Chapter Overview:
0:00 Intro
0:12 Background & Interests
0:24 Early Aspirations
0:46 Focus on Academics
1:16 Academic Adversities
1:38 Choosing a Path
1:59 Discovering LPS Athletic
2:27 Starting at LPS
3:16 Learning Through Experience
3:52 Certifications & Training
4:22 Weightlifting Experience
6:20 Continuous Growth
6:45 Why Train at LPS Athletic
7:01 Final Message
Transcription
My name is Rajan Sidhu. I’m a strength and conditioning coach here at LPS Athletic. Outside of the gym, I like to spend time with friends and family. I also like to play basketball in my spare time. We’ll go play pickup games at a rec center or outside. I also like to play video games in my free time, just to take some time away, free my mind, and relax a little bit when I’m not coaching on the floor.
When I was younger, I always wanted to be a professional athlete, whether it was playing tennis, basketball, or boxing. There was a big focus on sports in my family as I was growing up. We all enjoyed watching sports together, whether it was Manchester United, the Toronto Raptors, or the Toronto Maple Leafs. As I got older and entered high school, the focus changed more to academics, so sports were put to the side, and the focus was on academics and getting my grades up.
Some of the adversities I faced while pursuing academics were in high school when I didn’t achieve the grades I needed for some courses. I had to take night school courses in grade 12 or summer school courses. Even after that, when I went to university, in my first semester, I failed a course and went on academic probation. In the second semester, I had to really pick it up, dial in, and focus. I just kept focusing on school and put other things to the side. All my focus started being on academics and trying to be the best student possible.
I chose to focus on academics instead of pursuing both academics and sports because, at the time, it was hard for me to split my focus between the two. I don’t believe I had enough discipline to pursue both and go to a high level in both academics and sports. One side would fall off compared to the other, so I had to make a choice, and that was it.
When I started focusing on academics, I always wanted to be in a sports environment as I got older. I kept trying to figure out what I wanted to do, whether it was going to university or trades, something like that. I chose to go into kinesiology out of high school. The goal was always to work with athletes at a high level and to be in an environment as closely related to a sporting environment as possible.
I found LPS Athletic online from doing research. I called them and wanted to start as an intern. I came in as an intern and met Clance the first day. I don’t even think Clance listened to what my name was. I introduced myself, said my name, and he did not say my name back, so I know he wasn’t paying attention to it. He just said, “Nice to meet you,” and we kept it moving from there. I started mopping floors, washing dishes, and taking out the garbage. I took out the garbage every day, even when it was halfway empty. There were times when I was taking out garbage for no reason. He would just look at me and say, “You need to take out the garbage,” and all I could say was, “Okay.”
After that, I moved on to loading and unloading weights for athletes. I would have guys like Jeremy Lou, Gordo, JJ, and Denzel Maya, and I would be unloading all their weights and loading them for them. When people lift heavy, and you have to load and unload their weights when you’re not lifting, it’s a humbling experience because you start realizing it’s a lot of weight. You’re loading it, unloading it, and it’s just a process. From doing that, I learned how to count kilos, and from there, I feel like Clance was kind of teaching me as Mr. Miyagi taught Daniel in “The Karate Kid.” We just went from there.
After that, Clance would tell me things about my posture, paying attention on the floor, not letting an athlete stand behind me, and just little things that make a great coach. Details matter for a great coach. From there, I started developing as a coach and started learning. I then got my AAS certification, NSCA CSCS certification, and Ontario Weightlifting Introductory Competition certification. After I got those certifications, Clance invited me to train with the weightlifting team.
I was standing here one day, it was 10 a.m., and Clance came up to me. It was a Friday. He asked me what I was doing on Saturday. I just answered, “Nothing.” If you don’t have plans, Clance is going to give you plans. He said, “You should come in on Saturdays and train with the weightlifting team.” So I was here on Saturday, training with the weightlifting team. From there, I started training six days a week through a weightlifters program, and I just kept doing it week by week. I was feeling what weightlifters feel, going through the weightlifting program.
After I finished the weightlifting program, I moved on to the AAS program. I started to feel what the athletes feel when they go through the system, and I’ll tell you right now, it is not easy. It is a grind. I was training four days out of the week, going through each of the phases, feeling each phase. There is not one break you get throughout the phases. You finish one phase, and it’s high reps, and then you go to lower reps, and you think it’s going to be a little bit easier, but the intensity doesn’t let up. The intensity stays up, so it’s a constant grind, but the benefits are amazing.
One thing I’ve learned from Clance is to continuously learn and grow so that I can be the best strength and conditioning coach possible. I continue to look for ways to help athletes tap into their highest potential. Any athletes who are on the fence and looking for somewhere to train should definitely come to LPS if they’re looking for results. If you want to be better at your sport, and if you want to be the best you can be, then come to LPS. For anybody who doesn’t know what we do here, we develop the world’s best athletes. If you want to be great, walk through that door. I’m telling you, it will change everything.
About the Author: Jeremy Choi
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