THE AASGAARD COMPANY - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- SSC
- Training about 9 Years before Becoming a Member
Aaron Frederick began strength training about 9 years before becoming a member of Starting Strength Austin in June 2020.
Adam Martin has a history training and coaching Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in West Virginia. He began training with the Starting Strength Read more...
I've been working with Connor for almost a year now with the online video zoom coaching. He's been a fantastic coach and I've been able to hit numbers in all of the major lifts that I never thought would have been possible. If you want to get strong and work with an excellent coach from your home gym, please contact Connor.
Alex has been training and coaching in the grappling sports since 2013, coaching barbell training since 2017, and earned his Read more...
I saw Carl for 2+ years and he transformed my training, my attitude, my diet, and ultimately made me a hell of a lot stronger.
He's the business and doesn't f*ck about. This is serious training to get strong and be a badass.
As a current client of Rebecca, I am writing to assure you that she is absolutely the best coach I have ever worked with. Whether you are bulking up or slimming down, trying to improve your health, or just improving your strength, she has the background and the commitment to help you succeed. I first began training with her in 2017, and have we been through it all. I have gained weight, lost weight, gained it back, and over the past year, had drastically lost weight at a rapid pace where I was failing reps at every session. The expertise and guidance through my strength training sessions have always been exceptional. I believe this is because she understands the science of the Starting Strength Program, but she also understands the science of motivation. She's helped develop a new attitude in me, along with more confidence and drive to stay healthy while I chase those big numbers I want to achieve. No matter your goals, if you wish to crush that 500lb deadlift or want to have a better T-score at your next DEXA scan, I am confident that Rebecca will be more than able to help you get there.
Job Titles:
- Coach at Starting Strength Austin
Andrea Mates is a coach at Starting Strength Austin. Teaching strength training with barbells is only the latest in a Read more...
I've worked with several coaches over the years and Jared is, hands down, the best coach I've had. Over the course of five months, Jared helped me work through a major mental block on my squat, adding 20 pounds to my one-rep max. He also helped me add more than 40 pounds to my deadlift and 15 pounds to my bench (both of which are still climbing). He helped me prepare for my first powerlifting meet where I went 9/9 on my lifts. Even more importantly, I've seen Jared work with all types of clients - from elderly clients needing remedial exercises to younger male athletes pulling 500+ pounds. He has the depth of knowledge and experience to help any client.
Connor has been a huge help in getting my training much further through the linear progression than I have managed before. After several abortive and frustrating attempts to run through LP on my own, getting frustrated with getting my form right and then stalling out, working with Connor & StrengthCo has been a huge blessing. Connor is attentive, knowledgable, and encouraging. He'll cue the lifts, manage the programming, and holler encouragement at all the right moments.
Andrew Lewis is a Starting Strength Coach, mechanical engineer, and Brazilian Jiujitsu purple belt. He keeps your results in mind Read more...
I've worked with Jared both in person and online for a few months now. The results have been phenomenal. I hit PRs in every lift, including a 500# deadlift and a 430# squat. Jared is the real deal. Beyond his keen eye, Jared knows programming. He dialed in my workouts to keep me injury-free & steadily adding weight to the bar each week. On top of his coaching prowess, Jared is an all around good guy & a great motivator. Set your goals & Jared will be there to help you see them through.
Anna Marie knows a few things about incorporating strength into a busy and fulfilling life. She is a Read more...
I have trained with Cody for 10 years now. The past 5 years he has focused on working with me on several lifts: deadlift, back squat, bench press & overhead press. Cody has helped me increase my physical & mental strength.
As a master lifter, now at 58, I appreciate knowing that it is still possible to gain strength at my age and not just maintain. Since training 3x/wk, I notice that my mobility to do everyday tasks has vastly improved. When I had surgeries, the training never stopped, Cody modified my programming.
With Cody's help I have had the chance to compete in USAPL & RPS meets.
At one point during Covid, the 1:1 training had to go to online. I really didn't know how that would go, as we always trained in person. I was actually VERY pleased with the online coaching! Being able to see what was correct & incorrect with my form was very helpful.
First, let me get this out of the way: Connor is a fantastic coach! If you want to get strong, work with him. That's it. I was aware of Starting Strength and used to tryout workouts myself, but I didn't get far. Due to Covid-19, I went ahead and signed for a zoom session with Connor / The StrengthCo. Being a skeptic, I wasn't sure if online coaching would work out. In a few weeks, I was able to witness and experience novice linear progression. Wow! What a difference from the regular gym setting! It is hard to explain but having SSC as your coach makes a huge difference in your performance. Connor was patient and understood my strengths/weaknesses, went through novice linear progression in a systematic manner. I had tweaked my back and had bicep tendonitis, but Connor designed a program that worked to alleviate the issues + improve strength at the same time. In a few weeks, I was back at it hitting PRs in every session. My deadlift went from 135lbs to 325lbs in 5 months. He provides a ton of confidence and understands the nuances well on an individual level. I am super lazy and I somehow force myself to show up 3 days a week for online coaching / training. I remember the first session where I said "I don't think I can bench beyond 120lbs", and his answer was "just show up 3 days a week, and leave the rest to me". Again, I highly recommend Connor if you are looking to get strong and try Starting Strength.
I had an online session with Byron as I live in South Africa and I found him to be an excellent coach. He analysed all of my lifts, advised me on how to fix/improve them and even offered me programming advice. Additionally, he was very easy to talk to and he was happy to answer all of my questions.
I have been training with Rebecca for several years. While I am likely one of the gym's oldest female lifters, Rebecca has been able to tailor my workouts to suit my strengths, weakness and physical limitations (including a broken wrist at one point)! Her direction before, during and after each lift is clear, concise and always very patient. She has brought me to a strength level I would have never thought possibly at 73!
I worked online with Jared for about 3 months. I was very new to any kind of lifting and was in the middle of linear progression. I really wanted to make sure my technique was at least not horrible, but there were no Starting Strength coaches in my area. I decided to work with Jared since he was in Denver and I knew I'd be going there every so often.
Online coaching is difficult. But having access to the TruCoach site was a must and very helpful. I was able to submit video of my lifts for Jared to review as well as notes and feedback about my programming and RPE. Jared was very detailed in his feedback and listened to my input on how things felt. He helped teach me how to pay attention so I could feel the good technique. This is important since I don't always have a coach with me during workouts to give immediate feedback.
Byron is an Amazing Coach! I live in the US so all our workouts are online. I can honestly say that through his talented coaching and incredible knowledge I am more physically fit than ever.
Byron is a really good guy with a wealth of knowledge, possessing the ability to solve the problems you want fixed and also to fix a load more you don't realise you have.
Byron is an excellent coach, both online and in person. He sees what is wrong and fixes it. And he puts a lot of effort into the online coaching so you can understand it. I don't think you will find anyone better.
Byron is extremely knowledgeable, very thorough in his approach and a really nice bloke to boot.
From the second I walked through the door, I knew I'd made the right decision. Byron is a great coach.
Byron is a very gifted coach and he has a genuine desire to get to the root of any issues you may have.
Byron is a terrific coach, pleasant but focused, a terrific communicator. He took all three of us very steadily through a workout on squats and then deadlift, fine-tuning our forms with notes and videos. I have experience in the gym but not as a "coach", although I assume that role for my boys. The session was useful for me on a second level as I need to be the one using the cues and form checks to keep the boys on track.
Byron and I started working together 3 months ago with the initial goal of learning how to do the compound lifts correctly so that I could replicate them in the gym - an environment where I was not the most comfortable. In this very short span of time, the results I've seen have been incredible. I have made exponential increases in my strength across all the lifts and am close to doubling my deadlift weight. Byron is very patient and has a holistic approach to training - accounting for many individual nuances, anticipating where roadblocks might come along to slow progress and adjusting the approach to navigate them. As a busy professional, I have an erratic schedule at times so I greatly appreciate the agility that Byron brings to his training approach. The biggest change for me, however, has been in my mindset. I have gone from being very unsure about what I'm doing in the gym to walking in with confidence and knowing exactly how to set myself up each session. I've gone from stressing out about counting calories and macros to tuning into my body and feeding it to fuel my progress in the gym. Byron holds you accountable, celebrates every milestone with you, and he's pushed me beyond what I could have imagined possible when we first discussed my goals in our initial session. I highly recommend working with him if you want to completely change your perspective on strength training.
Justine Coach Ness really takes his time to make a program work for individual athletes. He's there to push us while making us the best person we can individually be out in the field or courts. Not only does he makes us stronger physically but he also in a way develops our mental strength too when it comes to weightlifting and making us lift weights some of us couldn't think we could in years. July 25, 2019, 5:33 pm Reply Charizma Guzman Coach Jared Nessland is an exceptional strength coach. He is very educated on what it takes to support a team in strength conditioning and nutrition in order to get them ready for competition. July 25, 2019, 5:36 pm Reply
Chris was first introduced to the Starting Strength method through Crossfit where he coached for several years before moving to Read more...
Born and raised in Cincinnati, OH, Chris has been a practicing Physical Therapist since 2016 primarily in the outpatient setting, Read more...
I started working with Adam in April 2021 and at the time was 43 years old, 3 kids (I now have 4). I'm a certified public accountant in the Seattle area and have a very demanding day job along with family commitments, but strength training has always been an important and critical aspect of my adult life. I focused on kettlebells for 7 or 8 years prior to trying to learn the basic barbell lifts in 2019. At the time I finally admitted to myself that I needed a coach and reached out to Adam, I had been following the Starting Strength method for about 18 months at that time, on my own, using the SS Blue Book, the PP Grey Book, and SS online resources. I had run a long NLP and then Texas Method with some success, but I had started to run into a wall on all of the main lifts (squat, bench, press, deadlift) and also started incurring some nagging injuries and joint issues (hips, low back). I also didn't really know where to go with my programming. I started seeing Adam in person generally weekly from April 2021 until December 2021 when my 4th child was born, and then we adjusted to less in person sessions and more online training until Adam relocated to Jacksonville in May 2022, and I'm currently an online client. Adam has changed my life. He retooled all of the lifts, dramatically helping me improve my form and technique and helping me really express my increasing strength levels in a more consistent way and providing a better foundation for further improvements. He thoughtfully helped me through the initial hip issues I was experiencing in April 2021 and later a back issue (not related to lifting) in early 2022. He's a great, great coach, whether you are working in person with him or online (both would be ideal I think). He provides excellent coaching cues, he makes programming adjustments at the right time, listens to feedback and will work with you to help you achieve your goals. He also did one training session with my almost 13-year old son, and made a really big impression on him. My son has started to show some interest in the iron game, and it was a really cool experience for me to take him with me to train with Adam before he moved to Jacksonville - another great male role model other than his dad who loves the iron. An exemplar Starting Strength coach.
Christopher Palladino is a Physical Therapist, Starting Strength Coach and the owner and operator of Stronger Physical Therapy, a garage-based Read more...
Jared Nessland is a Starting Strength Coach based in Denver, Colorado and the Head Coach at Starting Strength Denver. Originally from Havre, Montana, Nessland attended Montana State University where he competed as a thrower on the Track and Field team. Previously to SS Denver, Nessland had been coaching and programming training at the Division I level for the past 20 years. He most recently was the Head Strength Coach at Sacramento State, while previously serving as the Head Strength Coach at Southern Illinois University, the University of Montana, and the University of North Dakota. He is one of only 208 Master Strength and Conditioning Coaches (MSCC) in the country through the Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coaches Association (CSCCa). Nessland received his SSC certification in 2013, has been a member of the Seminar staff, and used the SS method with all his athletes (300+ athletes weekly) at Sacramento State. He has worked with all ranges of clientele, from youth to 84 year old clients to numerous NHL and NFL professsional athletes (some of those include: Zach Parise, Jonathon Toews, TJ Oshie, Travis Zajac, Drew Stafford, Matt Greene, David Hale, Matt Jones, Todd Davis, Kris Kuper, DeAndre Carter, etc). He also held the USAW and CSCS certifications from 1999 - 2007. Nessland has previously competed in Olympic Lifting and Powerlifting, and is currently a competitive Open level racquetball player.
Craig is Canada's only Starting Strength Coach. He coaches out of East Van Barbell where he works with a wide Read more...
Job Titles:
- Coach
- Coach at Starting Strength Miami
Dan has been a Starting Strength Coach since 2016. Prior to opening 51 Strong, he spent 8 years in Division Read more...
Dan is the head coach at Starting Strength Miami. After his father introduced him to Starting Strength, and after seeing Read more...
Darin Deaton PT, DPT, OCS, SSC, Cert. DN, CAE Darin is a Doctor of Physical Therapy with 31+ years of Read more...
I've had the pleasure of working with Robert for just under 6mo's now and he has definitely brought back a level of fun and engagement back into my training. For the past year or so I was putting the time in, but not really seeing much in the way of results that I was hoping for. Within a relatively short amount of time, Robert has helped me turn that around. It is also abundantly clear to me that his industry knowledge, responsiveness, and detailed oriented approach are all huge differentiators from other coaches in the industry. Robert has also helped me clean up my form on several lifts where things needed to be tightened up a bit which has also helped with my lifts. Overall, Robert has been a fantastic coach to work with and is a consummate professional in all aspects. Would highly recommend Robert whether you're a beginner or intermediate/advanced lifter looking to take things to the next level.
David M I've trained with Carl twice - first at a squat/deadlift camp, then a 2 hour private session. Both times I was very impressed by his knowledge and perception. I learned a lot particularly during the personal 2-hour session and went home with a much improved squat and an optimised programme that's got me back on the right track. Highly recommended. June 16, 2022, 7:51 am Reply
As a post-novice lifter who trains alone, I felt my squat was going off the rails a bit and my other lifts also needed checking. So I booked a session with Byron. He has a sharp coaching eye, plus the ability to communicate the necessary adjustments clearly and effectively. My squat was sorted quickly, and problems identified and solved with my press, bench and deadlift too. All this, combined with some great programming suggestions and nutrition tips, made the session with Byron the most productive couple of hours I have ever spent in a gym.
Job Titles:
- Coach
- Owner
- Registered Dietitian
Robert Santana is a Registered Dietitian and Starting Strength Coach and owner of Weights & Plates Gym in the Greater Phoenix area. For the past two decades, Robert has developed and refined his knowledge, skills, and experiences through both higher education and practical experience. Robert earned both a Bachelor of Science in Dietetics and a Master of Science in Kinesiology at Western Illinois University. His quest for knowledge and a deeper understanding of the scientific process led him to earn a Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing & Health Innovation at Arizona State University.
He has extensive experience as a strength coach, nutrition coach, researcher, teacher, and competitor. He built upon his foundational knowledge by providing effective nutrition coaching in conjunction with teaching and coaching the barbell lifts through the application of the Starting Strength model of performing barbell exercises to help clients move safely while getting stronger and building muscle. As a firm believer that one must experience that which he or she is coaching, he has served as his own "guinea pig" experimenting with various diets, training programs, and has competed in the sports of Strengthlifting, Powerlifting, and Olympic Weightlifting. His key goal has always been to continuously build muscle, while minimizing fat gain, in a functional and sustainable way. Integrating elements of all the various lifting approaches has enabled him to help clients achieve their body composition goals while becoming more functional human beings.
Robert Santana is one of the BEST Coaches in the Strength & Conditioning industry. His impeccable level of knowledge of exercise physiology, sports nutrition, biomechanics, and strength training technique far surpasses the average personal trainer today. Robert can provide insight on every aspect of your fitness journey and not only teaches you the How you do something, but also the WHY you do something. This is no ordinary come in a get a cookie cutter style workout personal trainer. Robert is a legitimate coach who will show you how your body works. He will show you how to properly build strength and properly prevent injury in every level of programming. One of the finest strength coaches around, who guarantees results the way they were meant to be achieved. I've learned a great deal from him and continue to learn more each day. Highly recommended.
Robert Santana has been my strength coach for the past ten years. Where did the time go lol? Robert trained me in person for three years in CA before he moved to AZ and online for the past seven years.
Before I met Robert, I "messed around" with weights in the gym and I was highly addicted to the stair master, but I never touched a barbell. To be honest, the barbell intimidated me. I had a "bad" knee that would cripple me for a few months after just a simple slip or after running a few steps to make the traffic light. I'll never forget the day that Robert said to me, "Why don't you just squat? I can teach you how." The rationale was to strengthen the muscles around the knee joint to help stabilize it. I agreed and the rest is history - I have not had any further issues with my knee. I'm VERY grateful to Robert for this.
Robert believes that getting stronger is always going to make you look better. His attention to form has enabled me to lift more weight than I ever imagined was possible! If you want an excellent coach, Robert Santana is your guy hands down! You are going to love his coaching style - a perfect combination of patience (even if you are a motor moron lol), creative cues, and smart programming. Hey, I wouldn't have stuck with him for the past ten years if he wasn't the best coach around.
Dr. Robert Santana is one of the best in the industry! He will show you the way you just have to put in the work and trust the process. The high level of knowledge that comes from that man is amazing!
Online coaching with Robert was above and beyond what I expected it to be. Robert is very personable and responsive. He was very positive and always held me accountable. I enjoyed the online communication and how he was able to provide feedback fairly quickly. This is my first week (Jan 2024) training without him and I will sure miss him!
Robert Santana is a Registered Dietitian and Starting Strength Coach and owner of Weights & Plates Gym in the Greater Read more...
Dr. Rori Alter has been working in the fitness industry since 2009. She became a licensed physical therapist in 2012 Read more...
I have been training with Cody for over 2 years. I have made serious gains! I am physically and mentally stronger than I've ever been. We started with the Starting Strength Training program and now I have advanced to Olympic lifts! He is very knowledgeable and creates personalized programs that target your specific goals. No doubt the best trainer!
Frances Dixon Carl is brilliant! He has an incredible ability to notice and correct little errors in technique, and will give you personal cues so you don't keep making the same mistakes. One session with Carl is worth 100 by myself in the gym, in terms of the progress I make. Would recommend anyone to have a session with him, whether you are a seasoned lifter or a complete novice (like I was when I first met Carl). June 7, 2022, 3:52 pm Reply
I'm not a new lifter. Connor has been coaching me, via ZOOM, through a linear progression and I have seen the most gains than I ever have in the years I've been lifting. Whatever your background, you will benefit immensely from a novice linear progression and Connor can successfully coach you through that, from wherever you are. (We work together from completely opposite coasts) He is thorough and consistent in his coaching style and is top notch with his feedback and helping you reach your goals. Don't hesitate to get working with him if you want to get STRONG (er).
Grant Broggi is a Marine Officer, owner of The Strength Co., Starting Strength Coach and a member of the Starting Read more...
I've been working with Connor for a little over a year now. I am a 19 year old student-athlete and collegiate swimmer. I have always been called "thin" and practicing 4-5 hours a day in the pool did not help one bit! I was introduced to The Strength Co and Connor and he has helped me tremendously.
Job Titles:
- Coach
- Founder and Coach of Tavros Fuerza
Hari Fafutis is the founder and coach of Tavros Fuerza y Acondiconamiento, the first gym that specializes in weight training in Mexico. Hari holds a Bachelor of science with a specialty degree in Industrial Engineering form the Universidad Panamericana in Mexico. Since very young, he started experimenting with different exercise modalities in order to improve his health and strength. In 2014 he found out about the Starting Strength methodology, started using it with his own training, and eventually expanded this project into teaching and coaching other people about the system. Four years later he earned his SS coach certification by the SSCA -thus becoming the first SS coach in Latin America- and left his previous job as an engineer/operations manager to start his own strength-coaching business.
Hari is a fantastic strength coach. He's extremely knowledgeable in correct form, body mechanics, and strength programming-both from years of studying the science and from lots of time under the bar himself.
Hari Fafutis is the founder and coach of Tavros Fuerza y Acondiconamiento, the first gym that specializes in weight training Read more...
Heidi Coffman is the former owner/operator of Amarillo Strength & Conditioning in Amarillo, Texas. Once a Starting Strength Affiliate Gym, Read more...
I'm a 48 year old female weightlifting and strength lifting enthusiast from Denmark. I had Carl recommended to me by another coach and in June 2022, I travelled to London and had the pleasure of training with Carl for two sessions divided over two days. We spend most of the time concentrating on the olympic lifts. Carl is a really great coach, he has a sharp eye and quickly identified the things I needed to work on in order to improve my lifts. He communicates in a direct and precise maner which is very easy to understand and he has this "next level" ability to help you get rid of bad habits and perform the lift correctly very quickly. Carl is clearly very passionate about what he does, and it shines through. I'm so happy with the things I learned, and I'd recommend Carl anytime to anyone who wants to get strong and learn correct lifting technique.
Inna Koppel has been a Starting Strength Coach since 2014. She established the first Starting Strength Affiliate Gym on Long Read more...
James Marsh I started training with Carl back in 2015 and couldn't have had a better introduction to strength training. At the time I was struggling to squat much over 50kgs, and within a year I was able to squat 120kgs for a single. His knowledge of the mechanics of the powerlifting movements is exceptional, as is the effectiveness of his coaching cues - he knows exactly what to say at the right time! Can't recommend him highly enough! June 7, 2022, 2:48 pm Reply
I have been an online training client of Carl's for 2 years now. What really stands out is how much he cares. Every time I hit a PR I think he is maybe more excited than me! This passion, matched with deep technical knowledge and a keen eye, make working with Carl really inspiring and most important of all, productive!
Connor is the man!!! Not only is he a great coach, but he's a good friend too. I've been lifting with him on zoom for about 8 months now and my deadlift has gone from 240 to 340 and shoulder press has gone from 95 to 155! I'm 38 years old and have lifted on my own for years and have never had these kind of results until now! He makes lifting fun and he's good at troubleshooting different issues. I Highly recommend lifting with Connor!
Working out with Pedro has been such an amazing journey. Not only is he a great coach relentlessly working with you to perfect your technique but he is also a great person to hang out with! Needless to say a great choice for anyone looking for a personal trainer.
Jeff is a Starting Strength Coach at Starting Strength Austin. Jeff began training with the Starting Strength method in 2020 Read more...
Coach Jeff is a certified Starting Strength Coach who teaches lifters out of The Strength Co., Starting Strength Affiliate Gyms Read more...
I began working with Robert at the start of 2022. I've been "working out" for roughly 25 years, but after listening to several of Robert's "Weights and Plates" podcasts, I now understand that what I've been doing those years was "exercising" and not "training". At 50 years of age, I set a goal of finally trying to put on actual muscle mass, with increasing my overall strength as the vehicle to do so. I found out about Robert through the Rennaissance Periodization website and then went about reading reviews from other clients he had worked with. As luck would have it, my daughter began attending ASU and I was able to fly out to Arizona to meet Robert in person prior to working with him. What struck me immediately was his overall knowledge, breadth of experience, and no-nonsense way of communicating what his plan would be for me should I hire him. After that first meeting, it was a no-brainer that I wanted to work with him.
After close to 9 months of working with him, I am seeing significant strength and size progress which I have never seen over my last 25 years. Following the Linear Progression phase of Starting Strength is working for me, like it has for many and I absolutely love the feeling of becoming, "harder to kill". Robert has a fantastic motivational and humorous way of communicating and knows exactly what and how to say things to get my head where it needs to be.
All in all, I could not have asked for a better coach and mentor to help me down this new strength and size road that I am now walking. I encourage anyone looking for a coach to engage with him if you are looking for a phenomenal expert in the field who can tell you the what, when, how, and why of strength training.
Marvin is Southeast Asia's second Starting Strength coach. His passion for barbell training stemmed from his pursuit to get stronger Read more...
I've been lifting using the SS method for a few months but was aware I had an issue with form on a few of the lifts. Anyway I booked Byron in for a session to go over my squats, DL and press and he was extremely helpful in showing me some of my issues and giving me the tools needed to change things. He took genuine enjoyment from seeing me begin to get certain things and was very helpful in explaining the rationale behind what he was asking of me. Wherever you're an experienced lifter with impressive squat, bench, DL numbers or you're totally new to lifting weights Byron will be an insightful, encouraging and engaged coach. I highly recommend both the strength and training philosophy method he uses and also his coaching skills.
Job Titles:
- Coach at the Starting Strength Houston
- SSC
John Chung has been full-time coach at the Starting Strength Houston gym since 2020. Prior to becoming a coach in Read more...
John Dowdy is a Starting Strength Coach in Boise, Idaho and is the Head Coach at Starting Strength Boise. He Read more...
Pete epitomizes great coaching. He has a ton of technical knowledge but he never overwhelmed me with too much information, giving me exactly what i needed at a pace that allowed me to soak it up. He is professional, takes his job seriously but also has a great sense of humor as you get to know him. He is a humble guy(I never witnessed a moment of ego that you see in so many coaches and fitness experts) with your best interests in mind.
John Petrizzo is a Physical Therapist, Starting Strength Coach, and a full-time faculty member in the Department of Health and Read more...
I started working with Mike out of his garage in August of 2017 after coming off a nagging injury and not touching a barbell for over 2 years. Mike put me through the novice linear progression and in 7 months of three sessions a week took me to great increases in my press and bench as well as from a 90 pound squat to 250 pounds and a 135 pound deadlift to 315 pounds! As a woman over 40, Mike was creative in my programming to keep seeing increases in strength and also gave great insight into other areas of training such as diet, sleep, rest, and stress. After his move to California and I was left to my own devices, the foundation he provided for me has kept me motivated, injury-free, and enjoying lifting heavy almost two years later….with no end in sight. I cannot express how great it is to feel strong and capable and stronger than most men half my age! I highly recommend Mike as a knowledgeable and motivating coach that not only gets results, but makes you truly enjoy the process.
Ashtin Olin Ness has been my volleyball team's trainer for about a year now and he would often coach us before too. He's a great coach, form and a good relationship with his athletes are important to him. He does a great job teaching not only experienced but inexperienced athletes when it comes to lifting as well. He often takes his time to especially watch the freshman as they lift to make sure they are doing everything right as to prevent injury. He pushes us to be not only stronger physically but mentally as well! July 25, 2019, 5:43 pm Reply Kyle Peterson Awesome coach! July 25, 2019, 6:20 pm Reply
Cosch Ness work really well with all sorts of athletes, is incredibly knowledgable, and taught me a lot about the strength and conditioning profession! He helped our throwers at Sac State reach new levels!
Kyoungha Kim is a certified Starting Strength Coach (2013) and a USAW SPORT PERFORMANCE Coach (2010). He has more than 10-year experiences in weightlifting and strength coaching. His trainees include not only laypeople, but also professional sports players. He has been a strength trainer of a professional baseball pitcher of KBO (Korea Baseball Organization) for 4 years, total of 10 or more Korean MMA fighters including 1 UFC fighter and 2 Road FC fighters, and 3 professional basketball players from KEB Hana Bank Women's Basketball Team of WKBL (Women's Korean Basketball League). Recently he also started coaching a professional Keirin player (professional cyclist), and running strength classes and weightlifting classes at his own gym, EAZY Strength, in Seoul, South Korea.
Rebecca has been my Personal Trainer for a little over 4 years. During this time, she has worked alongside me to increase my strength, helped me to be healthier, and to gain more confidence in myself. As I approach the 60-year milestone I want to be strong enough to do my daily tasks and play alongside my grandchildren. Rebecca is very knowledgeable about the inner workings of the musculature system and has even helped me to recover from a recent hip surgery, non-lifting related. Because of her extensive knowledge she was able to provide required modifications to assist in my healing process.
I had the opportunity to train with Pedro in Brussels for 16 months. He's very professional, kind and dedicated. His knowledge of the Starting Strenght method and his attention to detail helped me quickly improve my results starting as a complete newbie. He's constantly supervising the correct technique of the persons he's coaching and their security and safety. His explanations are clear and easy to grasp. He is a great coach, and I highly recommend him to anyone wanting to get strong!
Ruben Coach Nessland is a knowledgeable and passionate strength coach. His teaching skills and programming have arguably had the biggest impact in my development as an athlete. Coach Nessland helped me recover from two lower back injuries when our athletic training staff became stagnant with treatment. He also ensures that novice lifters are learning the correct techniques to ensure maximum growth while minimizing injuries. He is, hands down, the best strength coach I have had the pleasure of learning from. July 26, 2019, 4:08 am Reply Maranne Johnson Coach Ness is a wonderful and very hardworking strength coach. He is very motivating and makes sure his athletes are receiving the best coaching techniques as possible. As a coach, he is always uplifting his athletes to push themselves to surpass their limits. As one of his former athletes, I was able to reach my maximum squat weight as well as my bench press with the help of Coach Ness. I personally believe I would not have been able to accomplish such a high goal if it weren't for him. He is one of the best strength coaches I've ever had and because of him, I am able to attack my weight lifting with confidence! Thank you Coach Ness !! July 26, 2019, 5:43 pm Reply
When I shook Pedro's hand for the first time, I didn't like training and I knew nothing about the starting strength method. Pedro changed all that. In the 6 months we trained together, he showed me that strength training can be part of my self-care ritual and a personal challenge that I no longer want to live without.
Mark Diffley has been involved in barbell coaching for over a decade. He discovered Starting Strength in 2011 while coaching Read more...
Mark Rippetoe has worked in the fitness industry since 1978. He was a competitive powerlifter for ten years, retiring from competition Read more...
Martin Bengtzen Carl is a fantastically patient and helpful coach who helped me learn the lifts from scratch and get to a point where I've now got some reasonable weight on the bar. He picks up on the smallest things to help me improve. Booking my first session with Carl was one of the best decisions I've ever made. June 7, 2022, 2:53 pm Reply
I just signed up with Byron a couple weeks ago, and he's been so awesome helping me with so many aspects of my training and progression. His attention to detail and precision is exactly what I need. He has an enormous amount of knowledge, and one can see his passion for his clients' success. It's clear that he is also on his own path of health utilizing the SS method, which is a great testament to everything it stands for. I'm so thrilled that I found him, and I am excited to work with him in my process to transforming my strength, health, and fitness.
I trained with Mike in person for most of my NLP at The Strength Co in Costa Mesa, and after moving out of state, retained him as a coach for online intermediate programming and coaching. Every Sunday I got thorough feedback on my form with plenty of time to digest the corrective cues, and in the rare instance there was something I didn't understand 100%, he made himself available to explain further and break it down mama-bird style. I got my feedback with programming for the next week's training in a spreadsheet on Slack so that made easy work of tracking progress and I didn't have to worry about forgetting my logbook at home like a caveman.
Job Titles:
- Head Coach at Starting Strength San Antonio, Played Baseball at East Texas Baptist University and Stephen F. Austin Read
I became a Starting Strength Coach in 2013. I coach evenings and weekends, out of my home gym in Yellow Read more...
Michael Jones has been in the Fitness industry since 2016 working with NCAA Football strength and conditioning coaches, briefly training Read more...
My 15yo son and I visited Pete in December, 2019 in Orlando. Incredibly patient, thorough with both of us, as we didn't have any lifting background at all. Extremely knowledgeable, which is what we expected. I have since engaged Pete for online coaching… 4 lifts per week. He's been exceedingly patient with me, and encouraging as I continue to make the same form errors. Improvements were being made, prior to the lockdown. I cannot wait for the camp in Tampa, that was rescheduled for June. Last, if Pete was in Tampa, I would engage him for 1-in-1 coaching immediately, and woukd add my wife, 15yo son and my 13yo daughter to his coaching roster. Strongest recommendation possible.
Coaching with Carl is right up there on my list of ‘best money I've ever spent'. I reached out to him originally for form check purposes as there is only so much self teaching you can do and only so many YouTube videos you can watch and I got so much from the experience that I've continued to seek his advice. He helped fix my squat and has introduced me to the Rack Pull and Pin Press along the way. No question is a stupid question and the support and encouragement you get from him is phenomenal. His credentials are excellent. I can't thank him enough for the help and advice he has given and I would highly recommend him as a coach, online or in person
Nick is the fixer for The Aasgaard Company and Starting Strength Gyms. He also serves as de facto photographer and videographer.
Nick holds a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science from Hofstra University and a Doctorate of Physical Therapy from the Read more...
Nicole Rutherford has been a Starting Strength Coach since 2015 and was a Starting Strength Affiliate gym owner from 2017-2020 Read more...
I just had an excellent 1:1 session last week with Byron and it was excellent. He's a lovely guy and can meet you where you are at and identify issues quickly and suggest changes in a very constructive manner. He really sets you up to make signficant progress and is passionate about spreading the word about SS across the UK (& Ireland where I flew in from).
I've been training solo trying to implement the SS NLP in a somehwat haphazard manner and despite watching all manner of videos and re reading passages from the book was really struggling with certain elements of my setups with all the main lifts. Having Byron identify and help resolve those issues with a minimum of fuss was just fantastic and highyl recommmend him.
Coronavirus may have nixed plans to visit Pete for in-person coaching, but twice weekly online coaching sessions with him have been fantastic. An excellent and supremely patient coach, and very funny guy!
After getting stuck lifting on my own, I turned to Steve for help. I went to Brussels Barbell for an introductory session, and he already gave me some pointers on how I was doing some lifts wrong. He was also very friendly and open about all my questions about everything in the gym and his own progression to becoming a coach. At my request, he also let me sit in for a day to see how he coaches his other clients so that I could learn from that.
I am a 53 year old chap, never been too active, but began the Starting Strength programme on my own via you tube videos 3 months ago. Ive struggled with the deadlift and press so I sought out Byron for help with this. I'm glad I did as I have been doing the deadlift quite wrong, which probably explains my recent back injury. He adjusted all my lifts which has increased my confidence and this will allow me to move forward. For me, the thing Byron understands is the older body isn't the same as a younger one in terms of recovery. He has altered my programme to allow for this and Im already feeling the benefit. Byron was very welcoming and engaged throughout the session and knows his stuff. Strongly recommend for anyone on the Starting Strength programme because if you are self taught, from my experience, you are probably doing some things wrong!
Fangman is no joke, despite his raggedy beard. I've progressed from 3-year novice to 5-year intermediate bar-bro with him. He's helped me correct my technique and pushed me to solid (for me) squats and deadlifts - and now the bench is finally coming along for the ride too. Get you some Fang!
I hired Robert to help me shed some pounds. It was a huge plus that he was a SSC as well. I started lifting with my husband, but that did not ‘work out' lol. If you know, you know.
Robert is very passionate about his work. He was always rooting for me, even when I was not in the mood. He never gave up and kept pushing me. Robert was able to modify my lifts and numbers as I progressed; and was very receptive when I needed a change. Robert is very knowledgeable about all things weights and plates.
He worked with me for 3 years. I was able to shed some weight and also add some weight to the bar. I learned some new things about food and macros to help with my goals.
I told Pete that I had a lot of trouble getting the bar into the correct position due to a lack of flexibility in my shoulders. Just attending one seminar. He showed me how to find the correct position for the bar. Now when I squat I feel more stable and confident. Pete is an excellent coach.
I'm 64 years old and got back into weight training 2 years ago. I made some progress but got stuck on levels where I knew I had more. I joined Connor's class roughly 5 months ago. He started me from scratch, working on proper technique, which I definitely did not have. Fast forward, I have blown through all my short term goals and have re-set my thinking and my goals because of Connor and what I have achieved in his class. If you have some years on ya, it doesn't mean you can't get strong and feel like a kid again. With the right coaching it's all right in front of you. I am psyched for more!!!
I travelled down from Scotland for a consultation with Byron. We covered all five of the main lifts as well as some additional time spent on programming and nutrition. Byron was extremely friendly and fun to work with. He gave me loads of fantastic cues and sorted out issues with all of my lifts. I'd highly recommend anyone make the trip to see Byron regardless of what stage of your strength journey.
I booked a session with Byron because I needed coaching in the power clean and bench press. In the 2 1/2 hour session, I managed to execute a half decent power clean. With the bench, it turned out that I had been gripping the bar too narrow ever since I started years ago. Byron gave me useful cues for these lifts, and also for the press. He took videos of the highlights and sent them to me for future reference. He also gave me good advice about elbow cuffs and shoulder mobility. I will definitely book him again. If you're thinking about reaching out to a starting strength coach, don't hesitate: contact Byron today!
Ryan is Australia's only Starting Strength Coach. He has been coaching and teaching for over 20 years and is the Read more...
Pete goes above and beyond to help his clients. Pete has been coaching me in person for about 8 months, wherein I went from a skinny marathon runner who could barely squat 100lbs to a less-skinny guy with a >300lb squat. Pete does all my programming and answers all my questions (daily questions, really). Even when he isn't scheduled for an in-person session, he'll come to my big PR days. Pete has expertly guided me through both recurrent form issues and programming changes. I highly recommend him.
I have always referred to Carl as a force of nature and a thorough professional. I would go as far as saying that he is the best strength coach in the UK!! His skill is unequivocal. So as far as knowing his stuff, consider that an axiom. He knows it!
What makes him stand apart is that he can apply his skills whilst breaking mental barriers at the same time. At 49kgs of body weight, I never dreamt I could squat 70 kgs. If someone told me that before I met Carl, I'd question their sanity but with Carl think insane, think amazing and think; I should have started strength training yesterday as opposed to I shall!
Over the past year of working with Coach Ness I have gained knowledge on correct lifting techniques along with the importance of taking care of my body. He has helped me develop most of my strength back after suffering a knee injury. He builds relationships with his athletes which is what I appreciate the most. He is the best strength coach I have encountered in my athletic career.
Job Titles:
- Head Coach and General Manager of Starting Strength Memphis
Scott Acosta is the Head Coach and General Manager of Starting Strength Memphis. Prior to working with the Starting Strength franchise, Read more...
Steve Ross was my online coach for almost two years, and he made unbelievable progress with this 56 year-old new lifter both in forms and in weights. I had tried to do the novice progression on my own beforehand, but I made a lot of mistakes and my form was not working. Steve dialed back my weights, reset my form, re-started my linear progression, and then eased me into intermediate programming.
Several things stick out in hindsight. When my overhead press and bench stalled, Steve was able to identify the problem and tweak my programming to get me back to making PRs. When I couldn't figure out the right form on box squats and barbell rows, Steve made videos himself to show me the nuances I needed to pay attention to in order to fix the problems. And, when I had to take a couple of weeks off twice, Steve helped me get back on track with programming to get me back to my top weights as fast as possible.
At the base of it all, despite all the craziness of life and family and work, Steve's online coaching has kept me hitting absolute PRs with much improved for.m. After almost two years I have taken the "self-sufficient" lifter route, but I never would have dared to do so if he had not prepared me so well. For online coaching, I can not imagine how the experience could be any better.
I am a couple of months into my NLP and train in my home gym . 1st few weeks were fine but very soon I recognised I needed help. The SS videos online and the book helped but I wanted to see an actual SS coach. Luckily Byron Johnson who works out of a private gym in Guilford, UK is only an hour away from me. We met up in the gym and spent 3 hrs going over the squat, deadlift, press and bench press. His tips and ques were excellent, easy to understand and remember. He then kindly gave me programming advice for all the lifts for the next 3-6 months. We then went over nutrition and the importance of Protein intake. I really recommend looking him up and reaching out for a form check regardless of were you are as a lifter. It was well worth the money, has given me more confidence to push on and on top he is a great guy.
You couldn't ask for a better coach. Pete knows his stuff and he'll do anything to help you. He literally goes WAY above and beyond what you'd expect from a coach. He's kind and supportive, while also helping you to push and improve. I can't recommend him enough. As a side note, I took a break from Pete and SSC coaching due to a hip injury and it was a huge mistake. Staying with Pete and consistent programming and coaching literally makes all the difference. He's a gifted coach who can help anyone. There's one thing I can guarantee, you won't ever regret having Pete as your coach. Put it this way, I'm so confident in Pete's ability that if you aren't happy after your first month tell me, and I'll refund your money. Call or contact Pete ASAP, you won't be disappointed.
Tom DiStasio has been a Starting Strength Coach since 2013. He is currently based out of Virginia Beach, working in Read more...
Tony Stein is a Starting Strength Coach based in Houston, TX. He enjoys working with people from a variety of Read more...
Trent Jones is a Starting Strength Coach who coaches clients both online and in-person in the Chattanooga area.
Victoria Diaz, a Starting Strength Coach since 2017, began her professional career pursuing fitness in New York. After earning a Read more...
Adam has been coaching me for a few years, and he's awesome to work with. He's super knowledgeable and knows his stuff.
Job Titles:
- Board Certified Clinical Specialist in Orthopaedic Physical Therapy
Experienced physical therapist, board certified clinical specialist in Orthopaedic Physical Therapy, and long-time Starting Strength Coach (2012).
Connor has helped me achieve strength that I never thought possible and in a fun and relaxed, but engaging way. I've engaged in different forms of strength training on and off throughout the years, always feeling like I struggled with my Squat and Deadlift, in particular. I've also had other coaches in the past and was beginning to feel like it was maybe just me and I wasn't cut out to lift very heavy. I found the Strength Co. after reading about Starting Strength and was introduced to Connor after an introductory session with Grant where I tested my strength in various lifts. Connor has been programming for me each week since then, and I've never looked forward to going to the gym quite as much as I have since I've been training with him and the other classmates on my weekly Zoom calls. Connor's cues and his programming have been critical to my success, and I'm now approaching numbers on all my lifts that I hadn't even had as a goal initially. I've surpassed my expectations and everyone at the Strength Co., especially Connor, has too!