"IT HAS BEEN A BLESSING TO TRAIN WITH CHARLES
DURING THE SUMMER OF 2001 TO PREPARE ME FOR THE UP COMING SEASON.
I'M IN THE BEST SHAPE GOING INTO PRESEASON CAMP THAT I HAVE EVER BEEN,THROUGH
MY 13 YEARS OF PLAYING IN THE NBA. I OFTEN WONDER WHAT MY FIRST 12
YEARS WOULD HAVE BEEN LIKE IF I COULD HAVE USED CHARLES TRAINING METHODS
EARLY ON IN MY CAREER."
JOHN STARKS
National Basketball League (NBA)--Shooting Guard
Early in 2006, I was diagnosed with a devastating form of arthritis known as Psoriatic Arthritis. The condition was caught very late, and nearly put me into a wheelchair. My feet, ankles, knees, and lower back were in horrible condition. I was forced to sell my local San Marcos restaurant, as I could not maintain the same attention to my business. This terminal disease struck me down hard and fast. After two months of physical therapy, I enrolled with Charles and his staff to continue my recovery. The results have been nothing short of amazing! I am stunned to see where I am at! I am 34 and very fit. I owe so much to So High Sports & Fitness for devising exercises, which allow me to strengthen the muscles around my joints, and I’m actually able to function normal again. I highly recommend Charles’ fitness approach to anyone recovering from injury, or to simply take their training to a new level.
Geoff Elkins
I've been working with Charles Austin for approximately 8 months and I can honestly say he has changed my life. However, I know so many others can give a wonderful reference on how Charles has helped them reach their fitness or athletic goals, I thought I'd write from a bit of a different angle.
For the most part of my 35 years I've been active and a decent athlete. Professionally, I've made my life working with injured people and athletes as both a physical therapist and athletic trainer. I know the science. I know how to make up a sound fitness program. Charles Austin knows the science. But Charles is different. Charles Austin has an innate and profound ability to look at a body on a day today basis and alter his program based on what he sees. I'm not speaking of the obvious notations of weak legs, flabby abdomen. Charles sees thing that people in my profession strive for, yet rarely truly achieve.
Case in point. In the Fall of 2002 I became ill with a virus that reeked havoc on my nervous system. I had great difficulty walking because of poor balance, my muscles cramped and twitched and then wasted away, and when I did walk, I looked like and old person with Parkinson's disease. After recovering from the initial and strongest insult, I'd try very light exercise to find myself taking two steps back. My frustration level was at an all-time high. I finally told myself that I'd find a personal trainer. My thought was that I had to give it a strong try. My belief was that I'd end up back in the hospital.
I've never been a strong personal trainer advocate. Many people who claim and carry such credentials are simply over zealous, not well educated, and often lead their clients down a road of over-use injuries. I was about to give up on my search, when I saw Charles' "So High Sports and Fitness Studio". I new Charles only from a distance when I was an assistant athletic trainer at the university while he was preparing for the Olympics. From the community, I had heard a million times that he was an exemplary young man who beat all odds by winning the gold after a severe knee injury and surgery. I thought I'd give him a try.
took only one session with Charles before I realized what a gifted and talented professional he was. Charles incorporates running drills, traditional weights, and very unique and specially designed movements he has formulated in circuits. Charles was and remains very in tune to my body's needs. He knows when my body is struggling and when it is ready for a challenge. This ability or gift is what makes Charles so successful. There are many personal trainers out there that know many exercises, but the how and when to utilize is neither unique nor always correct.
Today, I have muscles that work and are beautifully defined. I have lost ten pounds while gaining strength. To look at me, know one would ever believe that I was so ill just 8 months ago. I will continue to work with Charles as the nature of my illness will likely wax and wane and I trust he can continue to successfully guide me through them.
I've spoken with many of Charles' other clients and there is a constant theme whether they are an elite athlete or average adult. "I can't believe how much I've gained" and "I've wasted so much time in the past thinking I was working out!" I concur. Thank you Charles!
Warmly,
Erin M. O'Kelley, MS, PT, ATC, LAT
I'd be happy to share my experience with Charles to anyone with further questions.
512-557-7836
Charles,
Truly unbelievable goings on this past weekend in San Marcos. Amy led her New Braunfels Unicorns volleyball team in kills and blocks during the regular season. Lacy Redwine was most certainly the best all around player on this team. They ended up tied for first and advanced to the playoffs. They rolled through the playoffs and qualified for the state tournament at Texas State.
It was kind of neat at the state tournament. In addition to Amy and Lacy being there, Megan York led her Reagan Rattlers to the tourney. They lost a tough four game match to Austin Westlake in the semi-finals. Megan is a stud and I am certain many post-season honors await her.
I have attached two articles. Amy came up very big when it counted and was named the MVP. Amy went to a Halloween party as a geisha girl and dyed her hair black. We were going so well in the playoffs that no one wanted to change anything. In the photo, she is the black-headed one with the large ponytail jumping at the top left.
I cannot begin to tell you how proud we are of these girls. I want to thank you again for your training. I truly believe you gave these girls a true advantage. Leigh Anne is next. We will be getting with you to chart the course for her development.
David Huddleston
11-19-05
It was for my birthday a couple of years ago that my wife presented me with one month to workout with Charles Austin in his sports studio. Well, since Charles was a big name in San Marcos, Texas being an Olympic Gold Medal winner in the high jump in Atlanta in 1996, I thought- What the heck! I’ve been a competitive athlete for years. I was a distance runner for quite a while and ran 10 marathons and countless 10K’s and 5K’s. Plagued with running injuries, I turned to rowing for a while. I loved the long rows on Town Lake in Austin. Then I decided to go into competitive cycling, which I’m still into.
For a good while, when I was a professor, I worked with a lot of sports medicine researchers. With that, I became pretty literate about how to train. I couldn’t image what Charles could teach me that I didn’t already know. Well, turns out that I was wrong and it didn’t take me too long to figure it out. The first thing I realized was that his methodology includes a lot of different modalities. His approach is a multi-method approach that focuses on the whole athlete. I only wish I was doing this stuff in my 20’s and 30’s. I’m 57 now. But I discovered that the most important component in training is to stay uninjured. Since I have been working with Charles, I have not lost any training time due to severe chronic injuries. That’s very unusual for me, but I love it.
What makes Charles’ method so unique is the variety of characteristics he works on. To name a few, he’ll work on your speed, strength, flexibility, power, agility and balance. And he does it simultaneously. In any session you might find yourself warming up with a five-minute aerobic warm-up, a thorough set of stretches and a complete set of running drills. You then go through one of six different circuits emphasizing core muscle development (abdominal muscles, back muscles in addition to work on shoulder and chest muscles). The beauty of these circuits is that they develop very strong core muscles that are usually pretty much ignored by most athletes.
After the circuits and depending on your goals, you may end doing a lot of other things. You may be stepping over and going under track hurdles set at different heights. You may do a session of plyometrics that focus on developing athletic power. You’ll be doing some box jumping, standing broad jumps and vertical jumps. You may do some very interesting medicine ball drill to work on core strength and lateral flexibility. These are outstanding for those of you who want to improve you golf game. You may do some workouts with exercise bands that simulate weights or dumb bells. You may even go next door to the San Marcos Athletic Club and work through a rigorous weight routine.
And, finally, you may even find yourself out on the Texas State University football field and doing all kinds of running exercises. These exercises might include running stadium stairs, pulling a weighted sled while you’re running, or running small hills.
Essentially, once you decide on your goals with Charles, he’ll make it happen. As far as I’m concerned, I’m a totally different athlete at 57 years old than I was in my 20’s and 30’s. Charles worked me into jumping on a 36” box with a 10-pound weight vest. He had me performing in the weight room better than I had in 25 years. My bicycling improved noticeable, especially in climbing large hills or mountains. My running is much better, and, more importantly, injury free. Now my new goal is to learn to high jump in 2006. What could be better, learning to high jump from the American and Olympic record holder.
The most important thing about Charles is that he really cares for each individual client. He is methodical and careful not to overstress people, especially when they are just beginning. I had a bad cycling accident in January 2005 that included some pretty severe brain damage. I was in a coma for about 4 weeks. Charles was one of the first people to visit me. Even though I wasn’t fully functional, my wife said I recognized him immediately. After I was discharged from the hospital, I started with Charles again. I was at square one. I couldn’t do a single pushup even though before the accident I could do 50 or 60. Charles systematically worked me through his protocol and I’m now getting close to where I was before the accident. When I compare Charles’ work to that of physical therapists, there’s not comparison. I had broken my left shoulder in two different places and he focused on my shoulder. While it’s not completely ready, it’s very close.
So, if you want to realize your potential as any athlete, give Charles a shout. I guarantee what within 2 months you won’t believe what you’re able to do. Plus you get to hang around an Olympic Gold Medal winner. He did, by the way, develop his methods by carefully watching word class athletes in action. He knows what he’s talking about.
Steve Zingraf
“Last summer as my youngest child, Courtney,
was preparing for the U.S. National Junior Olympic Volleyball Tournament
in Salt Lake City, we were looking at ways to increase her vertical
jump and overall conditioning. I learned that Charles Austin had recently
started his personal training business. After visiting with Charles
at his home we decided to give it a try. Within the period of a month
Charles accomplished TREMENDOUS results. Courtney was selected to
the U.S. National Junior Olympic All Tournament Team in July. I know
that this was the result of Charles’ training and conditioning.
We continued the training through the rest of the summer and the results
have been phenomenal. Courtney was selected to three All Tournament
Teams during the pre-season, the University Interscholastic League
State All Tournament Team, the All Centex Team, the Texas Girls Coaches
Association All State 1st Team, and was named Best Hitter in her District.
I attribute a lot of these accolades to Charles’ conditioning
and training. We have been so impressed that we have elected to work
with Charles year round. My ONLY regret is that my older two children
didn’t get to reap the rewards of Charles’ work during
their athletic careers. I know my other daughter, Julie, who trained
with Charles this summer has developed some excellent life long conditioning
habits as well as a life long friend. Don’t go to Charles unless
your committed and looking for the BEST in Professionalism, Mentorship
and RESULTS!”
John H. McCrocklin
"My training experience with Charles was nothing
short of the best! To challenge myself daily along side an Olympic
Champion physically as well as mentally and then to see the result
was the best workout I have ever had and will ever have. I increased
my vertical, speed, quickness, and overall strength in a matter of
weeks! The Best workout and The Best trainer!"
Russell Ponds
Southwest Basketball League--Point Guard
"On the first day that I began training with
Charles, we met at a gym so he could study my jumping ability during
some dunks. At 42 years of age, I've felt pretty good about myself
being able to dunk one-handed off of one foot during a fastbreak.
No problem, Charles, I thought, as I slammed a few in front of him
that first day...no problem, just what me fly.
Well, after
about the sixth dunk, I looked over at Charles, only to find him shaking
his head from side to side. "You run on your toes!" he said,
"You run on your toes and you jump off your toes!" Well,
duh!, I thought, duh!, that's right Charles...what so wrong about
my toes?
What followed after that moment was one very complete
humbling experience. In detail, he showed me all of the poor mechanics
that my body was going through in my jumps. Then, he showed me the
proper techniques that I should apply in order to get the most out
of my jumps. Yes, I was dunking the ball. But, no, I was not on the
road to success...I was on the road to injury if I continued to jump
as I thought was the right way.
I then approached the hoop
as he suggested and, easily, elevated three inches higher than normal.
He then told me to apply the same mechanics to a two-legged dunk.
I told him that I had never been able to do that..it's my weak point.
"Just do as I say," he said," and you'll do it. I did
as he said and, yes, I did it: a two-footed dunk for the first time
in my life!
It is now one month later, and yesterday I experienced
an incredible high all due to the past four weeks of applying Charles'
knowledge in training with weight lifting, plyometrics, stretching,
and sprinting skills. Yesterday, not only did I jump higher than I
ever have in my life (and that includes high school and college),
but I also did a two handed dunk from a run. NEVER have I ever come
close to that! Best of all, the dunk truly felt effortless (and I did
three other in succession just to verify that it wasn't a fluke).
And that is just the tip of the iceberg. In three months
I can only image what my body will be able to do. At 42 years of age,
Charles has truly blown my mind. He has instilled so much confidence
in me that my mind is strong... it is no longer fearful of failure.
This is because I KNOW I have so far and so high to go, and it will
happen...as long as I listen to his voice of experience. > >
If you have athletic goals and dreams, don't let them go to the wayside.
Take them to Charles, and let him work his magic.
You WILL
be amazed!
Charles:
Just wanted to pass on a word of thanks for the road of fitness
that you have put me on. Through all of my marathons, 10K's, 5K's, and triathlons, never have I felt so sound in my overall physical condition. Who would
have ever thought that this distance runner/swimmer would have regained
his spring at the age of 43!?
As I mentioned to you in the gym last week, it's amazing what
some of the (so called) "experts" are writing out there concerning
jump training. They are literally educating people into injuries. I feel very fortunate
to have the knowledge from my sessions with you. NOT ONCE has my body reacted negatively towards any plyometric or explosive weight movement. It's
all technique. It's all in the heels!
On the court, my game has not only improved in explosive leaping,
but also in a higher confidence I now have from the increased strength of my
body. The strength training has also carried over into my lateral movements............duhhhh, like this is any new news to you!!
I would like to spend a few more sessions with you, if and when
time ever permits. There are some more specific areas that I'd like to cover.
Ros Hill
"My experience with Charles Austin's So High
Elite Sports & Fitness Program has literally lifted me to a new
level of performance. As an elite pole vaulter, I have been around
great coaches who understand strength and conditioning programs as
it pertains to the science of periodization. I got very strong, powerful,
and I had decent vaulting success, yet I still seemed to be missing
something that could make me an Olympic contender."
"As an Olympic Champion, Charles understands
where I am trying to go and what I am missing. Through his guidance
I have gained incredible insight into his elite training methods.
He intuitively changes my workouts often and the results were apparent
within three months when I gained a lifetime best of 14' 4 1/2"
at an indoor meet. Later this winter I placed 4th at the USA Track
& Field indoor championships, by far my highest rank at a major
competition. Within the next month I would reach my highest height
in nearly two years and have the 2nd highest mark in the US."
"Charles Austin's programs have given me the edge to reach the
top. I am stronger, faster, more lean and more flexible than I have
ever been, yet I weigh eight pounds less than last year. I plan on
competing through the 2012 Olympic Games and am driven to train by
the confidence in the results I will have because of Charles' experience
and methods. I truly rely on his programs and expertise, and anyone
serious about athletic success in any sport should to."
Lesa Kubishta
World Class Pole Vaulter
"Charles Austin's tips have been very helpful for me. After
working alongside of him I was able to learn a lot about the proper
way of training. The secret to these programs lies in the quality
of the work, not the quantity. In order to get the full benefits of
Charles's programs I had to be disciplined enough to train on a consistent
basis. These are serious training schedules and they are for individuals
that are serious about getting in shape. So whether you are an athlete,
or just someone looking to get in shape, there is definitely a program
for you to follow."
John Munoz
High Jumper
Charles, what a great program. After nearly 20 years in the fitness
industry and 15 years of competition, you rarely see anything new.
This program has been a great surprise, it is one of the most complete,
innovative and effective programs I have seen in a long time. It would
work for anybody. In years of training, I have found that one of the
most difficult things is not getting in shape, but getting back in
shape. Your program made this easy. I am now 20% lighter and nearly
50% stronger. Thanks for your help.
Anthony Brown
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