Strength Coaches

I’ve been in the fitness industry for over 25 years.  In all that time I’ve learned what works and what doesn’t for building a successful fitness business.   It’s taken me years of hard work, a sh*t ton of personal development, and a lot of overcoming setbacks and failures to get my business where it is now.   But what if I were just starting out today?  What would I, in 2020 and beyond, do to build a successful fitness business?  That’s the question at hand in this episode.   Because a lot of you are either wanting to get started or you’re… continue reading.

Dr. Mark Cheng is my healer, my teacher, my friend and my brother.   A lifelong student of healing, harming, and helping the human body through martial and medical sciences, he has devoted countless hours across continents to connect the dots for his patients.   Spending time with the man will not only improve your mindset and how you operate as a human being but also leave your body feeling healthier, stronger and more bulletproof than ever before.  (As long as he’s practicing medicine on you, not martial arts.) If you can’t hang with Doc Cheng in person the next best thing is… continue reading.

As the WWE Performance Center’s Strength & Conditioning Coach, Sean Hayes is helping shape the physiques of NXT recruits and some of pro wrestling’s most recognizable superstars. The Harvard Grad, former linebacker, and former NFL Strength Coach knows what it takes to get people jacked, strong and ready to perform in any arena. If you’ve ever wondered how pro wrestlers build such amazing bodies, and more importantly how you can build one of your own, this episode is for you! Scroll down for show notes:… continue reading.

In this episode I share my thoughts on a variety of topics. I rant. I curse. I get fired up. And I answer your questions.  Download it now and listen to all the shenanigans! Scroll down for show notes: Click here to subscribe via iTunesClick here to listen on SoundCloudClick here to subscribe via StitcherRight-click here and choose… continue reading.

Over the last few years you may have heard some relatively new (less than 10 years of real world experience) trainers and online fitness guru’s regurgitate the following statement, “volume is the key driver of hypertrophy gains.” That statement is continually made these days because of some studies showing that those who did more sets gained more muscle. But it’s hardly conclusive and hardly the advice that everyone should adhere to. If you lack the requisite 10-25 years of real world coaching experience that it takes to wade through all this stuff, you just go with whatever’s popular at the… continue reading.

You can’t get jacked and strong while you’re on a ketogenic diet, right? Think again. Danny Vega, my guest in this episode of the #RenegadeRadioPodcast, is a huge proponent of keto diets and he’s one of the strongest, most jacked dudes in the fitness industry. As a 220-pound raw powerlifter he has put up a 640 lb. squat, a 400 lb. bench press, and a 700 lb. deadlift. A former college football player, Danny began training to improve his performance on the field and he became obsessed with health and fitness. He received his Master’s of Science in Human Performance… continue reading.

Do you want to know how elite athletes like champion MMA fighters and NHL hockey players train for strength and performance while building amazing physiques? In this episode you’ll meet Jon Chaimberg, a man who has trained some of the greatest fighters, like Georges St-Pierre and Rashad Evans, as well as other mixed martial artists, pro hockey players, major league baseball players, and Canada’s National Wrestling Team. If you’re a trainer looking for ways to get your clients better results, or just someone who is looking to take their own training and physique to the next level, you’ll find it… continue reading.

How would you like to be lean, muscular, strong and athletic like an NFL player? Maybe you weren’t blessed with the athleticism to ever make it to the pros but that doesn’t mean you can’t look like one! If you want to know the secrets to getting jacked like a pro don’t miss this episode of the #RenegadeRadioPodcast with NY Giants Strength Coach, Aaron Wellman. Aaron is in his third season with the Giants following a 20 year career coaching at the Division I collegiate level. He has helped thousands of players get jacked, strong and ready for battle on… continue reading.

In this episode of the #RenegadeRadioPodcast I sat down with my longtime friend, John Alvino. John is one of the most respected and knowledgeable strength and conditioning coaches in the fitness industry. He is also a successful fitness writer, a former competitive bodybuilder, and a veteran of the iron game. We discuss the crazy stuff we used to do in the gym, all for the sake of gaining muscle, and how our training has evolved over the years. John provides some great tips for preventing injuries and enhancing your performance in the gym. He gives valuable advice for anyone who… continue reading.

John Wolf is Onnit’s Chief Fitness Officer, and an expert in unconventional training methods such as kettlebell, steel club, and suspension training. With 15-plus years of experience in the fitness industry, he has worked with rehab clients and athletes of all levels. He moves like Spider Man and can deadlift more than 500 pounds any day of the week. If you want to learn the training methods to help you become jacked, strong, mobile and healthy don’t miss this episode. Scroll down for show notes: Click here to subscribe via iTunes… continue reading.

Some strength coaches and “functional training” guys have a thing against direct arm work. You shouldn’t train bi’s or tri’s because doing so doesn’t help you on the field or develop real world strength they say. Others tell you that training arms makes you look like a narcissistic douchebag. I see this kind of stuff in articles and Facebook posts all the time. In all honesty, I’ve probably said something similar myself in the past just to make a point. The anti arm training brigade says that you should only train for strength or function, looks and aesthetics be… continue reading.

Originally written For Elite Fitness Systems in 2004 When Part One of this article was written a few years ago the focus was on college strength coaches. Unfortunately the unmaking of an athlete begins long before college. It starts at a very young age with uninformed but well intentioned parents. By doing what they think is best for their kids; many parents actually end up destroying their children’s athletic futures. For this story to be complete we have to go back to the beginning. The father of three high school aged boys I used to coach is one such example… continue reading.

This is an old article from 2004, originally written for Elite Fitness.  Since it was quite popular and many of you may have missed it, I figured I would reprint it here today… **** I sometimes wonder if there are any prerequisites at all to getting a job as college strength and conditioning coach. As the owner of my private athletic training company (Renegade Strength & Conditioning) I have had the opportunity to work with athletes from numerous colleges and universities across the country and have witnessed their disgust with their schools strength and conditioning programs. Some athletes, such… continue reading.

In a dream come true I was able to spend my Valentine’s Day at home with my girlfriend eating an amazing dinner, and dessert consisting of homemade chocolate coconut pudding (made with the best protein powder on the market) while watching NBA All Star Saturday Night. Now that’s my kind of Valentine’s Day. I text messaged a few friends and told them to enjoy their price fixed dinners with the crappy holiday menu and that they could catch the highlights on Sports Center in the morning. I used to never miss this event but… continue reading.