#85 - Steve Milles: Five Points Academy

In the 85th episode of The Strength Connection Podcast, Mike and our special guest, the Founder of Five Points Academy, Steve Milles, will talk about his origin story, Muay Thai, the journey of Five Points Academy, and more.

Join us in this insightful and captivating talk! 

In this chapter you will discover: 

(0:50) Introducing our special guest, the Founder of Five Points Academy, Steve Milles @fivepointsacademy

(1:10) Shout out to Ian Huelke @ianhuelke

(2:15) Steve’s origin story

(2:20) Being a team sports guy

(2:30) Moving to Newyork

(2:40) Learning about Muay Thai

(3:05) Shout out to Phil Nurse Twitter: @AjarnPhilNurse

(3:30) Going to a boxing gym

(4:15) Working with one of the best training partners

(5:00) Going to Thailand

(5:40) Fighting for the first time

(6:25) Why does Steve love Muay Thai?

(6:55) The reason why Steve loves the Strong First community @strongfirst

(7:25) Going to world championships

(8:00) Teaching kickboxing

(9:10) Starting Five Points Academy

(9:30) What Five Points Academy has become now

(10:05) Training with a kettlebell for the first time

(10:35) Learning kettlebell from a mediocre place

(11:00) Learning from Pavel Tsatsouline @strongfirst 

(11:35) Shout out to Dan John @coachdanjohn

(11:55) Sending an email to Pavel Tsatsouline @strongfirst 

(12:10) Getting an answer from Pavel Tsatsouline @strongfirst 

(12:30) Taking every opportunity to learn from Strong First

(12:35) Shout out to John Engelmann 

(13:40) Steve’s first experience with Muay Thai

(14:45) Muay Thai is relaxed!

(15:35) An individual sport

(16:00) “Instead of beating people down, if everybody's getting better, then everybody's getting better.” - Steve Milles @fivepointsacademy 

(17:10) “The goal of it, especially when you're working with clients, is to make it as enjoyable as possible.” - Michael Kurkowski @mike_strength_connection

(17:40) Why did Steve not like his first kettlebell group?

(18:00) More about Strong First @strongfirst 

(18:50) The evolution of Strong First @strongfirst

(19:30) Strong First, a legacy

(21:25) Explosion in martial arts 

(21:50) More about Muay Thai

(22:05) The first thing Steve noticed in Thailand

(22:30) Shout out to Angus Buckle

(22:30) Evolution of Five Points Academy 

(24:30) Being broken

(26:10) Starting strength training

(27:20) Using barbells for some clients

(28:00) What did work for Steve?

(29:50) About get-ups

(30:30) How does Steve do get-ups?

(31:35) About training at Five Points Academy

(32:20) Bodyweight workouts

(33:20) Shout out to Dr. Stuart Mcgill @backfitpro

(33:55) Steve’s current training program

(35:00) Shout out to Mike Sousa @sousastrong

(35:35) Steve’s coaching style, then vs. now

(37:20) Keep the people enthusiastic!

(37:50) “We love getting deep down the rabbit hole of the movement and all the breakdowns. But most people want to get stronger.” Michael Kurkowski @mike_strength_connection

(38:40) “If somebody's not hurting themselves, they're safe, and they're improving as they go, then keep moving them along.” - Steve Milles @fivepointsacademy 

(38:50) Youth classes at Five Points Academy

(42:15) Shout out to Patrick Valor Rivera @kru_pat_209 

(43:25) Where to find Steve Milles? @fivepointsacademy