In a nutshell

I work full time as a doctor, training to be a trauma and orthopaedic surgeon, and balance this with powerlifting, where I have competed to a national and international level. Bodybuilding is somewhat a new venture for me.

I enjoy hard training, but also smart training. The idea here, is to share with you not only my successes, but more importantly my tips for improvement, often learned the hard way, by mistakes, along my journey in the pursuit of strength.

My early years

I was born and raised in Bath, England, and was, from a young age, encouraged to play sport by my dad, ex-Bath and England international rugby player, now turned coach.

I began my sporting career as a gymnast, competing to a national standard before rugby took precedence. By the time I reached 13 years old, I had become a keen judo player. My lifting journey perversely, and unbeknown to me at the time, actually began with me sustaining an injury to my shoulder at 16 years-old from judo, which required surgical repair, and a lengthy recovery process…

The beginning of my competitive career and people who have influenced me

Whilst studying medicine at Bristol University, I joined the well renowned Empire Sports Club in Bristol, former home of Olympic Weightlifting royalty Precious McKenzie, and at the time, owned by ex-lifter Andy Sutor. Actually this was less of a choice and more a necessity, since I was banned from the university gym because the receptionists were concerned for their ceiling below when I used to deadlift upstairs !

Fortunately for me, at the same time each day, a group of power-lifters were also training in the gym. Encouraged by them to try out a lifting competition, which eventually I did, and I have been competing ever since and never looked back to rugby.

In addition to my medical degree, I also completed an honours degree in human musculoskeletal science. My knowledge of anatomy and the human body certainly helped my lifting, but you can’t entirely replace experience with knowledge – for this, I valued the guidance of fellow training partner, Craig Coombes, a top flight powerlifter and multiple record holder.

I also trained in Bath University Gym, and was fortunate enough to do some of my training with Chris Gaviglio (ex-Australian shot-putt team member and at the time, Bath Rugby S&C coach). Chris, (or gorilla as he is better known in rugby circles !) pushed me in the gym and added to my knowledge base. Before leaving the UK and heading back to the southern hemisphere he put me in touch with one of the most accomplished and world renowned sports scientists, Dr Christian Cook.

Dr Cook, is both a medical doctor (endocrinologist – studies hormones) as well as holding a PhD is sports science. He comes from New Zealand where he represented his country in sprint hurdles. After qualifying as a doctor and realising that was not the career path he wanted, Christian became involved in S&C. He worked his way to becoming head All Black S&C coach. He still works for them on a private consultancy basis, however he also works for several NFL teams in the States, is extensively involved in research and lecturing in S&C, was an advisor (specialising in speed and power) to Sport UK leading up to the highly successful London 2012 Olympic games and also works for large companies such as Nike, designing trials for products etc…

I owe a great deal to Christian who closely monitored my training and changed my whole thought processes around speed/power training, competition tapers and percentage programmes.

Over the next few years I attended numerous competitions. This was also a great learning opportunity – a chance to meet new weightlifters, share advice and training programmes. I have been fortunate enough to compete several times along side powerlifting legend, Andy Bolton – the first man ever to deadlift 1000lbs, who is very approachable and allowed me to learn some tricks-of-the trade from him !

More recently

After finishing university at the age of 23, I started work as a doctor in the West Midlands. Living in central Birmingham, naturally I headed for the best-known gym in town, Temple – formerly owned by 6 times Mr Olympia and one of the best body builders ever, Dorian Yates.

Whilst training at Temple gym I was urged by the owner at the time, Simon Fan, to try bodybuilding; he offered to train me. Deciding that this would be a good way to keep in shape in the powerlifting off-season, I took him up on this. 6 months later I competed in my first bodybuilding show where I won first place in the West Midlands beginners category, qualifying for the British Championships held at the Sportex Festival in Manchester. I finished 3rd place which on reflection was reasonable given my diet was only 6 weeks long.

What I’m up to at the moment…

I’m currently training out of Simon Fan’s new gym and business venture, Ultimate Fitness Birmingham, along side many other ambitious bodybuilders.

My aim is to provide you with concise, accurate, and where possible, evidence based information that will help you with your training. Essentially I’m here to be your tour guide around the pen pushers’ BS, and the meat heads’ madness ! I’ll try to maintain a neutral centre ground.

• Medical degree (MBChB)
• Degree in Human Musculoskeletal Anatomy (BSc Hons)
• 10 GCSE, 4 AS, 3 A-levels … all A-grade or above

• British Junior (U23) Overall Champion 2009
• British Junior (U23) U100 Kg Champion 2009
• British Junior (U23) Overall Champion 2008
• British Junior (U23) U100 Kg Champion 2008
• World U100 Kg Teenage (U20) Champion 2006
• British U100 Kg Teenage (U20) Champion 2006

• 100Kg British teenager records (19 and under): deadlift 300Kg, bench press 200Kg
• 100Kg British junior records (23 and under): squat 381Kg, bench press 250Kg, overall total 901Kg
• 110Kg British junior records: squat 400Kg
• 100Kg senior record: raw bench press 233Kg

• Judo Black Belt
• Sports scholarship at University of Bristol
• 2x winner of the MaxiMuscle bodyweight bench challenge at BodyPower Expo (max number of reps on completed based on your bodyweight)
• Gymnastics – 2 gold medals in the Junior British Gymnastics Finals, and a member of the regional gymnastics team for 5 years
• Rugby – U18s: Bath, county 1stXV, and regional 1stXV