Zachary
"Before starting to train with Derek in 2019, I was 210 lbs with a 455 lb squat to depth, a 335 paused bench, and a 600 lb deadlift. While these numbers were good, I was ready to quit powerlifting since injuries were consistently occurring. On top of that, I did not have a healthy relationship with food. As someone who had once weighed 300 lbs, I had a frustrating relationship with food and how to properly utilize macros to build strength and improve physique since increased calories solely meant increased body fat in my mind.
Through Derek’s excellent programming and communication, he made lifting in the gym fun and exciting again. Most importantly, his attention to detail in programming and listening to feedback meant injuries in the gym no longer happened. And even if I got injured outside of the gym, he had me back lifting faster than I ever would have been before. My lifts have steadily increased to over 100lbs gained on all three of squat, bench, and deadlift. Finally, through his education on diet and nutrition, I have seen my physique completely transform and have a positive relationship with food and how to not only utilize it but enjoy it. If it wasn’t for Derek, it is not just that I wouldn’t look like I do or be as strong as I am, I also would not be as healthy nor would I likely even still be lifting."
Sam
When I first started working with Derek, I was a complete gym newbie. Scrolling YouTube and Instagram during the 2020 lockdown is where I first discovered powerlifting. I was so inspired by the strong women I saw online that I googled “powerlifting gyms near me”. I found a local gym who listed Derek as one of their coaches. He seemed the most approachable of the coaches so I mustered up enough courage to cold email him. Five powerlifting meets and many years of training later, and I still am so grateful that I found such a dedicated coach on my first try.
I credit all of the knowledge and progress I’ve gained to his thoughtful and detailed coaching. The programs Derek gave me never felt cookie cutter. My programs were a collaborative effort with him as I grew my knowledge of powerlifting training. The sets, reps, and accessories he prescribed were specifically chosen to support my long and short term lifting goals, whether that was the road to a 300 lb deadlift or certain imbalances in my squat form. Being an engineer, I always want to know the “why”, and every time I asked him why I was doing an exercise, he broke down how that movement contributed to one of my goals.
Our in person training sessions felt like two friends hanging out together and there were many times that we’d go over my rest periods because we were talking too much! He made powerlifting so fun and is worth every penny!"
Matthew
"When I began working with Derek, I had just recently torn just about every muscle in my inner legs and groin a month before. I was doing my own programming and making good progress, but it was too much too fast.
We had to rebuild from the ground up. Derek was slow and methodical in my rehab process over the next 4-5 months we focused on what we could do and not what we could NOT do. Over time we worked together for 2 years, and I believe my power-lifting total increased by 400+ pounds. Before working with Derek, my injuries were so bad I could not even do a bodyweight squat or sleep on my stomach/back for several months.
He is a very experienced and knowledgeable coachthat anyone could benefit greatly from using for coaching at any level.
Lift progression with Derek:
Squat: 615lb -> 672lb
Bench: 300lb -> 374lb
Deadlift: 551lb -> 675lb
TOTAL: 1256lb -> 1686lb
Avi
"I've been training with Derek for about 4 years, and the progress has been incredible. With his help I was able to overcome past injuries and get stronger than I was before. I was able to add +50lb to my total after overcoming injuries. Derek overall is very experienced and knowledgeable on everything fitness. I really appreciated the custom programming and the regular communication. I can't recommend him enough!"