I’m not sure there’s anything the Internet and social media like more than an argument.

And while our parents taught us not to talk about religion or politics in public, for some reason, they forgot to tell strength coaches not to argue about the Nordic hamstring curl and whether it’s valuable or not in a strength and conditioning program.

But luckily, today’s guest did his entire Ph.D. topic on the Nordic, so we can take a deep dive and nerd out as much as we want!

Matthew Ibrahim is a strength and conditioning coach, college professor, public speaker, and author. He serves as Clinical Coordinator and Assistant Professor of Exercise Science at Endicott College, where he also volunteers in Athletics as a Strength & Conditioning Coach and Faculty Consultant.

And this show was really fun because the 1st half is geared towards nerding out on science and application, and the second half takes a deep dive into staying curious and leveling up as a coach.

Quite simply, there’s something in here for everyone – so let’s dive in!

I think the devil’s in the dose, right? People don’t appreciate (the Nordic)…”it’s like an RDL.”

No, it’s A LOT different.

– Matthew Ibrahim

Hawkin Dynamics designs and builds performance hardware and software the right way.

Their dual wireless force plates give you the most accurate, real-time data on athletic performance.

You’ll have the ability to performance test your athletes in a matter of seconds, and give them immediate feedback on their strengths, weaknesses and readiness for that day’s training session.

Their software is designed in house and continually updated to ensure the interface is clean, intuitive and easy to use, so both you and your athletes can visualize what’s going on and how to improve their performance.

And Hawkin Dynamics is built around their customers and provide industry-leading support and training services to ensure you get the most out of their solutions.

With options to lease or buy, coupled with a 5-year warranty, Hawkin Dynamics force plates can take your performance facility to the next level.

To learn more, head over to HawkinDynamics.com or follow them on Instagram @HawinDynamics.

Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Physical Preparation Podcast!

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube Podcasts and leave your honest review. I’d also love to connect via Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram or visit our website.

Thanks so much for your support – love and appreciate you!

The post Matthew Ibrahim on Nordics for Hamstring Health and Staying Curious as a Coach appeared first on Robertson Training Systems.

My friends, it has been A WEEK.

Between new athletes starting, my kids finishing up school, and the short/condensed week, it’s been an absolute sprint every step of the way.

And while I have some great guests lined up for you in the coming weeks, I thought it would be a great time to go back to recent episodes and pull out some of my favorite segments.

Now if you’ve already listened to all of these shows before, GREAT!

There are some awesome reminders in here that I think will hit home even on a second or third listen.

And if you’re new to the show, welcome!

This is going to be kind of like a “Sportscenter Top 10” highlight reel, and I think there will be a snippet or two in here that really resonates with you.

So without any further ado, let’s jump into this week’s show!

Are you a young fitness trainer or coach?

Are you frustrated by the results you’re getting or the lack of resources available to learn the skills you need to be successful?

Are you struggling to get enough clients or wondering how long you’ll be able to follow your passion for helping others?

It’s time to stop the frustration and stop worrying. It’s time to get certified!

If you’re serious about improving your results, serious about becoming a better coach, and serious about increasing your bottom line, then you need the Complete Coach Certification.

In this massive course, you’ll learn:

This certification is jam-packed with everything I’ve learned over the last 20 years of my career.

So if you’re ready to get serious about the results you’re getting for your clients and the impact your programs have on your income, head over to www.completecoachcertification.com to sign up for the Complete Coach Certification course today!

Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Physical Preparation Podcast!

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube Podcasts and leave your honest review. I’d also love to connect via Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram or visit our website.

Thanks so much for your support – love and appreciate you!

The post The Super Duper Mash-Up Episode (Spring 2025) appeared first on Robertson Training Systems.

Whether you’re a die hard college sports fanatic or a more casual fan, chances are you’ve heard about NIL – or name, image and likeness deals – and how they’re impacting the sport.

And beyond NIL, there’s also the simple fact that it’s now easier than ever before to enter the transfer portal and go to a different school, with some athletes doing this virtually every year!

But here are a few things you might not have considered…

Well luckily for you I’ve got my guy Ryan Horn back on the podcast to discuss these very topics!

Ryan is now the director for Men’s Basketball at Indiana University. Prior to this, he’s had stops across the country, most recently at Wake Forest, Wichita State, Drake and West Virginia.

And in today’s episode, we’re going to talk about how NIL and the transfer portal have impacted him as a coach!

When you get to the middle 10 – and this is probably the most dangerous part of my career – when I started to get a little bit of skin in the game, you start to get that itch and feeling that, you know, I got some stuff figured out.

Make sure you’re doing enough so you’re not paralyzed and you can’t do the thing that really makes you special – and we all have something that makes us special as a coach.

When you get fired, your family gets fired. They get fired from their friends, from their school, from their activities, from their friend groups, and from their comfort and safety of their current life.

Gym owners and coaches, have you heard about PushPress?

It’s the best gym management software company and it’s revolutionizing the fitness world.

So check this out: PushPress is built BY gym owners. They understand the ins and outs of running a fitness business because they’re “in the trenches” in their own gyms every single day.

Key products like Core, Grow, and Train are designed to help you with everything from billing and scheduling to lead generation and progress tracking.

Built on the “help first” ethos, PushPress places an exceptional focus on prioritizing client needs, listening to feedback from their community, and using it as the impetus for its ever-evolving, innovative features.

And here’s the strongest plug I can give them – I’ve actually switched to PushPress for all of my clients and athletes.

Getting things set-up and running smoothly is not only easier, but also far more intuitive than many other solutions.

So if you’re interested in learning more, just head over to pushpress.com/ppp.

Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Physical Preparation Podcast!

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube Podcasts and leave your honest review. I’d also love to connect via Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram or visit our website.

Thanks so much for your support – love and appreciate you!

The post Ryan Horn on NIL, the Transfer Portal, and the Evolution of a Coach appeared first on Robertson Training Systems.

I don’t know about you, but I’m ALWAYS thinking about programming and coaching

Even in my time off, I’m thinking about making myself a better coach, or how to better help the other coaches that I work with and mentor.

Now this could be an incredibly extensive list, but what I’m sharing today are 10 of the biggest mistakes I see coaches making TODAY.

Some are age-old and I’ve seen them for the better part of two decades, while others I feel like are far more prevalent in this day and age.

So sit back, relax, and let’s make sure you’re not making one of these 10 BIG mistakes!

The best program designers are great not because of all the stuff they cram into a workout, but because of all the stuff they willfully leave out.

– MR

Are you tired of using clunky, antiquated program design tools like Microsoft Word or Excel?

Are you ready to level up your programming, and make it far more engaging to your clients and athletes?

If so, you need to check out Train Heroic.

I’ve been using TrainHeroic for years now both here at RTS and at IFAST, and I can tell you the user experience both as an athlete and coach is truly second to none.

To learn more and start your free 14-day trial, just follow this link to learn more about Train Heroic.

Not only will you get your first 14 days free, but it’s just $10/month to get started officially after that.

So don’t wait any longer – head over trainheroic.co/rts and start crafting beautiful programs your clients and athletes will love TODAY!

Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Physical Preparation Podcast!

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube Podcasts and leave your honest review. I’d also love to connect via Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram or visit our website.

Thanks so much for your support – love and appreciate you!

The post 10 Programming and Coaching Mistakes YOU Might be Making appeared first on Robertson Training Systems.

A few weekends back, I was working full steam ahead at my “other” full time job in life.

Now most of you know me as a guy who trains people in the gym and creates content like this, with the goal of making everyone I come into contact with better.

But this was my OTHER job…the one where I’m an elite Uber driver and sports dad!

And on this particular morning, with a 90 minute drive to beautiful Terre Haute ahead of me, I had A LOT of time to think about business, training and life.

And this show is what came from all that!

Basically I asked myself a few simple questions:

Well this is what I came up with: 10 keys to help YOU run a better business and make more money in 2025.

Because let’s be honest here – all of us come into this industry because we want to help people.

But in that same breath, many of us don’t know how to take care of OURSELVES from a business or financial perspective.

So I really hope this show helps you out – let’s dive in!

At certain times in life, long hours of coaching in the gym IS your continuing education.

– MR

Hawkin Dynamics designs and builds performance hardware and software the right way.

Their dual wireless force plates give you the most accurate, real-time data on athletic performance.

You’ll have the ability to performance test your athletes in a matter of seconds, and give them immediate feedback on their strengths, weaknesses and readiness for that day’s training session.

Their software is designed in house and continually updated to ensure the interface is clean, intuitive and easy to use, so both you and your athletes can visualize what’s going on and how to improve their performance.

And Hawkin Dynamics is built around their customers and provide industry-leading support and training services to ensure you get the most out of their solutions.

With options to lease or buy, coupled with a 5-year warranty, Hawkin Dynamics force plates can take your performance facility to the next level.

To learn more, head over to HawkinDynamics.com or follow them on Instagram @HawinDynamics.

Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Physical Preparation Podcast!

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube Podcasts and leave your honest review. I’d also love to connect via Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram or visit our website.

Thanks so much for your support – love and appreciate you!

The post 10 Keys to Improving Your Fitness Business and Making More Money in 2025 appeared first on Robertson Training Systems.

Born into an entrepreneurial family in Ontario, Canada, Brandon Cullen was raised with a front-row seat to hard work and high expectations. Pushed by his father to excel both in life and on the ice, Brandon’s grit landed him a spot in the New York Rangers’ minor league system. But when a career-ending concussion shattered his hockey dreams, everything he’d worked for disappeared overnight.

Instead of calling it quits, Brandon turned that adversity into fuel. Determined to create something new, he poured his competitive drive into the fitness world, building the type of gym he wished existed: one focused on aging athletically without the distractions of gimmicks or trends.

Teaming up with fellow pro hockey player Kirk Dewaele, Brandon’s first venture was a CrossFit gym, but they quickly saw a gap in the market for a structured, strength-based system. This insight led to MADabolic: a strength-driven gym built on precision, consistency, and science-backed programming, delivering real results for those who crave more.

And in this episode we’re going to take the lessons Brandon has learned from building his fitness franchise to help YOU build a better business or personal brand.

I got into this industry because I have bit of an ego and want to be known as the best fitness product in the franchising game. The byproduct is we help a lot of people with that. So you have to really isolate what drives you.

– Brandon Cullen

Gym owners and coaches, have you heard about PushPress?

It’s the best gym management software company and it’s revolutionizing the fitness world.

So check this out: PushPress is built BY gym owners. They understand the ins and outs of running a fitness business because they’re “in the trenches” in their own gyms every single day.

Key products like Core, Grow, and Train are designed to help you with everything from billing and scheduling to lead generation and progress tracking.

Built on the “help first” ethos, PushPress places an exceptional focus on prioritizing client needs, listening to feedback from their community, and using it as the impetus for its ever-evolving, innovative features.

And here’s the strongest plug I can give them – I’ve actually switched to PushPress for all of my clients and athletes.

Getting things set-up and running smoothly is not only easier, but also far more intuitive than many other solutions.

So if you’re interested in learning more, just head over to pushpress.com/ppp.

Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Physical Preparation Podcast!

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube Podcasts and leave your honest review. I’d also love to connect via Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram or visit our website.

Thanks so much for your support – love and appreciate you!

The post Brandon Cullen on Niches, Marketing, and Building a Fitness Franchise appeared first on Robertson Training Systems.

Let’s start with a few questions to ponder…

Why are we chasing Internet or social media fame, when the surest way to develop a strong business is by connecting with the family down the road?

How is perfectionism holding you back? Or keeping you from taking the next big steps in your development?

And is a lack of authenticity keeping you from truly connecting with your ideal customers?

Well luckily for you, my guy Jonathan Goodman is here to walk us through all of this – and much more!Jonathan burst on the fitness scene when he originally started the Personal Trainer Development Center (or PTDC)  almost 15 years ago.

And today he’s a published author multiple times over, with his recent book  – The Obvious Choice – dropping in January of this year.

And today we’re going to take the principles he outlines in that book and use them to help YOU grow a more robust and resilient fitness business!

What’s the 1% that makes YOU different?

– Jonathan Goodman

Are you tired of using clunky, antiquated program design tools like Microsoft Word or Excel?

Are you ready to level up your programming, and make it far more engaging to your clients and athletes?

If so, you need to check out Train Heroic.

I’ve been using TrainHeroic for years now both here at RTS and at IFAST, and I can tell you the user experience both as an athlete and coach is truly second to none.

To learn more and start your free 14-day trial, just follow this link to learn more about Train Heroic.

Not only will you get your first 14 days free, but it’s just $10/month to get started officially after that.

So don’t wait any longer – head over trainheroic.co/rts and start crafting beautiful programs your clients and athletes will love TODAY!

Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Physical Preparation Podcast!

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube Podcasts and leave your honest review. I’d also love to connect via Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram or visit our website.

Thanks so much for your support – love and appreciate you!

The post Jonathan Goodman on Internet Fame, Authenticity, and Being Good Enough, Repeatedly appeared first on Robertson Training Systems.

What role should the weight room play in building FASTER athletes?

How do you develop a program that’s built on sound biomechanical principles, without falling into the trap of doing corrective exercises for an entire hour?

And why should you consider adding more “movement days” into your program?

Well if any of those questions peak your interest, you’re going to love this episode with Justin Moore!

Justin is the Director of Performance and head of the Sports Performance Program at BOLT Fitness in Chester, NJ. He’s worked with athletes of all ages and abilities, from eight-years-old to professional football players in the National Football League (NFL) and Olympic-level Ice Skaters and Ice Dancers.

Justin specializes in improving speed, power and sprinting mechanics in athletes while incorporating complex biomechanical principles that optimize performance, movement capabilities, and minimize injury risk.

And in this show we’re going to take a deep dive into his unique approach to training!

The weight-room is absolutely a means to an end. We have to remember that force production is a key bucket, and mass-specific force production is crucial.

– Justin Moore

Gym owners and coaches, have you heard about PushPress?

It’s the best gym management software company and it’s revolutionizing the fitness world.

So check this out: PushPress is built BY gym owners. They understand the ins and outs of running a fitness business because they’re “in the trenches” in their own gyms every single day.

Key products like Core, Grow, and Train are designed to help you with everything from billing and scheduling to lead generation and progress tracking.

Built on the “help first” ethos, PushPress places an exceptional focus on prioritizing client needs, listening to feedback from their community, and using it as the impetus for its ever-evolving, innovative features.

And here’s the strongest plug I can give them – I’ve actually switched to PushPress for all of my clients and athletes.

Getting things set-up and running smoothly is not only easier, but also far more intuitive than many other solutions.

So if you’re interested in learning more, just head over to pushpress.com/ppp.

Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Physical Preparation Podcast!

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube Podcasts and leave your honest review. I’d also love to connect via Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram or visit our website.

Thanks so much for your support – love and appreciate you!

The post Justin Moore on His 5 Buckets for Building Robust and Adaptable Athletes appeared first on Robertson Training Systems.

How do we keep our young hoopers healthy?

What are they doing well in their training? And what can they improve upon?

And what do THE BEST young players do that others can’t or won’t?

If you train young athletes in any sport, you’re going to love this episode with Jeff Aldham!

Jeff is a self-proclaimed “S&C Coach trying to develop hoopers”…and while he’s not wrong, I think that’s quite the understatement.

He’s a guy that’s impacted players at every level of the game – from that fresh-faced middle school kid to the pro who is playing for Team Canada – and has had a tremendous amount of success along the way.

And today, we’re going to take a deep dive into what it really takes to keep your hoopers healthy and on the court!

We NEED variability in our training program because your sport isn’t providing you with that.

– Jeff Aldham

Are you tired of using clunky, antiquated program design tools like Microsoft Word or Excel?

Are you ready to level up your programming, and make it far more engaging to your clients and athletes?

If so, you need to check out Train Heroic.

I’ve been using TrainHeroic for years now both here at RTS and at IFAST, and I can tell you the user experience both as an athlete and coach is truly second to none.

To learn more and start your free 14-day trial, just follow this link to learn more about Train Heroic.

Not only will you get your first 14 days free, but it’s just $10/month to get started officially after that.

So don’t wait any longer – head over trainheroic.co/rts and start crafting beautiful programs your clients and athletes will love TODAY!

Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Physical Preparation Podcast!

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube Podcasts and leave your honest review. I’d also love to connect via Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram or visit our website.

Thanks so much for your support – love and appreciate you!

The post Jeff Aldham on Filling in the S&C Gaps in High School Basketball appeared first on Robertson Training Systems.

Training young athletes is tough these days – especially if you’re in the private sector.

With so many athletes getting training at their high school, playing sports year round, and struggling to stay consistent with their workouts, how can we help them be successful?

Well luckily my guy Ryan Patrick and I are here to help you out!

Two of the biggest issues we in this population are:

So if your goal is to create fast, strong and robust high school athletes, I know you’re going to love this show.

Let’s do this!

I think (high school S&C) is a threat for a lot of coaches who don’t have good businesses, who don’t have really effective training because now these kids are doing stuff.

And so you have to offer something different than just providing a service that they’re not getting.

– Ryan Patrick

Hawkin Dynamics designs and builds performance hardware and software the right way.

Their dual wireless force plates give you the most accurate, real-time data on athletic performance.

You’ll have the ability to performance test your athletes in a matter of seconds, and give them immediate feedback on their strengths, weaknesses and readiness for that day’s training session.

Their software is designed in house and continually updated to ensure the interface is clean, intuitive and easy to use, so both you and your athletes can visualize what’s going on and how to improve their performance.

And Hawkin Dynamics is built around their customers and provide industry-leading support and training services to ensure you get the most out of their solutions.

With options to lease or buy, coupled with a 5-year warranty, Hawkin Dynamics force plates can take your performance facility to the next level.

To learn more, head over to HawkinDynamics.com or follow them on Instagram @HawinDynamics.

Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Physical Preparation Podcast!

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube Podcasts and leave your honest review. I’d also love to connect via Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram or visit our website.

Thanks so much for your support – love and appreciate you!

The post Ryan Patrick on Speed Training Mistakes and the Allure of Big Weights appeared first on Robertson Training Systems.