Q: Mike, give us the rundown of your background. How did you get into strength and conditioning, as well as rehab? What degrees and/or certifications do you have?
A: I originally got started in strength and conditioning in the summer of 2000 when I was an intern at Ball State University. I’d been a lifelong athlete, and also enjoyed spending time in the weight room as well. When I got to hang out around athletes who love training all day long, I knew I’d found my ideal profession.
With regards to rehab, I always have a hard time saying I’m a “rehab” specialist because I’m not a physical therapist, athletic trainer, etc. I spent three years working in a chiropractic rehabilitation setting, which is where I really started to develop my understanding and philosophy towards corrective exercise. That has simply continued to grow, as I feel like rehab is just a logical regression from more “normal” training.
As far as degrees and certifications go, I have a Masters of science in sports biomechanics, I’m a certified strength and conditioning specialist through the NSCA, I’m a USA weightlifting club coach, and I’m a Russian kettlebell certified instructor as well.
Q: What is your personal athletic background?
A: As far as athletics go, I played virtually every sport growing up. Basketball, volleyball, baseball, soccer, and golf – you name it, I played. I went to a small high school, so football and wrestling weren’t available, otherwise I probably would’ve gotten into those as well.
I grew up in the country where there weren’t a ton of other kids around, so athletics were always something that I enjoyed.
Q: What is your favorite lift and would you mind sharing your best/current numbers, or your favorite strength-related achievement?
A: Starting out, the deadlift was my favorite lift because it was what I excelled at. I love the aggression, and I always felt it was the purest test of strength.
As I continued training, however, I really started to love the squat. It was a tougher lift for me, from a leverage and psychological standpoint. I studied it as much as I could, and over time, my squat really shot up. I still love to deadlift, but I had a newfound respect for the squat and what it can teach you.
I haven’t competed for almost 5 years, but my best lifts in competition were a 530-pound squat, a 335-pound bench press, and a 535-pound deadlift for a 1400 total.
Q: Tell us a little bit about IFAST, your training facility.
A; It’s the gym that Bill Hartman and I created here in Indianapolis. We felt as though there were no high-quality training facilities in the area, and we wanted to open something of own.
Today, IFAST services fat loss clients, athletes, and everything in between.
Q: Take us through a typical day for you, if there is such a thing.
A: I’m not sure anything is “typical” anymore!
Up to about a year ago, I was in the gym anywhere from 10-14 hours per day. If I could find down time that’s when I’d blog, write articles, or whatever.
I’m still coaching, but not quite as much as before. The focus has shifted to trying to grow our business, which includes fun stuff like developing systems, marketing plans, managing the staff, etc.
I’m also working to totally re-develop my personal website, and I have a huge seminar coming up in December in Vancouver, so that’s taking up quite a bit of my time as we speak.
Q: You’ve written for EliteFTS before, what is your history with the company?
A: I started reading about Dave, Louie and the Westside approach when I got into powerlifting in 2000. After a year of mediocre results in my powerlifting meets, I decided I needed to learn from the best.
I went to a Westside/Elite seminar, and was forever changed. I had a new found understanding of how important technique is, but maybe more importantly, creating an amazing training environment and surrounding yourself with other great lifters.
I’ve written for EFS for several years now because I love giving back to the lifting community, and hopefully, this position will allow me to do even more of that!
Q: What are the highlights and lowlights of the rehab field?
A: Again, while I may not be qualified to comment on “rehab” as a whole, I can say that the entire corrective exercise movement has gotten a little bit out of control.
In all honesty, corrective exercise is just smart training. My good friend and physical therapist Charlie Weingroff often says that rehab is training, and training is rehab. I couldn’t agree more.
Q: What is the biggest misconception in training today?
A: Corrective exercise is NOT just foam rolling, activation exercises, and a bunch of other crap that people want you to believe. Corrective exercise is figuring out what the weakest link of any lifter or athlete is, and addressing it within their training. Foam rollers and activation drills may be tools that we use to achieve those objectives, but it’s definitely not the only thing.
Q: As far as rehab and corrective exercise is concerned, what is the most horrific injury you’ve ever worked on?
A: I’ve helped people recover from herniated discs, ACL tears, SLAP tears, and most of the big/prominent surgeries.
One of the most difficult things I’ve done, though, was help someone pre- and post-op through a total knee replacement. She didn’t take great care of herself, so the surgery and subsequent recovery was not fun.
Q: If you could give one single piece of advice to lifters, what would it be?
A: Too many people out there are suffering from pain and/or dysfunction that shouldn’t be. At the very least, a better understanding of how your body works can help you add pounds to the bar by improving your posture, alignment, and recruitment patterns.
Never stop learning about the human body; the more you learn, the stronger you’ll become, and the more resilient you can make your body with regards to preventing injury.
Q: Despite your immense field of knowledge, on your own website you insist that you are not yet an expert. What does that statement mean? Who is an expert in your eyes?
A: Funny story– the other day I was on Twitter and someone “followed” me. He claimed he was a 21-year old fitness expert.
Think about that for a minute. The only thing I was an expert in at the age of 21 was my supreme knowledge of drinking game rules and regulations! And this guy claimed he was already a fitness expert?
Please.
I think an expert is someone that just has ridiculous control over a topic. Listen to Stuart McGill talk – he’s an expert on low back pain or dysfunction. Dr. Donald Shelbourne is an expert on knees. Louie Simmons and Dave Tate are experts on strength training and powerlifting.
I’ve only been in the field for 10 years, so there’s no way I’m an expert by that standard. I may know a thing or two, but I make it a goal to learn something new -or deepen my knowledge on a subject- every single day.
Q: What do you think you’ll be bringing to EliteFTS?
A: I hope if nothing else I’ll bring a different perspective to the table. There are plenty of strong guys and gals on the site, but what if I can help them get stronger or have less pain when they train?
I think that’s my unique angle. I’ve worked with some really high level guys in the past and had great results, so I’m ready to take it to the masses and see if we can make a difference with how people move and feel.
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This is great! Mike’s going to be a great addition to the team.
Congrats MR!
The reason Mike is good is because he doesn’t claim to be a expert. He continues to listen. learn and practice from others.
Perfect example of what it takes to be knowledgable and finally an expert.
Good job EFS
Great addition! It was a grand idea to add Robertson to the team.
Anytime Robertson talks, people listen. Humility is a sorely under-appreciated quality. When you think you know everything, Then, you are “Done”.
this is an awesome edition mike is awesome!!! great job guys!!