Athletes

“Brendan is an amazing trainer and person, I have never worked with a more professional and brilliant coach. His approach to strength and conditioning has been the breath of fresh air I have been looking for and even after a few months of his coaching I am feeling definite improvement’s in my Mixed Martial Arts game. I have been so impressed that I have asked Brendan to be the conditioning coach for my team.

Mark “Spenna” Spencer
Team Fulinkazan – Head Coach
Professional MMA Fighter”

“Working with Brendan this year has changed my views completely on the use of strength and conditioning workouts for fighters. The dynamic and explosive exercises as well as the mobility exercises have vastly improved my strength within my sport and has even helped to rehabilitate the injuries I have. If you are a fighter and are not using the techniques and training methods that Brendan teaches, then you putting yourself at a disadvantage in a highly competitive sport! If you want to be in tip top condition and compete at the highest level then you need to train with Brendan.”

Danny Mitchell
Current British and European
Welterweight MMA Champion,
British Unlicensed Boxing Champion

“Brendan has been an amazing influence for me on my journey towards becoming a prominent professional British fighter. His advice concerning correct nutrition specific to my own needs, as well as his tips on conditioning, have helped me become a more successful athlete and have helped me to win a British Title in my chosen sport. I still use Brendan as the strength and conditioning coach for my own gym and will continue to use his advice and training methods as my career progresses”

Will Burke
British Mixed Martial Arts Champion

Although I haven’t been in Durham all year, the weights programmes I have done have always been a lot more interesting than in previous years but still challenging enough to feel like you’re getting a lot out of the sessions. They have also been much more varied so you feel as if you’re getting an all round improvement in strength. For someone who usually hates doing weights, I have enjoyed doing the programmes that you have set, and have also woken up aching the next morning so I know they are working!

Emily Taylor
GB Rowing international
and current U-23 world medallist

“The fitness I have done this year has equalled if not bettered anything I have been put through before in cricket. The programme improved again from last year in it’s specificity to cricket, enjoyment factor and technical prowess. All aspects of a cricketer’s physical make up were addressed in the programme and were shown to have improved throughout the two terms of training we endured. Everything from the technical side of Olympic lifting in the gym, to speed training on the track, were covered with great care and knowledge.

We were tested at four points throughout the training period to assess our strengths and weaknesses. The tests provided an insight into the areas in which we were strong, and also the areas in which we needed to focus more attention to. The tests showed me that my fitness levels have improved over the course of the year and this has most definitely helped me during competition on the field. This year’s programme has improved my strength, power, speed, aerobic endurance, flexibility and inevitably improved my performances on the cricket field.”

Paul Dixey
Kent County Cricket Club
and Durham University Centre of Excellence

 

 

 

 

 

 

The program and training I have received have massively helped me in my comeback from injury. After not being able to do any upper body training for 4 months the variety and specificity of the sessions has helped me to regain and build on the strength and power needed for my rugby.

My program has helped not only with the essential power elements in the main muscle groups needed for rugby but also in other areas. The variety of the exercises and the design of the program mean that I use a lot more muscle groups than normal whilst improving massively on my core strength, balance and flexibility. All of these are key assets for my game and can often be overlooked in training programs.

The program is also stimulating and challenging eliminating any boredom or tedium that you sometimes get and the attention to detail in developing and adapting the sessions is a great help. Overall, the detailed knowledge and expertise I have received has been invaluable in helping me recover from injury and then massively improve my conditioning and fitness, helping me achieve higher standards of performance.

Ben Maidmen
Newcastle Falcons 2008

I have found the Team Durham Strength and Conditioning very useful this year. The programme is well structured and varied, and is specific to rowing. I have made some good improvements as a result of this and I feel that these have contributed to my success this season, including being selected to row for GB at the World U23 Championships. The support from the S&C coach has been outstanding.

Henry Chin
GB Rowing International

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The strength and conditioning coaching we have received over the year has been top quality. It has given us the edge over our competitors on the rowing scene, at university and international level alike. The Olympic lifting technique has been transferable to the rowing stroke. We have also improved physiologically which has given us the confidence that we will deliver in race situations. In addition to improving our rowing performance, we now have a greater appreciation for conditioning as a whole and the role that it plays in everyday life. Thanks!

Frances Fletcher
GB rowing International

The strength and conditioning programme has been highly beneficial and has helped improve my performance. I have been selected for the Great Britain Super League for the second year running and also for the up and coming England U21 test matches against Scotland.

Loren Sherer
England Hockey U-21 International

The strength and conditioning coaching this year was really good, it was specific to me in a lot of cases and there was always the opportunity for one on one sessions. My lifting technique has improved a lot and I have really moved on physically this year as a result.

Nick Fearnhead
GB Rowing U-23 International

 

 

 

 

 

 

As a result of the strength and conditioning programme I have seen a massive improvement in my performance, it has helped me become stronger and faster which has been really noticeable.

Charlene Cheung
GB Canoe Polo International

The training schedule that the cricket academy was a vast improvement from the previous year. All aspects of the programme were made cricket specific and improvements were very visible from an early stage. The cardio sessions were short and highly intensive, which was in keeping with the explosive nature of the modern game, while the dynamic aspects of the sessions included change of direction, and stop start movements have proved very helpful with my own game, in so far as it aids fielding immeasurably.

The weight sessions were also highly specific and the power aspects were not only surprising enjoyable, but also beneficial and the results were clear for all to see. The winter programme was highly beneficial towards my season and feel in the best shape I ever have going into a new season.

Chris Paget
Derby County Cricket Club
and Durham University Centre of Excellence

My S&C programme has been helpful to me over the year as it overlaps with the key ideas the rowing coaches are trying to get across on the water. Brendan has worked with the rowing staff to ensure the programmes he makes are relevant to the time of the year and the current aims of training. The weights schedules have not only helped me overcome various injuries to my back, but also progress forward and improve my techniques and lifts. The effects have been most obvious in increased strength, and use of, my core muscles, which has increased my boat speed (especially off a start line).

Anthony Hurley
GB Rowing International