Strong First Approach to Life - Josh Capazorio Feature

Joshua Capazorio is a Biogen-sponsored Strength & Conditioning coach and the co-owner of the Performance Purist gym based in Bryanston, Johannesburg.

Josh has forged a reputation as one of South Africa’s top strength specialists and performance coaches based on his unparalleled understanding of the human body and his mastery of weight training in all its forms.

Joshua Capazorio practices what he preaches

He is an accomplished powerlifter and represented South Africa at the World Powerlifting Championships in 2010 and 2011. He is also a multiple Men’s Health South Africa Best Coach Award winner.

He has successfully trained athletes from multiple sporting codes and at every level to help them achieve their best. His clients include elite powerlifters, Olympic weightlifters, CrossFit athletes, boxers and MMA fighters, to name just a few.

When it comes to getting advice on building a stronger body and mind, you’ll be hard-pressed to find anyone more experienced or qualified.

Expert tips and advice

We chatted to Josh to tap into his vast industry knowledge and experience to share his best tips and advice.

In my experience, most people don’t manage their expectations upfront when they start training with weights or enter the gym. Whether you are attempting to be a better athlete or simply get in better shape, mastering the fundamentals will build a better base for success.

What are these fundamentals, you may ask?

  1. Train frequently on days that you can replicate weekly. It doesn’t mean much if you can train six days a week one week and then none the following week. Rather learn to win doing two sessions a week, every week for years, rather than lurching from dramatic highs to deep lows.
  2. Up-skill yourself within the gym – study online, hire a coach, join a club – do whatever you can within your budget and available time to learn. Then never stop learning!
  3. Be patient. This one is tough for me too. However, I make striving for consistency an all-consuming pursuit as I work to become more patient.
  4. Enjoy the ride. Enjoy it all – the learning, the experiences, and the highs and lows. Take it all in. This is life and when you demand greatness from yourself, you must still take the time to take it all in.

Strong first is applicable to everyone because strength is never a weakness. Don’t get me wrong – I am not gung-ho on overdoing the strength as an athlete but the weaker you are in certain positions, the quicker you break down.

A stronger runner breaks down last on the long run. A strong swimmer loses shape later in the pool. A strong cyclist can maintain the ideal position on the bike for longer. And being strong for everyday life improves your quality of life. Strength gives you more freedom and makes life easier by enhancing movement efficiency and creating carryover functional strength that applies to every aspect of your day-to-day activities.

The strong-first approach is also evidence-based. We know for certain that building strength in everyday life and sports matters and works!

I incorporate supplements in my life in the same way I advocate to all my clients. I include Biogen supplements in my daily routine to support my healthy diet and add convenience to my life.

For example, I know that my morning routine isn’t going to change because I am not going to wake up any earlier than I already do. That’s why I rely on Biogen Iso-Whey Premium to get in a beneficial dose of protein when I wake up to support my recovery and muscle growth without all the time needed to cook breakfast.

I also use supplements in other areas of my life where I know I cannot drop the ball, like performance in the gym and my recovery between training sessions, especially when I don’t have the time to do the hard yards in the kitchen due to my 16-hour workdays.

To meet these requirements, I use Biogen Creatine Monohydrate to support my training and Biogen Amino Power+ to support my training and recovery.

Incorporating these products into my broader eating plan ensures that I remain consistent in my nutrition, which is something I value above all else.

Everyone should include the basics of athletic movement in their training plan, no matter their sporting discipline.

These exercises and movements include jumping, running, compound movements like squats, deadlifts and bench presses, as well as bodyweight movements, explosive plyometric exercises that work across multiple movement planes (forward and back and side to side), with at least 1-2 metabolic conditioning exercises per week – these can include activities such as sprint intervals, sled pushes, or battling ropes, as examples.

Always have a goal to give you something to work and push towards and a plan to get you there. Make sure that your goal is something that scares you. That will ensure you commit to achieving it and hit every training session.

I value consistency – I train every day no matter what is happening. I believe that training consistently is more about building your character than it is about the physical aspect. If you focus on becoming a better person through the process, training consistently should define your character more than it defines your physical outcomes.

Always seek help from experienced and qualified professionals, and never be scared to ask questions – there are no stupid questions.  And don’t be scared to set big, scary goals that intimidate you. It will light the fire to relentlessly chase it!

Follow Josh on Instagram @Joshua_105 and learn more at performancepurist.com.