Brendan McBirnie
Bio
My love for fitness and sport started at a young age and by the age of nine I was playing football, tennis, cricket and doing cross-country. In secondary school I fell in love with rugby and never looked back. With rugby being such a physically demanding sport that requires speed, strength and power, I started devoting some time to strength training until I was attending the gym most days with like-minded rugby players.
My academic focus at school was science and biology, particularly relating to the human body and how it functions. When it came to selecting a university degree I naturally chose B.Sc Sport Science, where I majored in human physiology and biochemistry.
What Do I Do?
After completing my honours in Sport Science I partnered with my old athletics coach and we built a small private gym with the main aim of providing sportsmen and women with structured training plans or rehab programs.
While all accommodated for a range of different sports conditioning, my particular interest was rugby conditioning. Rugby is such a unique sport requiring size, speed and agility. It encompasses all training methods and also requires a good understanding of periodisation, which was another interest of mine. Understanding periodisation and how the body responds to stress formed the basis of our training philosophy at the gym.
I now don’t play rugby anymore, but I am still an armchair coach. My training has shifted to focus mainly on trail running and regular strength training to maintain my fitness.
Qualifications
- B.Sc (Hons) Sport Science, Sports and Exercise – University of Johannesburg
- CSCS – International Sports Sciences Association College of Exercise Science
- Certification in Periodization – Training for Sport
- Rugby Coaching Level 2 – World Rugby
Author Blogs
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Isolation and Compound Bicep Exercises
If you want to get bigger biceps, you need to exercise. But should you do compound bicep exercises, or isolation bicep exercises? -
EZ Bar vs Straight Bar
Do you know the differences between EZ bars and traditional barbells? Find out more about them in our guide. -
What Are Kelso Shrugs?
Kelso shrugs are a fantastic back building exercises using a barbell. Learn about the benefits in our blog. -
Stop Ignoring Your Triceps
People spend a lot of time training their biceps, but they miss out on crucial triceps training. Learn some triceps exercises here. -
Why Eccentrics Are Important For Sprinters
Harry AA is a fantastic sprinter and he is going to share his secret with you! Learn why eccentrics can improve your running. -
What Is Dead Butt Syndrome?
If you sit all day for work then you might be at risk of dead butt syndrome. Learn some easy exercises that can strengthen your glutes. -
10 Glute Ham Roller Exercises
Get a core and lower body workout with a glute ham roller. Find out 10 great exercises to use the GHR here. -
Top Zercher Variation Exercises
There is more to Zercher exercises than Zercher squats. Learn about nine Zercher variations to build core strength in our guide. -
20 Flye Variations
Do you want to build a bigger chest? These flye exercises will help you sculpt your chest muscles. Learn more in our chest exercise guide. -
Why Correct Exercise Form is Important
Learning correct gym form is one of the most important parts of your exercise journey. Learn how to avoid common mistakes here. -
5 Dumbbell Finishers
If you want a killer workout, try tacking on a workout finisher! We have five dumbbell finishers for muscle growth or cardio health. -
25 Crazy Fitness World Records
What is your most impressive fitness feat? How does it compare to these amazing and astounding fitness world records?
