TEAM DIESEL
Motto: “Achieving Beyond Potential”
Vision: Developing athletes of all sports utilizing non-conventional training protocols. Focusing on complex, multi-joint, closed-chain exercises promoting strength and explosive power development specific to the functional movement patterns of athletics.
Protocol: Incorporating and modifying—through “Extension of the Movement” and “Movement Under Tension”—all aspects of Weightlifting (Clean & Jerk, Snatches and all transitional exercises), Powerlifting (Bench, Deadlift and Squat), Strongman (Atlas Stones, Yoke, Logs, Farmer’s Walk, Conan’s Wheel, Viking Press, Axle, Tractor Tires), Kettlebell (Conventional and Non-Conventional Exercises) and Grip Strength (All aspects; Crush, Support, Pinch, Levering, Tearing, Bending) to build the complete athlete.
“Napalm” Jedd Johnson, CSCS
Jedd Johnson played basketball and baseball at Towanda High School in Pennsylvania. Later, he played Division II baseball for two years at Mansfield University of Pennsylvania, before taking on strength training as his main interest.
Credentials
Jedd has Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist credentials through the National Strength and Conditioning Association, and is a regular speaker & presenter at the Pennsylvania State Strength and Conditioning Clinic.
The Diesel Crew
In 1999, Jedd and Jim ‘Smitty’ Smith formed the Diesel Crew and began formulating the Diesel Method, a strength and conditioning system involving the incorporation of various training disciplines. The Diesel Crew is now recognized as the leaders in grip strength.
Jedd has authored grip articles for Straight to the Bar as well as numerous grip and strongman articles for the Diesel Crew.
Strongman Contests
- 2003—TPS Massachusetts State Strongman Championships
- 2004—TPS Massachusetts State Strongman Championships
- 2004—Maryland’s Strongest Man
- 2005—Wise Wellness Strongman Contest
- 2005—Saxonburg Strongman Contest
- 2005—TPS Massachusetts State Strongman Championships
- 2005—Maryland’s Strongest Man
- 2006—Stronger Than All II
- 2006—Wise Wellness 2006
Grip Contests
- 2003—Battle for Grip Supremacy
- 2004—Feats with Hands
- 2004—Global Grip Challenge ’04
- 2005—Global Grip Challenge ’05
- 2006—Global Grip Challenge ’06
- 2006—Backyard Bastard Bash II
More
Jedd has put nearly 350 pounds overhead and lifted 400-pound Atlas Stones. He is an IronMind Certified Captain of Crush. He has lifted the 50-pound Blob, pinched two 45-pound plates, deadlifted the Inch Replica dumbbell with one hand, bent the IronMind Red Nail and the Fat Bastard Barbell Co.’s Grand Bastard Nail, as well as several other renowned grip feats.
Jim “Smitty” Smith, CSCS, CFT, USAW
Jim Smith is a co-founding member of the Diesel Crew. Jim is certified through the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) as a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS), the International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA) as a Certified Fitness Trainer (CFT) and the United States (USAW) as a Club coach.
Jim is also an expert trainer who writes for Men's Fitness and the Elite Q/A Staff. Jim has been involved in strength training as a performance enhancement specialist for over 8 years and as a strength athlete for over 18 years. He has worked with athletes from many sports who compete at various levels to improve performance, eliminate dysfunction and recover from injury. He has published articles about his unique training style and innovative methods for many prominent strength and fitness related sites. He is also the authored of three renowned strength manuals.
“Long before I knew Jim ‘Smitty’ Smith personally I was always a huge fan of his work. Smitty and The Diesel Crew have long been at the forefront of the strength and conditioning industry and are continually introducing the rest of us to the most innovative training methods anyone’s ever seen. Whenever I have questions or need an opinion about something training related Smitty is one of a handful of people that I have on speed dial.
Over the last few years I have had the pleasure of getting to know him personally and I can honestly say that Smitty is an even better human being than he is a strength coach; and that’s saying a lot. I’m honored to call him a friend and forever indebted to him for all he has done for me and the entire strength and conditioning industry. I can’t think of anyone that I would recommend more highly and proudly.”
Jason Ferruggia
Performance Enhancement Specialist
Chief Training Adviser, Men's Fitness Magazine
Media Spokesperson, Consultant, Author
“I pride myself on having a top tier organization and that means our Q/A staff is made up of the industry leaders. Smitty has been a invaluable resource on the Elite Q/A team for over 2 years now and his products and knowledge live up to our high standards.”
Dave Tate
President, Elite Fitness Systems
www.EliteFTS.com
“The Diesel Crew website is one of my favorite sites to visit regularly for all the latest grip and athlete training tips and tools. You guys always stand behind your information because I know you have gone through it personally. I implement many of these techniques with my athletes and have always gotten outstanding results. I always recommended your site to other strength coaches and fitness enthusiasts. I can’t wait to see what is next. Keep up the great work!”
Jerry Shreck
Bucknell University
www.varietytrainer.com
“Whether it’s troubleshooting a conditioning program with one of my combat athletes, strategies to help my niece who has cerebral palsy, or ideas to improve my own fight back to fitness (after a bone marrow and stem cell transplant), Smitty is one of the guys I call. And he has always given me an out-of-the-box answer that has helped me immensely. He’s on another level from most in the fitness profession.”
Alwyn Cosgrove
www.alwyncosgrove.com
“Smitty’s stuff is awesome. He is as innovative as they come—but not at the expense of quality training with scientific backing. I can’t say enough great things about him as a coach and a friend.”
Eric Cressey
President, Cressey Performance, Boston, MA
www.EricCressey.com
“Smitty is a top-notch coach and a world-class person. There’s a reason that many of us look to him for innovation as his intellectual curiosity and wealth of knowledge have given him a well deserved level of notoriety for his creativity and know-how. What many people don’t know is that he is one of the most generous individuals you’ll ever meet. Any coach, trainer or athlete who has the chance to interact with and learn from Smitty needs to take advantage of the opportunity. I guarantee you’ll be glad that you did. Thanks for everything Smitty.”
Michael Yuhaniak, CSCS
Johns Hopkins University Wrestling - S & C Coach
www.mikeyuhaniak.com
“I have been working in strength and conditioning for ten years now and in that time I have not found anyone as innovative as the guys from Diesel Crew. Not only do they know how to train to make an athlete stronger, but they also have the rehab, prehab protocols set in place to keep the athlete healthy. Dieselcrew.com should be a top site for every strength professional or athlete.”
Todd Hamer
www.hamerstrength.com
“Jim Smith is definitely one of the ‘top guys’ in the field. He’s relentless at getting awesome results for his clients. As long as I’ve known him, he has never fallen into a comfort zone. He persistently researches and creates new training methods to improve upon the already great results his client’s experience.
I have been a strength and conditioning specialist for over 16 years and I can honestly say that Jim has taught me more unique exercises and unknown training methods than any other strength coach. Just when I thought I saw it all, Jim Smith seems to ‘pull another rabbit out of his hat’ and teach me a technique that blows me away. His creativity inspires mine, and I am grateful to have Jim as a friend and a colleague.
Keep up the great work, Jim!”
John Alvino
Strength and Conditioning Specialist
www.completefatloss.com