Tribute to the Good Guys

Everyone Needs Help Sometimes

I recently came across a cool interview with coach Robert Dos Remedios. Now, it would have been just another interview I read to get some cool new training information from a highly respected coach and just check out what Dos has been doing lately, but this one was different.

He mentioned me!!!

Haha.

Here is what he said:

“I also get to hang out with many of them several times a year at the Perform Better Summits….people like Mike Boyle, Gray Cook, JC Santana, Robb Rogers, Todd Wright, Jason Brown, Mark Verstagen, Brian Grasso, Jim ‘Smitty’ Smith, Jason Ferrugia, the list really goes on and on. Believe me, if I listed all the people have helped me and my training in some way just from over the past year the list would be 100 deep!“

If you also remember, Dos did a review of AMD:

Here is why this is cool.

First, I respect the hell out of Dos. His book, Power Training, is a must read and there are very, very few coaches who train as many athletes as Dos in any given day. And his athletes love him. He just commands respect.

Secondly, to have a respected coach reference you or your influence – it is a big deal. At least to me. I make strength training products that I think are really unique. In fact, there aren’t others like them anywhere. Sure some seem similar, but mine are different. I never wanted to create something that was already done. I wanted to be unique and innovative.

Trainers and coaches understand that and that is why they have purchased these products over the years. Now, don’t get me wrong, the money is cool, but not really what I’m after.

I want the respect!

This is something very hard to come by in this industry. An industry that is flooded with new trainers everyday. If you can get the respect, you will have everything.

It is not about the money.

It is about, can you provide useful, thought-provoking ideas to help coaches and trainers do their job better. Now anyone can just say, do this for a set of 12, or do this exercise, but it is much more than that.

Why are you having your clients do THAT exercise? Why THAT rep range? That is something many trainers do not understand.

Do you continue to seek out the latest information and latest training to help your athletes or your clients be better, be pain-free, live healthier lives?

So here is my point and why I am so honored that Dos mentioned me in his interview.

Don’t go for the money, go for the RESPECT! If you get the respect, then you will win, you will create a legacy. Like Gary V. says, “You will be remembered! How do you want to be remembered?”

Also, don’t try to get your respect by copying other people. Don’t try get your respect by putting out junk. Because you know what, it won’t work.

Get your respect by being original. Get your respect by going to the seminars. Get your respect by reading the manuals. Get your respect by changing lives and helping people reach their goals.

Because all of the good trainers in the industry KNOW who is full of shit and who is legit.

That is the truth.

With that being said, I want to quickly list a few people (there are many more) who have helped shape me to where I am today. I know I will leave people out and probably will come back and add to this list. These people are legit and you should read everything they write, buy all their stuff and go to all their seminars.

They are all on my personal Rolodex and you should get to know them quick!

Top Strength Coaches

Just a Few of the Good Guys Who Have Shaped My Training Philosophy and I Respect (You Should To!)

Jedd Johnson – for his never say die attitude and always trying to get that last rep. Jedd you were there from the beginning and are one of the only ones who “stayed” brother.

Buddy Morris – for his no powerpoint presentation, presentation – he first introduced me to accommodating resistance at Juniata. The discovery and innovation started there.

CJ Murphy – for his goatee and his loyalty. His athletic preparation using strongman protocols really opened our eyes.

Jim Wendler – his strength of character, no BS approach and his never-ending search for the meaning of life. Gave me one of my first chances. A good friend and a great dad.

Alwyn Cosgrove – for his courage, strength of mind and strength of character. Alwyn did one of the Diesel’s first interviews from his hospital bed. His Periodization Bible made everything so simple to understand.

Mike Robertson – one of the most giving, humble, helpful, smart trainers in the biz. Mike, along with Eric Cressey and Bill Hartman, changed the industry in my opinion. They redefined the role of the strength coach and their holistic approach showed EVERYONE that the answer might not be as simple as you think. Quality products, great information and smart as hell.

Eric Cressey – he just told me he is rededicating himself to education. He has a stack of text books he is reading to bring up his knowledge and his ability to train athletes. That is legit, that is real and that is how you get respect. Mike and he started with Magnificent Mobility and now they both have an essential library of products that you cannot do without.

Juliet Hanley – her never being satisfied personality, is only second to her caring for others. One of the smartest (she’d never admit it) trainers in the industry.

Mike Hanley – form, form, form. Mike is without a doubt the picture of a good trainer. He is dedicated to perfecting all realms of fitness, powerlifting, kb’s, bodybuilding, FMS, nutrition and many others – I mean the list goes on and on – so he can use this knowledge to better help his clients. That is the key, never be satisfied, continuing driving, continue learning – NEVER QUIT.

Ross Enamait – this guy’s got the respect. Great trainer, strong as hell, very humble. When he puts something out, people read it, they watch it, they listen. It is that important.

Joe Hashey – he continues to innovate and really inspire people. If you want to feel important, be a friend of Joe’s. His Bull Strength manual has been getting tons of praise and he is getting better and better.

AJ Roberts – one of the nicest (loudest snoring) guys in the industry. The cool thing about AJ is, he can teach you how to squat and SEO the shit out of your blog. AJ takes care of his friends.

Jason Ferruggia – has the “in the trenches” knowledge that only comes with training 100’s of athletes over the course of many years. Someone who challenges the norm and doesn’t care about what everyone thinks is popular. He trains his athletes to get results, his way. And Jason has influenced many of today’s successful trainers in one way or the other.

John Alvino – one of the honest guys in the industry. He gets into the real training and doesn’t get much press, so I wanted to let everyone know what he’s about. He’s also a nutritional expert and has changed many lives.

Joe Defranco – the WS4SB changed the game. Its simplicity allowed trainers to understand the balance of movements and provided them with a key programming structure. Plus, Joe is a good friend, cool as hell and kills it with all of his athletes.

Zach Even-Esh – I remember getting a call from Zach many years ago and we found out that much of our training was very similar. Zach’s been a great friend over the years and has a passion that many lose as they train clients day in and day out. Never lose that fire, never lose that passion!

Steve Cotter – this guy is ridiculously strong, powerful and amazing to watch. His perfection and mastery of the kettlebell is something to behold. Steve is also someone who is humble and is always pushing the envelop for what is possible with mobility, fluidity of movement, power and strength.

James Smith – “the Thinker” was instrumental in the creation of my Chaos Manual (my thesis). I remember like it was yesterday, having countless emails going back and forth with James while I was reading Supertraining and Science and Practice. I would formulate my ideas and how they applied to the development of strength, speed and power and he would either validate them or “correct them” all while improving my understanding. He was very patient and very brilliant.

Again, if I missed your name, I’m sorry. I am getting old and forget many things. I will get your name added 🙂

Did I tell you I recently did pull-ups in the orangutan cage?

Note: There are a ton of you good strength coaches and trainers out there who a killing it. Going to the seminars, reading everything, training tons of people but your blog doesn’t get many hits or you can’t get any articles published. We want to hear from you. Send us your articles and guest blog posts and we’ll feature you here on Diesel. We want to help you! We care about your success!

Here is the original interview from Dos.

Dos Remedios Interview.