Strength Chat #331 Nick Ridpath
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Nov 7, 2025 
In this engaging discussion, performance coach Nick Ridpath shares his journey from college football to coaching NFL athletes. He emphasizes the importance of exercise selection, revealing how choosing the right movements can uncover strengths and weaknesses. Nick argues for addressing movement faults to prevent injuries and offers insights on progressing or regressing exercises on the fly. He also explores the balance between client preferences and effective coaching, highlighting the context-dependent nature of exercise selection.
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From Garage Trainer To NFL Clients
- Nick started training people out of his dad's garage after COVID closed the gym he was due to start at.
- He progressed to managing a performance gym, working with athletes across ages and now runs in-person and online businesses plus NFL work.
Assess Movement With Basic Patterns
- Use basic movement patterns (hinge, squat, single-leg) to reveal organization of ribcage, pelvis, and force production.
- Athletes often perform well despite poor movement, so hands-on assessment uncovers hidden weaknesses.
Teach Pelvis Control Before Load
- Teach pelvis control and both squat and hinge patterns when you see mismatches in movement.
- Progress from regressions (goblet, bilateral RDL) to more complex variations as skill and control improve.