Why Gym Training Alone Won’t Make You Great at Your Sport.

Given the nature of my coaching style, I often work with clients who want to improve in specific sports or activities—whether it’s CrossFit, martial arts, surfing, or tennis. Many come in expecting that gym training will directly translate to better performance in their chosen sport.

The truth? It usually doesn’t—at least, not directly (with the notable exception of CrossFit, where training is the activity).

For most sports, there’s very little you can do in the gym that will make you a significantly better player. Why? Because skill is the single most important factor in excelling at any sport.

Imagine taking a Mr. Olympia or a Strongman Champion and putting them on a football field, in a boxing ring, or on a tennis court. Would they beat a professional or semi-professional player? Probably not. But would they outperform someone at their same skill level? Absolutely.

This highlights the true value of gym training: it gives you a competitive edge. It builds strength, endurance, mobility, and resilience—qualities that can enhance your ability to learn and execute skills in your sport. However, the most direct way to improve at a specific activity is still to do that activity.

So, when clients expect gym exercises to mimic the motions of their sport, they’re often surprised to find that’s not the approach I take. The goal of gym training isn’t to replicate the movements of your sport—it’s to prepare your body to learn and express the skills needed to excel in it.