What to do if you have graduated as a personal trainer?

Discussion in 'Health and Fitness' started by LeftHookLarry, Jun 19, 2017.

  1. LeftHookLarry

    LeftHookLarry New Member

    I am a personal trainer with over 15 years of experience in the industry. I felt that when I left the classroom, my options were limited. Many current PT graduates may also feel the same way. In contrast to my experience, new personal trainers are not spoilt for choice. Fitness has become one of the leading industries, social engagers and diverse subjects. Not only do personal trainers have the opportunity to exploit fitness communities but also online fitness communities. A fitness professional can reach so many more people and so many more places. However, to truly succeed as a personal trainer in the today's climate you need to become a jack of all trades. Personally, I decided to embrace different forms of fitness that not only bolster my CV but keep me engaged in my profession. Let me tell you more about my experience with martial arts.

    I was a young fella bombarding through the streets of Liverpool, eating a banana and visualising a omoplata on the biggest guy at my BJJ class. I had been attending my local MMA gym for a month and I felt very good in body but also excited to do something that is strenuous and potentially dangerous. I truly believe that without MMA, I would not have entered the personal trainer industry. I never had the concentration to engage in a 40 minute workout on weight machine I needed something to chase. Wether this was a mile in a pool or blue belt to contrast with the opulent white of my Gi, I needed to chase something.

    MMA gave me the drive to chase my optimal fitness. I did not want the arms of a bodybuilder but I did want a strong core. I did not want to do leg day but I did want a low centre of gravity. There are workouts that could improve these assets of my body. For example, I wanted to be more impactful in my movements especially when I was attempting to enter the pocket of my opponent during sparring before tracking back on my less dominant foot. A friend of mine, also a personal trainer told me about plyometric exercises. These exercises stimulated the twitch fibres within your muscles so you can be impactful with your movements. I swapped for the boxing gloves for the box jumps. After 2 weeks of plyometric exercises, I noticed a difference in the speed and certainty of my movements. This is just one instance were a niche fitness routine positivly impacted my MMA obsession.

    Now I attempt to create diverse fitness routines for a number of clients. While working out of my own gym in Bootle for Origym. I teach boxing classes, plyometrics, strength and conditioning as well as your standardise fitness routines. I believe that new exercises engage a person in their fitness for longer. Without my obsession with MMA, I would not have been multi-lingual in the practices of fitness. I will carry on learning unique ways to optimise an individuals fitness and the catalogue of martial arts is an enabler of my obsession. Long may it continue.
     
  2. Van Zandt

    Van Zandt Mr. High Kick

    Like you, I'm a certified personal trainer.

    I'm also a certified sports physical therapist, Pilates instructor, yoga instructor, and about a dozen other [insert names here] instructor.

    The key to success in any competitive field is to find your niche and become the very best at that one thing.

    Mine is flexibility training and biomechanics of kicking. Sure, there are some great coaches out there. But I don't want to be "a" coach, I want to be "the coach."

    Find what you excel at, then focus on it.
     
    Monkey_Magic, axelb and SWC Sifu Ben like this.

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