• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Breaking Muscle

Breaking Muscle

Breaking Muscle

  • Fitness
  • Workouts
    • Best Shoulder Workouts
    • Best Chest Workouts
    • Best Leg Workouts
    • Best Leg Exercises
    • Best Biceps Exercises
    • Best Kettlebell Exercises
    • Best Back Workouts
    • Best HIIT Workouts
    • Best Triceps Exercises
    • Best Arm Workouts
  • Reviews
    • Supplements
      • Best Pre-Workout
      • Best BCAAs
      • Best Testosterone Boosters
      • Best Bodybuilding Supplements
      • Best Creatine
      • Best Supplements for Weight Loss
      • Best Multivitamins
      • Best Collagen Supplement
      • Best Probiotic
      • Best Non-Stim Pre-Workout
      • Best Greens Powder
      • Best Magnesium Supplements
    • Protein
      • Best Protein Powder
      • Best Whey Protein
      • Best Protein Powders for Muscle Gain
      • Best Tasting Protein Powder
      • Best Vegan Protein
      • Best Mass Gainer
      • Best Protein Shakes
      • Best Organic Protein Powder
      • Best Pea Protein Powder
      • Best Protein Bars
    • Strength Equipment
      • Best Home Gym Equipment
      • Best Squat Racks
      • Best Barbells
      • Best Weightlifting Belts
      • Best Weight Benches
      • Best Functional Trainers
      • Best Dumbbells
      • Best Adjustable Dumbbells
      • Best Kettlebells
      • Best Resistance Bands
      • Best Trap Bars
    • Cardio Equipment
      • Best Cardio Machines
      • Best Rowing Machines
      • Best Treadmills
      • Best Weighted Vests
      • Concept2 RowErg Review
      • Hydrow Wave Review
      • Best Jump Ropes
  • News
  • Exercise Guides
    • Legs
      • Back Squat
      • Bulgarian Split Squat
      • Goblet Squat
      • Zercher Squat
      • Standing Calf Raise
      • Hack Squat
    • Chest
      • Bench Press
      • Dumbbell Bench Press
      • Close-Grip Bench Press
      • Incline Bench Press
    • Shoulders
      • Overhead Dumbbell Press
      • Lateral Raise
    • Arms
      • Chin-Up
      • Weighted Pull-Up
      • Triceps Pushdown
    • Back
      • Deadlift
      • Trap Bar Deadlift
      • Lat Pulldown
      • Inverted Row
      • Bent-Over Barbell Row
      • Single-Arm Dumbbell Row
      • Pendlay Row
Fitness

How to Train a Powerful Athlete for Muscle Endurance

Featured coach James FitzGerald shares with us how he prepares a powerful athlete for CrossFit-style competitions.

Written by James FitzGerald Last updated on Nov 22, 2021

At OPT we all agree that in fitness:

  • Everyone needs an individualized program.
  • We are preparing for unknown pieces in fitness competitions.
  • We believe in balancing all aspects, not focusing only on previous tests.
  • You have no control over preparation for specific movements, etc.
  • Things are not simple when trying to develop all, but we’ll be damned if we don’t try.

At OPT we all agree that in fitness:

  • Everyone needs an individualized program.
  • We are preparing for unknown pieces in fitness competitions.
  • We believe in balancing all aspects, not focusing only on previous tests.
  • You have no control over preparation for specific movements, etc.
  • Things are not simple when trying to develop all, but we’ll be damned if we don’t try.

This is a specific training insight based on working with an athlete who competes in fitness, but needs to improve multiple things that deal with stamina, muscle endurance, and bodyweight to endurance ratio.

If we all thought that the path to being more fit and getting stronger was just lifting and varied workouts, it would leave someone who is powerful like this on the sidelines.

So there are ways to do it “better” with simple principles.

Click Here to See 4 Weeks of OPT Programming

About James FitzGerald

James Fitzgerald is the owner and director of training at OPEX Fitness (formerly OPT), which recently relocated to Scottsdale, Arizona from Calgary, Alberta. The new research and design facility is used to support and upgrade his existing businesses and aid in the development of his clients. OPT has evolved through the years from a personal training and sports performance facility to a multi-national educational and coaching program.

James first was drawn to strength and conditioning as a young competitive athlete. His athletic pursuits in national level soccer in high school and collegiate basketball and junior hockey led him to a career in strength and conditioning. He graduated with honors from The University of Newfoundland with a Bachelors degree in Physical Education and a minor in Biology. He has published research in Physiology Canada, The Canadian Journal of Applied Physiology, and The Journal for Strength and Conditioning Research on muscle fatigue. He began his career as a lab instructor in the university, and then made the switch into practical application.

Over the past eighteen years, James has worked in everything from coaching for private institutions, to corporate wellness in the public sector, to working with Olympic level athletes. He also has entrepreneurial ventures with private and group classes, and works continuously on his education.Over theyears he has designed programs for people at various levels of fitness, and has performed in excess of 15,000 assessments and nutritional prescriptions. He is devoted to continuing his education, and approaches all new scientific research with an open mind. Additionally, he has worked hand in hand with a variety of doctors, researching the measurable impact that training protocols have had on adrenal stress index tests, exercise stress tolerance tests, and hematology. His success has not deterred his continual dedication to learning, coaching, educating, and practical implementation.His experience in the field has led him to the questioning of traditional strength and conditioning methodologies.

In 2005 James was introduced to CrossFit. He used his training methodologies to help him win the 2007 CrossFit Games with an individualized training program.At the new facility in Arizona, in addition to the previously mentioned tests, they are now coordinating with leaders in medicine to perform heart rate variability tests, altitude contrast training, and implementing advanced recovery protocols, including a state of the art Cryo sauna. He has also been performing lactate balance point tests, neuromuscular efficiency tests, VO2 max testing, and a variety of other tests to help top “fitness athletes” succeed at their sport and get insight into what will improve their performance. As a coach for many top level CrossFit athletes, he is looking to upgrade the current industry knowledge about strength and conditioning for both coaches and his athletes.

James has developed a coaching certificate program at OPEX, which offers both online and in-person courses. OPEX also features an onsite testing facility and a remote coaching program that enables people to receive nutritional prescriptions and program designs via the Internet.James’ vision for the future of OPEX is as one of the leading educational and research facilities in the world of strength and conditioning.His onsite testing is being used to both upgrade the current prescription for his athletes and develop a framework for his coaching certificate program.

James’ belief as a strength coach is against conventional strength and conditioning wisdom. He believes that improvements in strength, speed, short term anaerobic power, and long term aerobic power can all be achieved concurrently if coaches have an understanding of how to blend energy system and proper strength protocols.

View All Articles

Related Posts

Fergus Crawley 5K Run Tips Photo
Fergus Crawley Shares 5 Tips For Running a Better 5K
Actor Chris Hemsworth in gym performing dumbbell row
Chris Hemsworth Diagrams a Killer Upper Body Workout Fit For an Action Star
Hugh Jackman Deadpool 3 Workouts Spring:Winter 2023
Hugh Jackman Returns to Wolverine Condition in Workouts for “Deadpool 3”
Method Man Incline Dumbbell Presses December 2022
Check Out Rapper Method Man Cruising Through 120-Pound Incline Dumbbell Presses for 10 Reps

Primary Sidebar

Latest Articles

New Year’s Fitness Sales (2025)

XWERKS Motion BCAA Review (2025): A Registered Dietitian’s Honest Thoughts

Assault Fitness AssaultBike Pro X Review (2025): Assault’s Best Bike Yet?

13 Best Exercise Bikes for Home Gyms (2025)

Transparent Labs BCAA Glutamine Review (2025): The Key to Post-Workout Recovery?

Latest Reviews

Element 26 Hybrid Leather Weightlifting Belt

Element 26 Hybrid Leather Weightlifting Belt Review (2025)

Omre NMN + Resveratrol, Lifeforce Peak NMN, and partiQlar NMN on a red background

Best NMN Supplement: Fountain of Youth in a Bottle? (2025)

The Titan Series Adjustable Bench on a red background

Titan Series Adjustable Bench Review (2025)

A photo of the NordicTrack Select-a-Weight Dumbbells on a red background

NordicTrack Adjustable Dumbbell Review (2025): Are These Value Dumbbells Worth It?

woman lifting barbell

Be the smartest person in your gym

The Breaking Muscle newsletter is everything you need to know about strength in a 3 minute read.

I WANT IN!

Breaking Muscle is the fitness world’s preeminent destination for timely, high-quality information on exercise, fitness, health, and nutrition. Our audience encompasses the entire spectrum of the fitness community: consumers, aficionados, fitness professionals, and business owners. We seek to inform, educate and advocate for this community.

  • Reviews
  • Healthy Eating
  • Workouts
  • Fitness
  • News

Follow Us

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS Feed

© 2025 · Breaking Muscle · Terms of Use · Privacy Policy · Affiliate Disclaimer · Accessibility · About