ABOUT

The Callsign

After 15+ concussions and TBIs by age 16, I operated in complete isolation. Dark Wolf represents that period—the years I spent managing this alone without talking to anyone about it. It's also a reminder that I'm not doing that anymore.

Who I am

I'm RK. DoD/IC R&D Product Manager by day, tactical fitness documenter by night. I've spent 25+ years managing head injuries from competitive sports, and I'm still learning how to do it right. This is a lifelong endeavor for me.

Why this site exists

I spent two decades suffering in isolation. Didn't talk about it. Didn't document it. Didn't realize other people were navigating the same thing alone. That was a mistake I'm correcting.

I'm documenting what recovery actually looks like when you live with TBI long-term and refuse to accept permanent offline status. Not medical advice—just strategies that work for me. Your mileage may vary, and that's fine.

If even one person finds something useful here, it's worth it.

The story (abbreviated)

Childhood was hockey, lacrosse, football. Air Force Academy was the plan. Fighter pilot slot was the dream. Then the concussions stacked faster than anyone realized. Fifteen-plus by 16. Medical clearances kept returning me to operations. Every branch denied my military clearance the same year my collegiate hockey prospects ended.

Spent my twenties trying everything: experimental protocols, medications, research trials. Nothing worked. Then I found what actually did: training smarter, not harder. CrossFit for community and intensity. Marcus Filly's work on functional longevity. Nick Bare's MAF method for sustainable running when my brain couldn't handle traditional training. The combination changed everything.

For the first time in decades, I could think clearly again.

What this site is

Tactical fitness, recovery protocols, and unfiltered thinking on managing a compromised nervous system. Training philosophy pulled from Filly, Bare, and Tactical Barbell. Honest conversations about what works and what doesn't.

I think in systems and frameworks—comes with the job. I apply that same rigor to training and recovery. No fluff. No supplement promotions. Just what I've learned works.

The personal stuff

I live in Colorado Springs with my family. That shifted everything—my primary objective now is being the role model they need, not proving I'm unbreakable (still working on this). I play hockey again, which felt impossible for twenty years. I track everything obsessively: HRV, sleep, recovery data. I hike around Garden of the Gods and the Pikes Peak Region regularly. I've got strong opinions about vehicle maintenance and home projects, probably more than necessary.

I appreciate you being here. If you're navigating similar territory, you're not alone.

Still operating -RK