$18K alpha male boot camp promises to turn weak men into modern-day knights

By Fatou Ferraro Mboup

Published Apr 2, 2024 at 01:43 PM

Reading time: 2 minutes

56403

Ever wondered what it takes to become a certified alpha male in today’s world? Well, apparently all you need is the hefty sum of $18,000 and three days of your precious time. Welcome to the bizarre realm of alpha male boot camps, aka, the Modern Day Knight (MDK) Project, where testosterone-fueled antics collide with outrageous price tags, leaving many scratching their heads in disbelief. Let’s dig in.

According to the MDK website, the camp is aimed at “men who want to live a life filled with fulfilment, purpose, financial freedom, and have a deep loving relationship with their family.” And what better way to embrace financial freedom than forking out nearly $20k for a physical crash course, right?

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Steve Eckert (@steve.eckert1)

Applicants must be at least 18 years old to participate, with the program being based in Chino Hills, California.

The masterminds behind this 75-hour-long testosterone program are Bedros Keuilian, known for his book Man Up: How to Cut the Bullsh*t and Kick A** in Business and in Life and co-founder Steve Eckert, a former US Marine dubbed the “Facilitator of Suffering,” who joined Keuilian in leading the endeavour. These guys are experts in the art of turning regular Joes into alpha male superstars.

At the camp, be prepared to face some tough love—the instructors don’t hold back. Recently, a video from one of the sessions went viral, showing solemn-faced men with backpacks, seated before a desk as instructors unleashed their fury. It was akin to drill sergeants on steroids, screaming, “I see it in your f**king eyes that most of you don’t look like you belong here.” The instructors continued: “I’ll take this f**king knife off my f**king waist and carve this f**king tattoo off my f**king hand before I let any of you f**king b*tches show up here on Friday for your graduation.”

Throughout the video, participants appear visibly scared and shocked:

But hey, it’s not all verbal abuse and intimidation tactics. Oh no, these guys also like to throw in a healthy dose of physical exertion to really drive home the alpha male experience. One clip shows a poor individual being dragged down a hill during a climbing exercise, while another sees men being insulted as they perform exercises on the beach with hammers. Because nothing says “alpha male” quite like whacking away at the sand with a blunt object while being called a “whiny piece of sh*t.”

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Modern Day Knight Project (@themdkproject)

As entertaining (and utterly ridiculous) as this whole spectacle may be, it raises some serious questions about masculinity, self-worth, and the lengths some men will go to in order to prove their worthiness in the eyes of society. Is paying thousands of dollars to be yelled at and dragged up hills really the path to true manhood? Or is it just another example of fragile masculinity run amok?

Despite potential scepticism, the project’s popularity is evident, with all past boot camps selling out, as mentioned on their website. One participant confessed to having gained: “enough force, clarity, and confidence to take on whatever was ahead.”

However, as is to be expected, the program hasn’t been universally embraced. Many regard it as ludicrous, questioning its efficacy and suitability for all. Netizens online have led the criticism, labelling the $18,000 price tag as the epitome of beta behaviour, and poking fun at the project’s participants.

In the end, one thing’s for sure: the world of ‘alpha male boot camps’ is a wild and wacky place, where bravado reigns supreme and common sense takes a backseat to chest-thumping antics.

It’s important to highlight that in recent years, the proliferation of male-centric classes and boot camps has coincided with the surge in the manosphere and the growing opposition to female empowerment. This trend has of course gained further momentum with influential figures like Andrew Tate, known for his unapologetic embrace of alpha male ideology.

Keep On Reading

By Fatou Ferraro Mboup

90% of UK female surgeons have witnessed sexual misconduct in the last 5 years, new report shows

By Amy Rose Everett

From #MessyTikTok to #StayToxic, is social media sleuthing ruining your love life?

By Malavika Pradeep

China is banning ‘effeminate’ men from media to promote masculinity

By Eliza Frost

Online pornography showing choking to be made illegal, says government 

By Eliza Frost

How to spot a performative male out in the wild 

By Eliza Frost

What is Shrekking? The latest toxic dating trend explained 

By Eliza Frost

How exactly is the UK government’s Online Safety Act keeping young people safe? 

By Eliza Frost

Vogue has declared boyfriends embarrassing, and the internet agrees

By Eliza Frost

The Life of a Showgirl or The Life of a Tradwife? Unpicking Taylor Swift’s new album

By Eliza Frost

Cruz Beckham’s girlfriend Jackie Apostel defends the couple’s age gap relationship 

By Eliza Frost

Everything to know about Justin Lee Fisher, arrested at Travis Kelce’s home over Taylor Swift deposition papers from Justin Baldoni

By Eliza Frost

Zohran Mamdani wins New York City mayoral race, and wife Rama Duwaji becomes city’s Gen Z first lady 

By Eliza Frost

Jennifer Lawrence weighs in on The Summer I Turned Pretty love triangle, revealing she is Team Jeremiah

By Eliza Frost

Jessie Cave was banned from a Harry Potter fan convention because of her OnlyFans account

By Eliza Frost

Kendall Jenner reveals plans to quit Kardashian fame for a normal job

By Eliza Frost

Is Belly Conklin the problem in The Summer I Turned Pretty?

By Eliza Frost

Glen Powell’s GQ photoshoot is a satiric look at modern day males—and he’s in on the joke 

By Eliza Frost

Misinformation spread by wellness influencers online is leading to falling contraceptive pill use

By Eliza Frost

Bad Bunny announced as halftime act for Super Bowl 2026—and conservatives aren’t too happy 

By Eliza Frost

People think Donald Trump is dead and they’re using the Pentagon Pizza Index to prove it