The Reactive Training Systems Podcast

What happens when traditional training just doesn’t work? In this episode, Coach Mike, Coach Kenny, and Christian Maat dive into unorthodox methods that challenge the norm—from training to failure to redefining recovery. A deep, eye-opening look at what it really takes to reach peak performance.

This conversation explores powerlifting, focusing on the recent Sheffield competition, coaching strategies, and competition challenges. Kedric Kwan discusses the role of judges, grip strength, and the balance between technical execution and psychology in performance. Coach Mike, Mel and Kedric highlight the importance of communication, flexibility in training, and the need for both discipline and adaptability in coaching. They also touch on philosophical aspects, emphasizing enjoyment, epistemic humility, and applying the scientific method to training.

Mike and Gaby are joined by Kelly Mann, fresh from coaching at Sheffield, to discuss her experience as the first female coach at the event. They cover the challenges and environment of coaching at such a high level, particularly focusing on Meg Scanlon, and her remarkable performance. They also delve into coaching insights, including managing workflow, boundaries, and personal growth, and the effects of external factors on training outcomes.

The excitement about Sheffield 2025 is still high. Coach Mike, Peter and Gaby reflect on the competition and strategy of the attempt selection for Thai lifter Kasemsand Senumong (also known as Opor).

In this episode, Mike and Ross discuss various techniques and mental strategies in powerlifting training, diving into the importance of intentional training and mental preparation. Ross shares personal stories and experiences from his powerlifting career, including his recent world championship victory. The conversation touches on diverse training approaches, decision-making in training, handling setbacks, and the importance of internal vs external motivation.

To share the excitement about Sheffield this year, coach Mike and Mel sit down with Kasemsand Senumong, also known as Opor Kasem, the current 66kg world champion. Opor shares his training approach leading up to the competition, talks about his powerlifting journey since joining RTS and explains his mindset towards Sheffield. 

In this episode, coach Mike and Mel are joined by Coach Jason Tremblay from The Strength Guys to discuss various approaches to training elite powerlifters. They cover the fascinating coaching methods employed for lifters like Taylor Atwood, Joe Jordan, and Celine Crum, detailing specific strategies for strength, injury recovery, and performance optimization. Jason shares his journey into coaching, his experiences in strength and conditioning, and how these learnings shape his current practices. This engaging conversation provides a deep dive into the intricacies of powerlifting coaching and the collaborative efforts required for high-level athlete development.

The RTS team celebrates a successful year, sharing highlights, key achievements, and challenges faced throughout the year. Mike, Mark, Ross, Gaby, Peter, Mel and Adam attended this roundtable discussion. 

In this episode, Mike, Mel, and special guest Coach Pawel Jurczynski, CEO and co-founder of A-game Athletic Performance in Poland explore his journey into coaching, his innovative training approaches, and insights on coaching top-level athletes like Agata Sitko. The conversation delves into the challenges and strategies of managing training volume, the importance of mental preparation, and the use of advanced tools for assessing and improving performance. Tune in for in-depth discussions on technique, volume auto-regulation, and curated training tips for both athletes and aspiring coaches.

The team engages in an in-depth discussion about the diverse experiences and strategies used by competitive powerlifters. The conversation highlights Ross's journey to becoming a world champion, dealing with setbacks like injuries and travel challenges, mental preparation, and the importance of maintaining a balanced life outside of lifting. They also explore the role of athleticism and varied training, such as including plyometrics and sprints, for overall health and performance sustainability. Additionally, the episode delves into the psychological aspects of competition, the importance of process execution over chasing PRs, and strategies for young and seasoned lifters to manage off-seasons and maintain a long-term competitive edge.