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

  1. What is Body Conditioning?

    What is Body Conditioning?
    Body conditioning develops strength, cardiovascular, endurance, mobility and power. Find a ten minute conditioning workout here.

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  2. 10 Minute Battle Rope HIIT Workout

    10 Minute Battle Rope HIIT Workout
    Want to get an incredible workout? In a short amount of time? Get yourself a battle rope and do this 10 minute HIIT workout!

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  3. Giving Power to Outdoor Training

    Giving Power to Outdoor Training
    Escape into the great outdoors with our Power Bag workout and discover why outdoor exercise is so fantastic.

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  4. Top 10 Swiss Bar Alternative Exercises

    Top 10 Swiss Bar Alternative Exercises
    The Swiss Bar (or Football bar) has to be the most underrated bar in the gym but it should become an essential piece of exercise equipment.

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  5. Cast Iron Weight Plates - A Home Gym Essential

    Cast Iron Weight Plates - A Home Gym Essential
    Walk into a gym and what is the one thing that they have in abundance? Weight plates! A gym wouldn’t be able to function without them!

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  6. The Benefits of the Sit Up Bench

    The Benefits of the Sit Up Bench
    Dreaming of the perfect six pack? Focus on training the abs and core by using a Sit Up Bench!

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  7. Will Resistance Bands Tone My Legs?

    Will Resistance Bands Tone My Legs?
    Resistance Bands can be included with numerous leg exercises to help tone your legs and make yourself leaner.

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  8. Flat Weight Bench Guide

    Flat Weight Bench Guide
    You may have an adjustable bench, but a flat bench provides the increased stability and comfort to work with heavier loads.

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  9. Specialist Weight Bench Guide

    Specialist Weight Bench Guide
    For those who are interested in a bench that is more than just a weight bench here are some of our favourites.

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  10. Adjustable Weight Bench Guide

    Adjustable Weight Bench Guide
    Adjustable weight benches will tick all the boxes to make it that essential addition to your home workout space.

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  11. Are You Beach Body Ready?

    Are You Beach Body Ready?
    We have all heard the saying...summer bodies are made in winter! Learn why to avoid crash diets, and what to do instead!

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  12. Why Do Athletes Take Ice Baths?

    Why Do Athletes Take Ice Baths?
    Why do professional athletes calmly climb into an ice tub, and is there any method to their ice bath madness?

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