Listen up.

I recently realised that when it comes to strength, conditioning and scrapping there are a few guys who I genuinely respect for one reason or another and whose writing I generally trust and seek out.  The benefits of good teaching are not lost on me, my Dad always told me 'learn from my mistakes so you don't have to make your own'.  It's telling that in japanese, 'sensei', often used to mean teacher can be literally translated as 'one who has already travelled the road and can show the way'.  Or something like that.  So, with that said, it's important to find teachers that we can trust to show us the way, especially if we're going to invest valuable resources - not least of which being time - in obtaining their knowledge.

So, without further ado, and at great personal risk of being labelled a nut-hugger, ass-kisser, fanboy, etc. here's Part One in my list of 'Senseis'.

Dan John

The older I get the more Dan John's writing resonates for me.  Sure, the guy tends to ramble a bit and it's not always entirely clear what he's getting at, but when it comes to sensible, balanced advice on training for sports, coaching, older athletes and olympic lifting as well as a different take on life (see Work, Rest, Play, Pray) Coach Dan John is my go to man.  This is a guy who has been down the road and most importantly, is still making that journey as he approaches middle age.  Sure, he's not a fighter, but he knows an awful lot about lifting, getting strong, coaching throwers, improving athletic performance and fitting training in to real life.  When I need motivation, ideas to freshen up training or just some outlines and plans for fitting some training in, I look to Dan.

Jim Wendler

Why Wendler?
1.  He has cool tattoos.
2.  He has a cool beard.
3.  He squatted 1000lbs in his powerlifting days.
4.  He likes the most unlistenable music on the planet (Iron Monkey, Indian,Lord Mantis).
5.  He wrote 5/3/1: The Simplest and Most Effective Training System to Increase Raw Strength.  I had been lifting for nearly 20 years when I read this.  I wish I'd read it 20 years ago.  I now recommend it to anyone wanting to be strong.  All my lifting is based on this.
6.  He wrote this:


Don't fall for that crap that people are peddling on the message boards, in magazines or on TV.
Get your shit in order, and get your training in order.
Start kicking ass, and take out the crap that doesn't matter.
Start doing and believing in the stuff that works, and do it today and forever.
You want science and studies? Fuck you, I've got scars and blood and vomit.
This is a call to arms for some of you. It is for me too.
Stop all the things that make you a pussy and steal your energy.
Get your life back. - Jim Wendler

Nathan Leverton

I thought for a while about putting Nathan in - not because I doubt him, just because I don't want to be a suck-butt.  I have trained on and off with Nathan at Leicester Shootfighters for almost 10 years now.  If I'd been consistent I'd be.... well, better than I am now.  Nathan is friendly, a very good teacher and communicator, intelligent and an extremely good grappler (probably an understatement). But don't just take my word for it...


“I was introduced to and guided through my MMA career by Nathan Leverton. I came to him a few years ago with very little knowledge about MMA and now I fight in the UFC. He is a genuine person who is putting his heart and time into helping me achieve my potential. For all those who wish to learn grappling or any from of MMA, wether it be a beginner or a professional fighter, then Nathan is the man to see. I have not come across better.”

- Andre Winner
UFC Fighter
The Ultimate Fighter Season 9 Finalist

“Nathan Leverton has a deep understanding of submission wrestling and mixed martial arts. this along with his patience and natural teaching ability makes him a great coach. Leicester Shootfighting is a great place for people at any level, from beginner to professional fighter” .

- Dan “The Outlaw” Hardy
UFC Fighter
Cage Warriors World Champion
GCM Cage Force Tournament Finalist

“Nathan is a highly technical and skilled submission wrestler. Added to this he is an excellent instructor with patience and natural teaching ability. He can train anyone at any level from novice to seasoned professional. Anytime I come back to England I make sure to get as much time as possible with Nathan to learn the most up to date and effective moves.”

- James “Lightning” Wilks
UFC Fighter
The Ultimate Fighter Season 9 Winner

“Awesome grappler, great coach, and genuine person, with an open mind to learning, not what it says in the book, but what works.”

- Paul “Semtex” Daley
Former UFC Fighter
Cage Rage Champion
FX3 Champion
EliteXC and MFC veteran.

“Nathan is a great coach and very friendly guy! he knows his stuff and is constantly on the look out to further his knowledge which he is all to keen to share. i learnt a lot from him, and look forward to workin with him again in the future.”

- “Slick” Nick Osipczak
UFC Fighter
The Ultimater Fighter Season 9 UK Team Member

“Nathan’s a good friend and a fantastic coach – his team’s record this year should speak for itself! I always enjoy training with the Leicester shoot guys and girls, and inevitably come away with some crucial pointers to tighten up and improve my game.”

- Rosi Sexton
Top 5 World Ranked Female fighter
Cage Warriors Female World Champion

“Nathan Leverton is not only a brilliant grappler with a great style, he is an amazing teacher that can adapt to his pupils attributes to teach a style that may be very different from his own but much more suitable.”

- Dean Amasinger
The Ultimater Fighter Season 9 UK Team Member

Part Two coming soon...