When Ben Bruno was struggling to recover from back surgery, he worried that he might never be pain free again. A doctor’s back pain boot camp not only put him on the fast track to a full recovery, but also demonstrated the power of lifting weights and showed the importance of a winning mindset. Determined to learn everything he could about training, Ben went into a self-described “meathead” phase and applied for an internship with legendary coaches Mike Boyle and Steve Bunker. 

Ben was surprised when his overdue application got accepted, and soon he was training everyone from high level athletes to general population adults and kids’ sports teams. After several years of learning the ropes, Ben struck out on his own and moved to LA. There he began training NBA and college basketball players, and developed a principles-driven coaching approach that applied just as effectively with entertainment A-listers and anyone wanting to become stronger and more resilient. 

In this episode, Ben shares: 

• How a doctor’s back pain boot camp changed his life and career path
• What his first coaching gig with Mike Boyle and Steve Bunker taught him about the value of people skills
• Which filters he uses to focus NBA players’ offseason training when he only has a few weeks with them
• Why creating a list of values or principles should be a must for every coach
• Which 3 questions he asks every client, and why actively listening to the answers is so important 
• His stance on using olympic lifts with tall athletes or NBA players
• Programming for tall athletes 
• Developing your training philosophy 

Find out more about Ben’s training services on his website and via his Instagram feed.