Most PTs and coaches have a similar story - sporty kid, either they get into lifting weights and decide they like it more than other sports or they’re not good enough to go very far in professional sports and end up coaching instead. What this means is, more often than not they owe most of their physique and strength to their genetics and long training history, rather than training intelligently. This also means they struggle to get the results, that they’ve enjoyed, for other people who aren’t as lucky.
My story is not like this at all! I was a skinny kid, not naturally athletic, and didn't play a lot of sports. I was always a geek, all about the science. I studied all science A-levels and had offers to study physics and computing at university, an offer I chose not to take up - and sometimes regret (although I’d study psychology if I made the choice today). Instead, after a year as a Software Developer (computer programmer), I opted to join the Royal Air Force as an Air Traffic Control Officer.
Joining the military I had a certain level of fitness but it wasn’t my primary focus. I was, however, keen on mountaineering, particularly rock climbing and I competed for the RAF against the Army and Navy at Sport Climbing and Bouldering for 5 years. This was how I first started to get serious about lifting.
Once I realised that lifting weights and getting stronger made me a better climber I began to do it more and more (to the point where I probably should have been climbing more rather than being in the gym).
I lost a lot of skin in my climbing years!
On completing my first Strength and Conditioning coaching qualification in 2015 I realised that I was probably better as a lifter than I ever was as a climber (I was climbing 7a at my best). From the beginning, I had a focus on the big compound lifts and naturally transitioned to competing in Powerlifting.
More surprising than this transition in my sport of choice was that the thing I enjoyed the most was teaching and coaching others. This also fit perfectly with my inclination towards science, logic, and systems. Once I discovered the world of Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) in the fitness industry I knew I had found my people.
Now, I pride myself on providing an evidence-based coaching service that is second to none. Covering the logistics and technicalities of a long-term periodised training programme, nuanced nutritional support, and the real-world physical and psychological practicalities of achieving optimal results for my clients.
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