Strength Coach

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Strength Coach Strength Coach™ - Christopher McBride (MSc/BSc). Strength and Conditioning & Olympic Weightlifting Coach. Coaching Consultant. Tutor & Assessor.

MSC Sport & Exercise Science,
BSC Strength & Conditioning, Weightlifting/Powerlifting Coach, S&C Coach and Personal Trainer. Social media:

Blast from the past, one of the oldest training photos I have dating back to 2015! (110kg clean and jerk at 80kg bw).Bac...
23/10/2026

Blast from the past, one of the oldest training photos I have dating back to 2015! (110kg clean and jerk at 80kg bw).

Back before Powerlifting, back before I ever competed in any strength sports actually, these are some of my fondest memories of training, just learning the art of Olympic Weightlifting in a portable cabin! I actually wasn't very good at it, especially in comparison to the natural strength I had, hence why I got encouraged into Raw Powerlifting. I did pretty good in that sport, even at the time I was 80kg and Squatted 220kg/ Benched 135kg and Deadlifted 252.5kg. I eventually bulked to 100kg and Squatted 272.5kg (NI record at the time) benched 162.5kg and deadlifted 290kg. I represented NI twice and qualified for Irish Nationals twice all in the small space of three and a bit years. Nonetheless, I always felt something was just missing and come lockdown I made the switch back to Olympic Weightlifting.

I don't regret my time Powerlifting and though the sport has changed, those great memories still remain. My passion has always been Olympic Weightlifting and representing Ireland in 2024 is one of my proudest achievements and being a Head Coach of a weightlifting club is something Chris back then honestly would never have believed. It's fascinating that our passions always find a way to return to us and if we choose to pursue them, the journey they can take us on.

I'm very excited to see where it will take me next.

Thanks for reading,

Coach.

Dear New Coaches, A message from the experienced. - You don't need to have everything all figured out all at once.- Ther...
19/10/2026

Dear New Coaches,

A message from the experienced.

- You don't need to have everything all figured out all at once.

- There is no such thing as an expert and for the first five years of your career, you're still a beginner, make mistakes and learn.

- Followers don't equate to anything, you can literally buy them.

- Your content does not define your skill as a coach.

- Literally anyone, anywhere can buy a phone and talk online, read that again, ANYONE, be careful what you ingest.

- Ask yourself honestly if you want to be an influencer or a genuine person of influence on others, there's a difference.

- Being a carbon copy of everyone else online, may bring you short-term gain financially, but it will only bring you long-term pain, lack of identity, fulfillment and regret, remember that.

- You can only be yourself, if you actually know who you are.

Being a Personal Trainer or a Coach in 2026 is still an incredibly rewarding career, yet too many are drowning in the sea of confusion and comparison due to social media, but imagine these apps were destroyed tomorrow, would 99% of these people still be doing the job? Probably not. It's all just noise.

Earn the badge,

Coach.

To avoid any confusion,When I Teach new Coaches, one thing I drill home to them is about becoming clear and concise in t...
12/10/2026

To avoid any confusion,

When I Teach new Coaches, one thing I drill home to them is about becoming clear and concise in their message, who they are, who they coach, where they coach, how they coach and why they do what they do!

I feel like the message on this page has become a little unclear lately, so let me simplify what I do for you 👇🏼

🏆 - Strength and Conditioning Coach Gain Forth Gym
🏋️‍♂️ - Head Coach Gain Forth Weightlifting Club
👨🏼‍🏫 - Tutor & Mentor for Uni Learning - Training Academy
🤓 - Coaching Consultant & Business Mentor

So in a nutshell, I Coach athletes to improve in their athletic ability for their sport, I lead and Coach our Olympic Weightlifting Club at Gain Forth and I Teach and Mentor Coaches and Personal Trainers with upskilling their own skills in both practical application and business acumen and sometimes other external businesses ask me to come in and help them too with similar endeavours.

So yeah,

That's what I do.

I qualified as a Personal Trainer in 2011. 15 years ago!When I started, I just simply loved training. Then I loved learn...
01/10/2026

I qualified as a Personal Trainer in 2011. 15 years ago!

When I started, I just simply loved training. Then I loved learning about training, this love took me as far as an MSc in Sport Science and then I learnt that I could take this knowledge and experience to make a living training others and then finally I began teaching others how to make a living training others and here we are.... Still going.

Most people don't know that I actually had an interview for a course in Animal Management at the time and an exam for a Music Technology Course, of which I passed both and was accepted on both courses, but instead I chose the fitness route. I am still infatuated with animals and wildlife and music will always be my greatest passion, though sometimes your path is simply chosen for you, some call this fate.

It's interesting right now, as I feel like I have achieved everything I ever set out to achieve in this career. I have helped a lot of people, possibly thousands, never really kept count. I've coached world champions, won more silverware than I could possibly remember and I've taught a full new generation of personal trainers and coaches and helped them on their way in their own careers and endeavours. I have a lot to be thankful for, if not for this career I wouldn't have met some of my closest friends and my partner and wouldn't have the life I have today, I owe it everything. Sometimes we get too caught up on what could have been, instead of simply appreciating what is.

This post is nothing but mindless self-reflection, though I used to really enjoy writing before AI came along, so I thought I'd simply share my thoughts with you today.

Thanks for always supporting me, my business and I guess even this page, even though it's not been as active as late,

I still appreciate it all,

Coach.

Just like You, We want the standard of the fitness industry to be better! That's why I am teaming up with UniLearning to...
21/09/2026

Just like You, We want the standard of the fitness industry to be better! That's why I am teaming up with UniLearning to bring you something New! Learning that goes above and beyond a standard online fitness qualification, to ensure you are providing your clients with the best service possible and are adequately skilled to do the job you love!

Some upcoming events to get excited about:

- Business Seminar/ Workshop Day.
- Olympic Weightlifting Workshop.
- Speed and Agility Workshop.
- Plyometric Workshop.
- Strength Foundations Workshop.
- Periodisation & Programming Seminar.

Mentoring will also be a New Service provided to our students to ensure they aren't just left blind with a fitness qualification and having to go out into an industry on their own. Everyone needs a support network and we will be here every step of the way to help and guide you on your journey!

Get in contact with Uni Learning - Training Academy today for more information, Dates, Prices and how to Sign-up!

Just want to wish this young man Matt Crofts all the best on his new Venture, moving back to England after 3 years being...
28/08/2026

Just want to wish this young man Matt Crofts all the best on his new Venture, moving back to England after 3 years being a core member of our Weightlifting Club 🏋️‍♂️🤘

When Matt first joined I'm pretty sure he didn't own a proper pair of weightlifting shoes yet? We got him sorted though. It wasn't long and he snatched 82.5kg and clean and je**ed 110kg, roll on to now and he snatched 117.5kg and clean and je**ed 150kg which is fairly damn good progress.... And I lost track of the medals he won along the way too!

Matt is the friendliest guy you could ever meet, he welcomed everyone to the club and made every new beginner feel like they belong and always had a positive attitude about him, even when the going got tough. We are proud to have called him a member of our club for as long as we did and I am proud to have been called his coach for the beginning of no doubt a long prosperous weightlifting career ahead.

All the best kid, always there,

Coach.

Competing for the first time is daunting!! 😶But that's kinda the point... Isn't it?Putting yourself out there to be judg...
21/08/2026

Competing for the first time is daunting!! 😶

But that's kinda the point... Isn't it?

Putting yourself out there to be judged and to be challenged. To take that beautifully calculated risk between potential success and failure, that's sport. We win, we lose, we learn.

But you don't have to do it alone. Having a Coach behind you to have your back, take on some of the nerves for you, correct technique and provide a sense of encouragement and support, can really make an experience a hell of a lot easier and less stressful.

The first comp doesn't have to be the last one either, take everything in, feel the day and take away a moment to say that you did it, be proud of yourself and hopefully that you enjoyed it! Competing isn't for everyone and that's ok, everyone deserves the chance to participate in something nonetheless.

But for those who want to take that step, you just never know, it could end up being the best decision you ever made.

You just have to try and see.

Coach.

Sometimes a picture speaks more than any caption ever could.I've made a living out of having fun! Coaching, teaching, li...
06/08/2026

Sometimes a picture speaks more than any caption ever could.

I've made a living out of having fun! Coaching, teaching, lifting, competing, networking, consulting and even dabbled in the food industry!

Whatever the venture, we are helping others, changed lives for the better and made some great memories in the process, with still so much more to come...

How cool is that!

📸: Luke│📸

The word 'Coach' has certainly lost its credibility over the past few years.... Remember that phase where everyone had '...
25/07/2026

The word 'Coach' has certainly lost its credibility over the past few years.... Remember that phase where everyone had 'PT' or 'MUA' beside their Facebook name.... Dark times indeed.

Nonetheless, I still absolutely love what I do. I've been Coaching now for fifteen years, ten of which have been fully self-employed. I have witnessed every trend come and go and come back again. I watch these young fitness influencers scramble to be relevant online and question, do they even love the job? Love the game? What's their legacy other than a following that will never really remember them when the time comes? What have they actually done?

I've stood with champions as they battle for gold, I've been through the adrenaline rush a thousand times on the sideline of my athletes performances, standing in their corner and felt the highs and the lows that come with the territory. Most importantly, I know I've made an impact on people and changed their lives for the better. I've made novices into pros and beginners into champions. Helped those recovering from strokes and life-altering surgeries walk again, run again and live again. Helped countless individuals with their physical and mental well-being. Watched people who thought they never had a chance in this world achieve success they never dreamed possible and honestly, that's just a snippet of it all.

Whilst some spend all their time on this talking the talk, others are out there walking the walk.

Real Coaching is an art, not a popularity contest.

Respect the craft.

Developing Athletes is my speciality and teaching Coaches how to develop athletes is my passion!🏃🏽🏋️‍♂️🎓I teach the prac...
07/07/2026

Developing Athletes is my speciality and teaching Coaches how to develop athletes is my passion!🏃🏽🏋️‍♂️🎓

I teach the practical days of the Level 4 Strength and Conditioning Certification via Uni Learning - Training Academy covering the role of S&C, RAMP Warm-ups, Speed & Agility and Plyometrics!

I am also available for private mentoring regarding coaching upskilling, business diagnostics & development strategies based on the comprehensive breakdown findings.

For more information on any of this, please get in contact with either myself for mentoring or UniLearning for more course details!

You can find us at the state of the art and most well equipped strength and conditioning facility in the country:
Gain Forth Gym

Address

Gain Forth Gym, Unit 38 Argyle Business Centre
Belfast
BT132AP

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 8pm
Tuesday 10am - 8pm
Wednesday 10am - 8pm
Thursday 10am - 8pm
Friday 10am - 8pm

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