The NFL season is upon us and there’s something—or rather someone—that many of the top players have in common: Brett Bartholomew.
Bartholomew, who is the director of performance at the Los Angeles-based gym Unbreakable and the owner of the start-up Bartholomew Strength, has served as the strength and conditioning coach to the league’s best, including 2016 Super Bowl MVP Von Miller and All-Pro tight end Rob Gronkowski. I recently caught up with Bartholomew, whose lessons on strength, speed, and power can be applied to just about any sport or fitness routine. “The principles I use with my NFL guys apply to all athletes,” says Bartholomew. “Strength is strength.”
Fundamentals, Not Fluff
There are all sorts of trendy fitness programs out there but all the scientific evidence points to something called progressive overload. Regardless of what muscle or capability you are trying to build, you need to apply a stressor and then allow for recovery. Over time, as your body adapts, you progressively increase the stress by adding more intensity (weight or speed) and duration (repetitions or time). Gradually increase the stress and then rest. It’s simple, but it works.
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