Not too long ago (July of 2009 to be exact) I was introduced to a company called EliteFTS. I was searching the internet for information on building strength and improving technique. I weighed a mere 200 pounds and was cycling 5 days a week approximately 22 miles a day to commute to work, rain or shine. I was lean, yet I was not strong. I wanted to get into weight training and decided to join a local big-box gym.

One of the first things I ordered from EliteFTS was a 4 DVD set entitled The Westside Barbell Seminar , along with a poster entitled “Someday I will…” Looking at that poster I felt like the little kid sitting on the box looking at the bar; 5 plates per side seemed way out of reach!

Someday I will

In this DVD seminar Dave Tate (CEO of EliteFTS) covered the basic template of the Westside method of training and took the participants through the program step-by-step. Finally Dave took the students into the gym for hands-on training with the basic lifts, including the Box Squat, Bench and Deadlift, along with the proper assistance exercises to increase strength in these lifts. At first, most of the information was overwhelming. They were using equipment I had never seen before including a Monolift, specialty bars, Glute/Ham Raise, and the Reverse Hyper, to name a few. Slowly, I began to integrate some of the methods into my training routine. Returning frequently to the gym, as well as the DVDs, my lifts started to improve. I began box squatting (to a bench) for the first time, deadlifting and pressing. I used my cell phone to record my lifts and reviewed the footage nightly after my training, constantly looking for ways to improve my technique.

Sure enough, my lifts started to go up. Little by little, I was able to put more weight on the bar and handle heavy weights for my assistance work. Slowly I began to be one of the stronger guys in the gym. Yet I was also aware that I knew very little about the sport of powerlifting and needed to surround myself with other lifters who were stronger than me in order to move my weights even higher.

After further searching on the internet to my surprise there was a gym in my local area that had the specialty equipment I was looking for and, more importantly, the environment that would get me stronger. So I joined.

Entering Total Performance Sports for the first time was intimidating for me. I knew that that this gym was the real deal and that I would find people who “walked the walk” here. Above the storage cubbies were lots of trophies that were earned by other gym members. Competition was the furthest thing from my mind. Would I be able to hold my own and learn here? I was not sure, yet I kept showing up and participating in the different training days that were held each month and trying my best. It was a pleasant surprise to find that most of the bigger and stronger guys at the gym were also some of the nicest guys as well.

At one training day Murph taught me how to get off my toes in the squat with a few different cues like “spread the floor” and “lift your big toe up in your shoe before you squat” and sure enough I hit a 50lb pr (personal record) with a 365lb box squat.

Continuing to train consistently, practice technique, attend the training days, and talk to other gym members, my lifts continued to improve and I hit some new PR’s, including a 405lb raw squat, 315lb bench and 495lb deadlift. I was getting stronger! As the weights grew, so did my passion for training and the learning that went with it.

One day in Oct. of 2010, as I was leaving the gym, Murph was standing by the door and he told me that was a position available at the gym. This was an honor to me and made my day. Later during an interview with Murph, he explained that the gym was moving to a much larger location and that they needed some help getting the new gym ready to open. I said that I would be glad to help.

Upon entering the new location I was excited at the sheer size of the place. 30,000 square feet! The previous spot was 7,000 square feet. This was almost 4 times the size! There was old equipment in the gym. Lots of dust and dirt, bad flooring, old paint, no lockers, no bathroom stalls, not even a counter on the front desk. Murph told me that he would open the doors on Dec 27th! This was only about a month away. There was lots of work to do.

It was great to see everyone pitch in to get the gym ready. Members with full time jobs would randomly show up to help paint and do whatever else was required for the day. And sure enough, on Dec. 27th we were ready to open.

This was the beginning of my internship at Total Performance Sports. I was given an “Intern Manual,” which covered the TPS method of training clients. Also I was instructed to get my certification as a fitness trainer through ISSA. Between studying, shadowing other trainers, working at the front desk, continuing to improve the gym, and my own training, my schedule was FULL! Even though I was so busy with all the new things in my life, I was happy to be able to pursue something that I am passionate about.

Some of the videos put out by EliteFTS continued to be an inspiration to me. These guys were multi-ply lifters and I wanted to do what they were doing. I began learning to use a bench shirt and briefs for squatting. Using the gear allowed me to handle weights that I would not have been able to handle raw. There is a lot of technique involved when using gear and I was beginning to be coached on how to lift using equipment.

After some work I was able to Press 405 in a bench shirt and squat 495 in briefs. My body was beginning to learn to handle the heavier weights. Training in gear can be very taxing on your body in the beginning and beginners should have more experienced lifters around to spot and coach.

In March of 2011, Louie Simmons of Westside Barbell announced that he was running an onsite certification seminar in his methods. Up until this time, I was using the Westside template to the best of my ability, yet knew that there was more to learn. The cost was close to $2,000 and spots were filling up fast. I took a leap of faith and signed up. Depleting a good chunk of my savings, I drove to Ohio and spent a week there learning and training with Louie and some of Westside’s best lifters.

To be continued next month.

Until then, say to yourself “Someday I will…..”. Finish the sentence and do something about it.

Wishing you the best in your training,

Russ Smith CFT

WSB Certified