Starting Strength

"Strong people are harder to kill than weak people, and more useful in general." - Mark Rippetoe

"For pity's sake, Kyle, put on 20lbs."

Two decades ago I was in Army recruit course, and there was a soldier there who was the runtiest, weakest, least fit and most clumsy recruit who had ever passed the medical exam. He also complained a lot. That was me. Ever since then I've had an interest in fitness. Over time this turned into an interest in others' fitness, and I became a trainer. 

As a trainer I have learned that strength is the cup, all the other athletic qualities are what go into the cup. If you have a tiny thimbleful of strength, you cannot do much else, if we turn that into a large jug of strength, you can do a lot more. Not everyone is able to or needs to use a barbell to get stronger, but it is quite simply the most effective tool for strength ever designed. However, most people cannot simply walk into a gym and start doing it on their own, they need some instruction. 

To better learn how to instruct the barbell effectively, I went to Seattle, to the Starting Strength Seminar. Starting Strength is a system of barbell training for novices involving five basic barbell lifts, these are useful in themselves for anyone whatever their age or condition, but can also be a base for athletic endeavours. It was a long trip and I was away from my family and work for the first time, but it was worth it, because the safety, health and strength of my gym members and personal training clients is most important. You all work hard, I want you to work most effectively, too. 

For novice instruction in the basic barbell lifts, contact APT.