Matt: Mike, thanks for sharing with us about yourself in this interview for the 'Between Sets' online newsletter for physical preparation consultants! We really appreciate that and we know our readers are going to enjoy and benefit from the interview! To get started, tell us a little bit about yourself, Mike. What's your background?

Mike: I was raised in the northeastern part of the United States where I developed a healthy appreciation of sport. My interest in improving my performances in Football, Wrestling and Track lead me to the weight room where I was introduced to a power lifter who held national records at the Police Power lifting competitions. My performances improved through training, however, I also suffered multiple injuries in the various sports.
These experiences lead to a further interest in the human body and specifically, rehabilitation. Combining an interest in sport and rehabilitation I attended Northeastern
University in Boston, Massachusetts. Boston being one of the hottest medical communities in the US - I was exposed to some excellent mentors and continued to develop my skills in the rehab field.

Eventually I came to a realization that I was reacting to injuries rather than preventing them and re-ignited my interest in physical preparation.

Matt: How have you taken your previous '16' years in the industry and your more recent years with KSI and blended them together?

Mike: This has been the most rewarding aspect of the journey! Initially when I returned my focus to physical preparation I treated it as an entirely separate entity. In other words, I felt I had to wear two different hats dependent on the situation I was in. Rehab hat when working sports-medicine and coaching hat when in the weight room. Ian and KSI exposed me to philosophies and methods of training that allowed me to simply walk through old paradigms and boundaries, gave me permission to work outside the box so to speak. What I understand now is, the skills and knowledge overlap, can actually be developed concurrently, and very importantly, be developed in the absence of an academic environment. What s more, there are techniques that extend beyond reps, sets, loads and tempos that can have an even more powerful effect on the training process.

This is a field still in its infancy and there are few who have developed it to the level of an art form this is where the next generation of physical and athletic preparation is going. Superior results will be achieved by those who develop skills not only in the physical component of training but in areas outside this domain. The first part of my favorite Jim Rohn quote says it all (but I'll give you the whole quote anyway!) 

All disciplines affect each other. Mistakenly, the man says it is only this area I let down. Not true. Every let down affects the rest. Not to
think so is naive. I believe its this unique recognition, of the development of skills, coupled with unique methods that sets KSI so far ahead of the masses. This blend and perspective allows everyone (coach and clients) to achieve more. For me personally it has been one of the most rewarding for all aspects of my life and the clients with whom I work.

Matt: You're in a unique position to be KSI's Coach Educator! How did this position come about for you?

Mike: This is a funny story and I'll keep it short. In 1998 I started reading Ian s material and received some marketing brochures about a two day seminar being held in a nearby town. I was interested in the two day event. However, what caused my jaw to drop to the floor was additional information about a 3 Day Boot Camp . The cost of the 3 Day Boot Camp was nothing that I had ever seen before! My mindset at the time This guy s gotta be nuts no one has ever charged that kinda dough for a course outside a university! I actually sent Ian an email ( I wish I had saved it!) asking him to justify why I should spend the equivalent of my monthly mortgage for 3 days with him. (he later used that quote in Paycheck to Passive!) In typical Ian form he replied to the email stating something to the effect, you are obviously not someone who this material is meant for . I accepted his challenge and attended the two day event, with the thought I would reserve judgment until after. To make it a short story I attended the event and at the conclusion I was so impressed, I approached him, shook his hand and confessed I was the one who had sent him the email. I also told him I understood why the fee was set for the 3 Day Boot Camp- if his information could impress me in a large group what kind of value could I draw from small group, unlimited access and individualized attention!?

At first he was a bit surprised, perhaps that someone would share that information up front, and then just grinned and said he appreciated the comments. 6 months later I hosted a 3 Day Boot Camp!

Since that time I have attended 2 more 3 Day Boot Camps and 3 Five Day Boot Camps as well as hosted a number of weekend events and specialization seminars.

To answer your question directly, How did I get here? I believe you would have to ask Ian to get the most accurate response. From my perspective, I found Ian and his wife, Teresa, to be the most honest and straightforward people in the industry. The philosophies and methods he has developed have earned phenomenal results in clients all over the world. Because of all of this I have made the commitment to take consistent action, learn as much as possible and be equally as straightforward perhaps this is how the position came about. Besides Ian and Teresa have positioned themselves to where they could get up and walk away from the training table at any time wouldn't you want to know all the secrets?

Matt: Any advice to others who look at what you've done and with the same aspirations in the industry?

Mike: Yes - Be open minded, be willing to be challenged, identify your self limitations, and make a commitment to do whatever it takes to become better than you are now.

Matt: What sort of athletes do you work with?

Mike: The athletes who are committed enough to take action to get better.

Matt: How has the way you train these athletes changed over the past couple
years?

Mike: I m better able to individualize programs to get a better result. The way I do this is by freeing up time through leverage. I leverage time by educating the athletes to make many training decisions on their own. Sounds like I might put myself out of a job but quite contrary by having this approach I can free up more time to offer a higher level of service and achieve a greater result!

Matt: Can you give us an example of and 'old' way of training and a 'new' way of training for you with an athlete?

Mike: The old way of training was to design the sport specific/functional program. In addition use the 3x10 method used by most and a presentation to the athletes that it was my way or the highway . The result of this program design was often no change in the injury rates or
sometimes there would actually be increases! The new way incorporates more than I can share in this interview but the principles of individualization, active and conscientious participation of the athlete, and injury prevention before performance enhancement have been the most beneficial to athletes and clients alike.

Matt: Let's switch gears into how you and your family organize your busy lifestyle. I know you and your wife operate many different businesses and projects. Can you touch on how you're able to successfully grow each of them while maintaining a solid family environment?

Mike: Almost three years ago my wife Rhonda and I made a decision to value our family s time together more than anything else. We would create multiple businesses that would be leveraged and/or passive in their income generation in order that we could free up more time to spend with family and develop additional income streams of the same criteria.

The first goal was to bring Rhonda home from her corporate job. We achieved this in the first year. By doing this we freed up time and we have worked together ever since in creating other businesses that are growing and will allow us to do more while working less. We are a team and work closely together with others of similar goals. We work to incorporate our family in everything we do.

Matt: I've been very excited about KSI University, Mike! Without giving too much away, I know that it's the only opportunity a fellow physical preparation consultant can get the best of both worlds of 'formal' and 'informal' education. Let as much out of the bag as you can and tell us more about KSI University!

Mike: This is one of the most exciting projects I have had the opportunity to work on. As I mentioned earlier Ian and Teresa have positioned themselves very well and as such, they could walk away from the physical preparation industry without issue. However, they are also some of the most ethical and philanthropic people on the planet and see value in sharing the philosophies, methods and techniques they have learned (and not just in physical preparation! Remember what I said about the development of seemingly unrelated skills! )

In the KSI University you will learn the skills, methods and philosophies which have contributed to success in physical preparation, business and life. These are real world lessons. You will be challenged and this may not be for everyone. However, if you make the commitment you will be rewarded. Check out www.coachking.com and click on KSI University for more info.

We are currently putting the finishing touches on the KSI Level 1 which will be an electronic introduction to Ian King s Methods.

Matt: Where do you see your KSI projects and other businesses going over the next 5 years?

Mike: As Ian has said he doesn't like to talk about things before they happen. It may be helpful to understand this there have been philosophies and methods Ian has developed and shared with the public which have already begun to change the face of training all over the world and he has only shared a few. Where do you think we will be in the next five years? I can predict this We will still be doing today what others will be doing tomorrow.

Matt: Do you have anything else you'd like to share with the readers?

Mike: I m really looking forward to sharing more of coachking.com and KSI University with all the readers!!! Thanks Matt!!

Matt: Thanks for your time, Mike! I look forward to following your progress!


Mike Pimentel can be contacted at:

mike@kingsports.net
www.kingsports.net/mikepimentel