Shirtless Men Pay $18K to Crawl on Railroad Tracks and ‘Fight Each Other’ in ‘Alpha Male’ Bootcamp: Report

Mar. 15, 2025

Stock image of military mud run.Photo:Lorado/Getty

Lorado/Getty

A high-intensity “alpha male” boot camp is reportedly offering men the chance to build their self-esteem through extreme exercises such as crawling topless along a railroad track and fighting each other.The Modern Day Knight (MDK) program takes place two times a year and costs $18,000 per person, reportedNBC News.Per the official MDKwebsite, the three-day program is also only open to entrepreneurs, executives and leaders.“Your family deserves the best version of you as a leader, husband and father,” the website reads in capital letters. “Many men are secretly fighting a battle within them that no one knows about.”According to NBC News, participants undergo drills that include crawling across railroad tracks, being hosed with water and hand-to-hand combat while receiving tough-love coaching from instructors.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.A stock image of men at the gym.South_agency/Getty"It starts off very loud, chaotic and violent; they’re forced to fight each other," instructor Steve Eckert told the outlet. “After that, they’re hugging each other. They’re crying.““This 3-day experience is one of the toughest physical and mental challenges you’ll experience and it’s designed to help you,” the website writes.Under the frequently asked questions sections, the site adds that the men should “expect to be physically challenged. Expect to be mentally exhausted. Expect to be emotionally tested. Expect to grow in all three areas.”Videos posted on the MDKTikTokshow exhausted participants painfully crawling through dirt in the Chino Hills of California in the middle of the night while carrying large sledgehammers.An instructor then tells one man, “There are two ways you can do this. You gotta finish or you can quit.“When the competitor says he wants to continue, the instructor kneels down and says, “You better dig down and do something.“Another video shows a group of men standing around in the dark wearing white T-shirts and dark shorts.“This is your clean slate. This very moment is the new beginning. This very moment, you get to live the life that you want,” an instructor says, before the group enthusiastically replies “Yes, sir.“Chino Hills State Park in California.AlamyIn June 2020, a man died during the event and his family sued for wrongful death, according to NBC News. The lawsuit also accused MDK of failing to provide necessary medical care, the outlet added.The parties later settled, according to NBC News and instructor Eckert later told the outlet he did not want to discuss the matter “due to privacy and respect of an extremely unfortunate matter.“NBC News reported that many attendees use the intensely physical sessions to confront and deal with their past trauma.“It brought light to some of the trust issues that I have in my life,” Michael Chernow told the outlet.Licensed therapist Dr. George James also spoke about the benefits of the grueling boot camp.“I’ve had clients that have done really difficult, challenging things from ultramarathons to Tough Mudder races,” he told NBC News. “I think it’s being able to, as a therapist, being able to have the conversation around, how does this directly help you to be a better father, partner, man?”The MDK website says the project is currently closed but also includes an application form for men who are looking to “join a tribe of men focused on leveling up in business and life and as purpose-driven leaders.”

A high-intensity “alpha male” boot camp is reportedly offering men the chance to build their self-esteem through extreme exercises such as crawling topless along a railroad track and fighting each other.

The Modern Day Knight (MDK) program takes place two times a year and costs $18,000 per person, reportedNBC News.

Per the official MDKwebsite, the three-day program is also only open to entrepreneurs, executives and leaders.

“Your family deserves the best version of you as a leader, husband and father,” the website reads in capital letters. “Many men are secretly fighting a battle within them that no one knows about.”

According to NBC News, participants undergo drills that include crawling across railroad tracks, being hosed with water and hand-to-hand combat while receiving tough-love coaching from instructors.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

A stock image of men at the gym.South_agency/Getty

South_agency/Getty

“It starts off very loud, chaotic and violent; they’re forced to fight each other,” instructor Steve Eckert told the outlet. “After that, they’re hugging each other. They’re crying.”

“This 3-day experience is one of the toughest physical and mental challenges you’ll experience and it’s designed to help you,” the website writes.

Under the frequently asked questions sections, the site adds that the men should “expect to be physically challenged. Expect to be mentally exhausted. Expect to be emotionally tested. Expect to grow in all three areas.”

Videos posted on the MDKTikTokshow exhausted participants painfully crawling through dirt in the Chino Hills of California in the middle of the night while carrying large sledgehammers.

An instructor then tells one man, “There are two ways you can do this. You gotta finish or you can quit.”

When the competitor says he wants to continue, the instructor kneels down and says, “You better dig down and do something.”

Another video shows a group of men standing around in the dark wearing white T-shirts and dark shorts.

“This is your clean slate. This very moment is the new beginning. This very moment, you get to live the life that you want,” an instructor says, before the group enthusiastically replies “Yes, sir.”

Chino Hills State Park in California.Alamy

Alamy

In June 2020, a man died during the event and his family sued for wrongful death, according to NBC News. The lawsuit also accused MDK of failing to provide necessary medical care, the outlet added.

The parties later settled, according to NBC News and instructor Eckert later told the outlet he did not want to discuss the matter “due to privacy and respect of an extremely unfortunate matter.”

NBC News reported that many attendees use the intensely physical sessions to confront and deal with their past trauma.

“It brought light to some of the trust issues that I have in my life,” Michael Chernow told the outlet.

Licensed therapist Dr. George James also spoke about the benefits of the grueling boot camp.

“I’ve had clients that have done really difficult, challenging things from ultramarathons to Tough Mudder races,” he told NBC News. “I think it’s being able to, as a therapist, being able to have the conversation around, how does this directly help you to be a better father, partner, man?”

The MDK website says the project is currently closed but also includes an application form for men who are looking to “join a tribe of men focused on leveling up in business and life and as purpose-driven leaders.”

source: people.com