Two years ago I stepped inside the EliteFTS S4 Compound for the first time for Learn to Train 6. I received my prized “Empowerment” shirt with the legendary EliteFTS Squatter on the back, and my first experience as an EliteFTS seminar attendee began. At that time I had just started as a personal trainer at NBS Fitness, and had a 1440 raw total at 181. Fast forward two years, and I’ve completed my bachelors in Exercise Science, received my CSCS Certification, posted a total of 1740 raw at 181 (a 300-pound increase), and was given the opportunity to volunteer at the recent Powerlifting Experience 2.0 Seminar. A lot has changed in the past 2 years, and it all started with that first experience at an EliteFTS seminar.
Learn to Train 6 opened my eyes to a whole new world of powerlifting. My coaches were Steve Goggins, Mick Manley, David Allen, and Molly Edwards. I learned tons of incredible information, ranging from different knee wrapping methods, to better hand and body placement on bench, and most importantly, figured out how to “cheat” on deadlift by pulling sumo! The greatest memory I have from being at LTT6 was having the aforementioned coaches and Dave Tate in front of me watching my deadlift. After receiving a ton of great constructive criticism throughout the day on my lifts, I finished my heavy pull and waited anxiously for Dave to tell me my deadlift wasn’t up to par. Instead, he came up to me and said something I haven’t forgotten, “your setup is perfect, the only thing that will stop you is the weight”.
Words cannot explain how awesome it was to hear a coach like Dave Tate give you that type of encouragement. Fast forward two years, and the same feeling of encouragement came through Clint Darden’s speech at the end of Powerlifting Experience 2.0. Clint talked about being “all in” and choosing the path that will make you the best you can be. I felt like someone was pouring decades of passion, confidence, and drive directly into my soul! These moments are what has continued to fuel my fire for training and coaching since that first seminar in the EliteFTS compound.
Three years ago I began working with EliteFTS Columnist David Allen at his facility NBS Fitness, the combination of his guidance and the knowledge I’ve gained from all the coaches I’ve been fortunate enough to learn from has given me the tools I need to keep growing in my career. I see the values of “Live, Learn, and Pass On” on a daily basis, and my growth is a direct result of what this phrase means. When I stepped inside the S4 Compound for Powerlifting Experience 2.0 as a volunteer, it gave me a whole new look at the coaching process. While it could be easy to say “oh, you got to volunteer, big deal”, it was an experience I wouldn’t trade for anything.
WATCH Tate, Dizenzo, and Goggins Present Coaching Methods from The Powerlifting Experience
When we met in our coaching groups to introduce everyone Friday night, JL Holdsworth addressed our group and said (I’m paraphrasing) “look you guys, if you are serious about training and want to help in powerlifting, find a gym and f***ing ask to load plates, clean, spot; do something and in return you have the chance to be taken under their wing and learn everything you want to know.” JL’s point is exactly the reason I was so excited about the opportunity to volunteer for Powerlifting Experience. I was able to see the interactions between attendees and coaches from a different perspective than ever before. In seeing these interactions I realized something that fascinated me. Coaching theories evolve over time but principles stay the same. The questions that the attendees asked were all answered by the coaches in a way that broke down the principles to ways they could understand from their points of view.
Because of my experiences during the 2.0, I received a “2 for 1 deal” which expanded my knowledge as a coach through different cues such as, “do not lift your head to look at the bar during bench which causes your chest to collapse and your shoulders to internally rotate!” and, “Drive your head into the bar while squatting!”, allowing me to become a better athlete. I furthered my development as a coach by understanding how to answer questions I had never heard before and explain issues I would have trouble explaining otherwise to a diverse group of lifters.
Friendships with attendees were made. Long overdue time spent with my friends on the EliteFTS Team was something I wouldn’t trade for the world. I cannot speak highly enough about what EliteFTS is doing for the powerlifting community and strength sports as a whole. What I can do, is thank them endlessly for what they have done for the sport and for me as I continue to develop in my own journey that started at that first Learn to Train Seminar!
Christian is currently a trainer at NBS Fitness in Memphis, TN. under David Allen who is also an EFS Writer. I have recently acquired my BS in Exercise Science and my CSCS certification. I am also a competitive top-5 ranked powerlifter in the 181 weight class with a total of 1740. Please feel free to contact me via email: 19canto85@gmail.com or phone: 414-702-8625.