Author: Michael Rutherford

Michael Rutherford (a.k.a. Coach Rut) has over a quarter century of fitness coaching experience including working with competitors from the ranks of international, Olympic, collegiate, high school, middle school and elementary school-aged athletes. Coach Rut also has worked in hospital wellness environments and rehabilitation clinics. All of these experiences have allowed him to bridge the gap between the needs of the competitor and those of the man, woman, and child seeking enhanced personal health and fitness. Michael Rutherford (a.k.a. Coach Rut) has over a quarter century of fitness coaching experience including working with competitors from the ranks of international, Olympic, collegiate, high school, middle school and elementary school-aged athletes. Coach Rut also has worked in hospital wellness environments and rehabilitation clinics. All of these experiences have allowed him to bridge the gap between the needs of the competitor and those of the man, woman, and child seeking enhanced personal health and fitness. Coach has been a regular contributor to the CrossFit Journal, The Performance Menu, Whole9 and here on Breaking Muscle, where his Max Effort Black Box (M.E.B.B) collection is the most requested back issue. He has produced five DVDs ranging from nutrition to program design, and his Dumbbell Moves series is the number one selling DVD on the application of the most underutilized tool in any strength training program. Coach holds academic degrees in biology and physical education, and Master’s degrees in exercise physiology and sports biomechanics. He is a certified Club Coach by the United States Weightlifting Association and is a CrossFit level III certified coach. Coach Rut participates in the sport of weightlifting and is a four time National Master Champion at 94kg. He also holds the National Masters snatch lift record of 103 kilograms.