesome Austen. Well done bro.

Chills. Austen this was an awesome video and truly inspiring. Especially as someone who has been so mentally filled with anxiety and overwhelming feelings that is now leaking into other things such as lack of motivation to show up to the gym.. Ready to put that work back in 👏🏾

@AustenAlexander

Жыл бұрын

Let’s goooooo!! Glad you enjoyed and glad you got something out of it!

Well done! Thanks for sharing such an elite mental and physical challenge!🎯

I got into a pool by myself for the first time in a long time just yesterday. I taught myself how to swim and wanted to go underwater, but I got scared. I know this was a challenge for you, but in achieving something for yourself you’ve given me the courage to try as well. Thank you.

Truly inspiring brother! Great job

The night before my Black Belt test I binged 5 or so of these videos because I knew if someone could do some of the crazy stuff that you do, I could handle what I needed to do

@ThePeacePlant

8 ай бұрын

What martial art was it?

As someone who was trained to be scared of water and now getting professional help to learn how the swim, I must say I could relate to everything you felt and it has inspired me tremendously. Thank you.

this is a huge help, i may not intend on ever doing the socom but i do have comp swimming tests and a lot of tests for lifeguarding that can be similar to this and even though i’m in shape the mental game is the hardest part so seeing him do this and feel the same as i do mentally through it is a huge inspiration

So awesome. I love that you don’t hide anything just tell it the way it is wether it success or failure, but never accepting defeat. Great job!

That was so impressive, well done. Your question at the end about facing your fears got me,,,, I literally can not do heights at all. Just watching YT vids of people doing activities involving heights literally makes my legs go to jelly and my stomach turns like crazy… I even tried to jump of a rollercoaster designed for under 5’s…. The shame I felt all screaming my lungs out whilst all these kids were literally laughing the socks off at me. Dam don’t even know how to conquer my fear of heights. But love to you for achieving what you did.

That was amazing and inspiring! Well done 🎉🎉

Much respect to even try once. More respect to not quit. It's a MENTAL thing. AWESOME!! CONGRATULATIONS!!

What a great win for you. Three times was the charm. Your training and determination helped you win. The challenge that I have trained for is my second attempt to summit my first 14'er. In the next three months I will have at it!!

This video deserves way more views. Really inspiring austen

This was actually so inspiring for me. Thanks for sharing this Austen!

@AustenAlexander

Жыл бұрын

thanks for watching!

Congratulations Austen! I know that had to be tough.

Good job bro! I love that you are showing how to overcome by doing it yourself!

Nice! I will try this sometime under supervision of course. I am scared of water and learnt to swim, it's been 2months since I started swimming, loving it!

That was a lot more to do than I thought! Great mental training!!

Love DEF! Been working out with them in SoCal and Vegas for a while now. Highly encourage any athlete to train with them at some point, you learn so much about yourself and your limits. The water is the great equalizer, all athletes will suffer lol. Love it. Good work man, keep it up, your videos are encouraging to many!

@AustenAlexander

Жыл бұрын

Thanks man! Yes they are great people 🙏 maybe I’ll run into you one day

@amorpugh4959

3 ай бұрын

Where exactly in Vegas?

Unbelievable work, really. You are inspiring, no doubt.

Congratulations! Awesome to see you overcome and achieve this he win.

@AustenAlexander

Жыл бұрын

Thanks Nancy!

That’s awesome I love watching your videos with the battle bus and I remember watching the first time. Great stuff.

@AustenAlexander

Жыл бұрын

thank you!

“It may last for a minute, an hour, a day, or even a year; but eventually it will subside, And something else will take its place!” - The great Eric Thomas As someone who made it only 6/7ths of the way through the ELAP exam (my State fireman physical exam) due to the lack of oxygen I was getting from not knowing how to pace myself, I was never able to come to terms with myself for not being mentally strong enough to keep it pushing to the end. This gave me a new flame, a fire in my self to give it another shot. I hope it does for someone else too!

Your videos are cool, but this one was inspirational. So happy to watch you overcome like that. Thank you for the opportunity. Idk you, but I’m proud of you.

Cracking effort! Well done 👍

LETS GOOO AUSTEN, this is inspiring!!

You're a beast thank you for these videos

Awesome video, Austen! You are such a great guy 😊

@AustenAlexander

Жыл бұрын

Thanks Nate! Glad you enjoyed it 💪

@natemorrison2998

Жыл бұрын

@@AustenAlexander no problem

Prime is such an awesome guy he’s had a pretty wild life as well

Damn homie, that’s so damn tough… very very solid attempt. That front flip… water would’ve flooded my 👃🏾. You got that on next attempt. 💪🏾

Great accomplishment, Austen. I had the opportunity to train under Prime as well, and he is a solid dude.

Austin looking good, Great job. I have so much respect for all of our Soldiers

Congratulations!! 🎉

Great job man! You did great

Truly Inspired brotha. Thank you

bro im glad that you did it you did your goal keep doing you bro

That was awesome dude. Very Inspiring

I respect the vulnerability man. You're a legend austin!

I knew you could do it…you‘re a terrific guy.I would have died of fear…great..good job👍😉

Amazing man, happy for you

Thanks for your service brutha. Amazing

This really Gabe me motivation and confidence to do this when I'm out of school and have a job🎉!

I like Prime Hall’s approach. Has a solid, calm confidence that is positively infectious!

I got to work with the UTL team out in SD. Such a great group of people and Prime is a top notch dude.

Strong work Austen!!!

Great job brother!! 💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼

I'd love to be able to learn this! It looks very challenging physically and mentally, but being able to do something like this must feel very rewarding. 👍🏻

Imagine to have to go in the sea to save someone...with waves and currents,to enhale water from the strong waves and watch the people in from of you to call for help 🙏 and its your job to save them. That feeling man....of tiredness excaustion, feeling you're gonna die and you have a job to do. Great job man. I understand the feeling and dark thoughts. You made it. Keep up the good work 💪.

Congratulations 👏. You are a inspiration. Um abraço do Brasil 🇧🇷

Outstanding and well done!

3 years sober after battling addiction to prescription medication from a injury that left me out of my dream job and broken inside from it all. Divorce you name it I went through and I am so happy to see you make it through and that I’m sure this video of yours will help many many others. Nothing you said was wrong and we have to fight it and not run from it. Great job and god bless

way to go Austen!!

Very inspiring, thanks for sharing and great job man.

@AustenAlexander

Жыл бұрын

thank you!

so proud of you!!!!!!

Very impressive. Overcoming that fear is amazing

Congrats!!! HUGE

great achievement! Well done!

A few years back, for some reason, I developed this fear of escalators. I have no idea what triggered it but one day I was fine with them and the next I am on the verge of a panic attack. After that, I avoided them completely, would either take the elevator or stairs because I freaked out too much. Then it became a hassle because everytime I'm with other people, I would avoid the escalators. I would meet them at the next floor either through the elevator or stairs while they took the escalator. And even if I was carrying a lot of things, I would still use the stairs if the elevator was unavailable. So, I started trying to worl through it. I started with standing in the center of an escalator, holding onto the railing, closing my eyes, and blasting music into my ears. It worked. I mean, I can only get on an escalator from the ground floor to the next floor up. I still freak out higher than that, but it's progress.

@CaitFalconer

8 ай бұрын

This happened to me too when I was young, probably middle-school age. All of a sudden I was terrified of escalators, especially going down. I used to climb trees all the time and very suddenly developed a crippling fear of heights around the same time too. Fear of heights is pretty rational, but the "lizard-brain" fear-response of freezing while high up is NOT helpful. I still feel a little drop in my stomach on escalators but it's mostly gone away in adulthood.