Matt Warner, Author at Pinnacle Performance

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Challenge Your Biases

July 2, 2018

“It is the mark of an educated man to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it”. This quote, often attributed to Aristotle, contains what I believe to be one of the fundamental keys to developing a training philosophy as a coach (or indeed, any development as a person). Challenging our biases as coaches – testing our views of the training world – is as uncomfortable as it is essential. If you’ve heard the name Frans Bosch before, you’re one of the few who have. You also probably have one of three opinions: He’s brilliant He’s crazy He trains runners, so he MUST be out of his mind (…said every powerlifter ever) Bosch has been of the most polarizing figures in performance training since the early 2000s. While he is very strong on biomechanics and anatomy, his approach to weight training has caused massive controversy. He tosses many core

A New Study on Back Pain in the Army

May 7, 2018

New Insights On An Old Problem A significant study on back pain in US Army soldiers was published this month. Results show that lower leg injury dramatically increases a soldiers risk for back pain. This study reinforces the idea that substantial alterations should be considered in fitness training for soldiers and treatment of injuries. The authors investigated the relationship between past lower leg injury (LLI) and the development of back pain. They examined whether lower leg injury would increase the overall risk for back pain compared to soldiers with no injury. They also studied whether the speed of back pain development was different between previously injured soldiers and healthy ones. Lower back pain (LBP) is one of the top 3 reasons for lost duty days in the Army, and lower leg injury one of the most prevalent injuries in the Army. That makes this study doubly important. The Results The

Proof That Good Coaching Matters

February 17, 2018

There are very few absolutes in the world of performance and nutrition. The most universally hated phrase (“well, it depends…”) is also almost always the most truthful answer, much to the frustration of the person asking the question! There is one study however, that shows without doubt exactly how much having a good coach changes an athlete or soldier’s ability to perform and resist injury. I want to cover it today because it’s so crucial. It was written by a fantastic research team, including possibly the world’s foremost spine and back pain researcher Dr. Stuart McGill, who I count as a mentor. Given the high incidence of back pain in the military, this is especially important. Stu is an amazing person, and I’ve learned more from him than I could possibly put into words. He is also an extremely rigorous scientist, and I love this study because it shows. Designing

Focus Creates Success.

October 14, 2025

Discipline Is Forged, Not Found

August 26, 2025

Stop Waiting, Start Doing

August 19, 2025

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Pinnacle Performance

5 days ago

Choose One Thing.Most people don’t fail because they lack talent or drive. They fail because they spread themselves too thin. They chase ten goals at once, get halfway to each, and finish none. The human brain isn’t built for constant context switching. Every time you change direction, you lose energy and momentum. Focus is what separates progress from frustration.If you want results that matter, you need to narrow your field. Pick one mission and burn everything else down until it’s done. That doesn’t mean ignoring the rest of your life—it means putting your attention where it counts most.Start by identifying the single goal that will move everything else forward. Maybe it’s mastering your sleep so your recovery, strength, and focus all improve. Maybe it’s locking in a consistent training schedule that becomes non-negotiable. Find the one domino that knocks the rest down.Once you have that target, protect your focus like it’s your job. Schedule it. Block distractions. Silence notifications. Put down the phone. When it’s time to train, you train. When it’s time to prep food, you prep food. No multitasking. No half-effort. The mind works best when it’s aimed at one thing.Here are several tactics to help you get there:1. Time block your priorities. Create specific windows for your most important work and guard them.2. Say no more often. Every “yes” to something less important is a “no” to what matters most.3. Start small but go deep. One focused hour beats three distracted ones.4. Finish what you start. Incomplete work drains focus. Cross tasks off and move forward.Focus isn’t glamorous. It’s quiet, repetitive, and often uncomfortable. But it’s the difference between wishing for change and building it.Stop scattering your attention across a dozen half-built plans. Pick one target. Commit fully. Build the skill of finishing. Because once you learn how to direct your focus, every other goal becomes possible.#Focus #success #strength #fitness #pinnacleperformance #manhattanks #mhk #littleapple ... See MoreSee Less

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Pinnacle Performance

4 weeks ago

The vast majority of our female clients come to us with hesitation because they fear getting hurt.Well-programmed strength training, executed with solid technique has the opposite affect: it PREVENTS INJURY.Is the gym loud and chaotic? Yes. But that doesn't mean it has to be a savage jungle. Instead, think of the gym as a controlled environment where you can teach your body to move well (with the occasional gorilla or hyena in the background...don't intimidate them and they won't intimidate you).On top of quality movement patterns, you can load slightly heavier and heavier weights that will slowly grow more muscle. Not the bulky kind. The useful kind...so you can walk without pain, carry groceries without stopping, have better balance, and even if you do fall, your muscles, ligaments, and bones will be more resilient and less likely to break or tear.Compare these outcomes to the quality of life of someone who doesn't lift and you'll understand why "being weak is dangerous."#strength #fitness #womenwholift #workout #sports #consistency #success #manhattanks #mhk #littleapple #pinnacleperformance ... See MoreSee Less

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Pinnacle Performance

4 weeks ago

Life has a way of interrupting our best intentions.That's when we need our habits the most.Whether you lift for the endorphins, the daily incremental gains, or just to have some time for yourself, make it a priority so that even the craziest curve ball won't derail at least that one hour each day.Don't just talk about it. Don't just plan or dream.Show up.#showupforyourself.#motivationmondayl#strengtht#fitnessy#workoutt#sportse#consistency##successc#manhattankss#MHKs#littleapplek#pinnacleperformance#pinnacleperformance ... See MoreSee Less

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Pinnacle Performance

1 month ago

Whose opinion of you matters most?What are the most important metrics of whether you are successful or not?One of the psychological benefits of strength training is that it can ground you in reality.Could you lift that weight for that many reps last week?Facts. Reality.Can you argue that this week was busier than last week? Sure. Maybe that's a valid excuse for why the same weight felt heavier. That's still a window into where your life is headed. Did you take care of yourself well enough this week to make progress in the gym? Did you make enough progress on your health and strength to bring your whole force of vitality to bear on all your other life goals?The iron doe#strength #fitnessr#gymmotivation #motivationmondayo#workoutm#sportsw#consistencyt#successs#manhattankss#MHKa#littleappleh#pinnacleperformanceacleperformance ... See MoreSee Less

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Pinnacle Performance

1 month ago

Do you come to the gym to get stronger mentally?Can you actually get stronger physically if you don't?A consistent lifting program can only do so much.If you don't *live* the rest of your life with your gym goals in mind, you're probably not going to make much progress getting stronger...or leaner, or fitter, or healthier, or whatever your gym motivation is.No more excuses. Eat your protein. Drink enough water. Get rid of the cookies and chips and whatever you always eat that you know you shouldn't. And for the love of all things heavy get enough sleep.Going to the gym isn't the real discipline. Flex some *real* mental toughness and build yourself a life that will give you the#gymgoalsu#gymmotivation#motivationmondayi#strengtho#fitnessm#workoutt#sports##consistencyk#successr#manhattanksn#MHKs#littleapplea#pinnacleperformancepple #pinnacleperformance ... See MoreSee Less

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Looking for Coaching?

Challenge Your Biases

A New Study on Back Pain in the Army

Proof That Good Coaching Matters

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Focus Creates Success.

Discipline Is Forged, Not Found

Stop Waiting, Start Doing

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