Meet your coach
Experience, judgment, and a plan built with you.
John Richmond is a Toronto personal trainer and strength coach with more than 15 years of study across powerlifting, bodybuilding, and exercise science. His coaching begins with your actual starting point.
photographHow I Got Here
I found strength training at a point when I needed structure and discipline in my life. The habits, consistency, and process harnessed through training shaped more than just my physique.
I’ve spent 15+ years studying training methodology, programming, and nutrition — long before I started coaching professionally. That foundation informs every program I write. From complete beginners who’ve never touched a barbell to experienced lifters chasing new PRs, every person gets a program built specifically for them — from the ground up, not from a template.
I train out of Carpio Strength & Conditioning in Toronto’s west end, and I offer in-home training across the city. Every program is built specifically for the person in front of me — and no two are the same.
Training Philosophy
I practice Powerbuilding — not a compromise between Powerlifting and Bodybuilding, but a genuine synthesis of both. Powerlifting gave us the most rigorous strength protocols we have. Bodybuilding gave us the most sophisticated science of muscle development. I draw from both, applying what’s proven to the person standing in front of me.
My programs follow periodized cycles backed by research. You’ll never walk into a session wondering “what are we doing today?” Every workout has a purpose, every phase builds on the last, and your data tells the story of your progress.
Read more about the methodology on the Method & Thoughts page.
Background
- 4+ years coaching full-time in Toronto
- 15+ years studying strength training, programming, and nutrition
- Specialization in Powerbuilding methodology
- Nutrition programming for body composition, performance, and metabolic health
- Structured, patient coaching adapted to all learning styles
- Works alongside physiotherapists and chiropractors for injury management
- Average client retention of over two years
The results page has what that looks like in practice.