My training style has always been unique. Not unique in the sense of rare or out of the ordinary, just different. I always valued being athletic so I enjoyed giving people opportunities to test their athleticism.
I spent 7 years on bodybuilding specific programs. This helped me appreciate and understand isolation, position, form, resistance profiles, etc. In the past 2-3 years I have spent more time studying biomechanics and understanding the fundamentals of human movement. Although I have a passion and love for bodybuilding I think there is a need for more varied movements.
I KNEW I WANTED MY TRAINING TO REFLECT THIS.
Through out the years I have also appreciated strongmen, feats of strength or other generally impressive “functional” movements and understand that as we move through life we need our bodies to function in various ways.
The problem I was having was seeing people, and even myself, commit so far into these different camps (bodybuilding, Crossfit, powerlifting) and then trying to get 5 years of work done in 2. Beating themselves up for a result they were satisfied with at the time, but short term. Mind you these people were either low level competitors (a few and done), or even non-competitors.
I HAD TO ASK:
WHY ARE WE NOT TRYING TO INCORPORATE A COUPLE STRATEGIES BASED ON PROVEN PRINCIPALS, INSTEAD OF RELYING ON ONE METHOD TO GET US THERE?
Some not even knowing where “there” really was for themselves.
When it comes to general population, we are having a hard time getting people into the gym, PERIOD. So why are we creating these weird constraints of training practices?
As a trainer I want to expose you to movement in general, not just a few movements or make you feel like you can only work out a certain way.
For the general population we don’t need to be the biggest guy, the strongest guy, the fastest guy, or most coordinated.
We need to try to be a few of those guys all at once. We need evolve.
WE ARE THE FACILITATORS OF OUR OWN CREATIVE EVOLUTION.
– Bill Hicks
There are many methods to working out and truly you should do what youre most attracted to because if not you will not likely keep up with it.
There is plenty of seasons to change but we usually have a “style” we like but I realized we can enjoy and implement multiple strategies and still get results. I can take principals from the many methods I have learned over the years to then create programs that work to improve your aesthetics, performance, coordination and better proprioceptive (body) awareness.
These things gain importance as we age (we age a lot faster than we would like to assume or admit). Ask your parents.
After training for 4 years incorporating bodybuilding, functional training and sports performance in a variety of programs with various types of client. I realized I need to create something around this concept. I wanted to attract former athletes, people who want to explore more movement, those who want to challenge themselves with more than just weight or time, or even people who have never worked out before. To show them you can also experience this training with some time and effort.
I slowly started to realize that as I learned more I could use my community, their results, feedback, and best interests to drive great programming.
SO I DID.
All of that, and a long weekend hunting down “the name” with my girlfriend Chelsea, we were able to create the beginning of:
VOLITION
All credit goes to Chelsea for finding that name. What a rush that was when we realized that was the one.
Volition is the kind of name people say wrong on purpose.
It’s mostly out of laziness from learning what it actually is, but some of it is because they don’t wanna respect it either. Just because it doesn’t have FIT, GYM, TRAINING, SCULPT, BODY, etc.
I couldn’t do it.
I wanted something different.
Something that sticks in the minds of who understand it. Also who uses ‘V’ words? I am trying to make this stand out on google search, lets get real.
So the programming is the brain, the control center, but the branding, man, that is the SOUL of this company.
SOME PEOPLE WILL DOWN PLAY BRANDING BUT FOR US ITS OUR WHAT, WHY, HOW.
Volition means WILL. Which we all need in the face of our responsibilities or else they just don’t get the care they need. It also holds special meaning in psychology as the cognitive process of deciding on and committing to a course of action.
Further explanation is not necessary on why that is a total gem.
Especially, when you consider the fact I had to make the decision to create this, step out on my own and start being vulnerable as a trainer and an individual.
IT SPEAKS TO ME AS MUCH AS I WANT IT TO SPEAK TO YOU…
It also speaks to how I was raised. The reasonable expectation of assuming your responsibilities head on and putting your best foot forward when you do. Not because it’s the “right thing to do” but rather it’s the best thing to do for YOU. It’s the kind of selfish we all like to nibble on.
As a trainer I understand we come preloaded with passion for fitness that a lot simply overlook, or are under exposed. Luckily, I get to expose people, push them, see their potential and watch them take action towards it. That is pretty powerful and that is exactly our mission. Not just recognizing your potential, but acting in FAVOR of it.
We will always care to provide quality training and instruction, but we will also consider the fact there is so much more to all of this than just the gym. We want to do what we can to help you create a lifestyle that support the habits we learn together and we will continue to get better at doing so.
We definitely will not be for everyone, but we are definitely for anyone, WILLING.
I look forward to talking to you all more about what we do.
