Howdy, my name is Joseph. I am a 37 year old husband, father, professional firefighter EMT-B, and Starting Strength Coach in New Braunfels, Texas.
The reason that I became a Starting Strength Coach is that I want to help motivated individuals that are willing to help themselves and get stronger by training the basic barbell lifts. Over the course of my 12 year career in the fire and emergency medical service, I have seen firsthand that strength is the most important physical attribute. I have been called to assist countless people that are prisoners within their own bodies. As they aged, they grew weak, developed metabolic diseases, got inducted into the sick care system, and eventually got to the point where they couldn’t prevent themselves from falling or even get off of the toilet, let alone care for themselves.
I am excited to coach lifters of all ages and experience levels. Whether you are a teenager, an athlete, or an adult in your 30s, 40s, 50s, and beyond, it would be a privilege to teach you the skill of barbell training and aid you along the path to better performance and healthier aging through strength training. But, as a father of 2 young children and husband with an unusual work shift schedule I am particularly adept at adapting strength training programming to the obligations of everyday life.
I am a lifelong lifter. I have been lifting weights for better or worse, correctly or incorrectly, and incredibly consistently since I was 14 years old. I wrestled in high school and for a club team at Texas A&M (Class of 2009). The burning desire to win and stop getting my ass kicked on the mat led me to weightlifting. Over the last 22 years of lifting weights I have experimented with a very wide variety of programs and methodologies including: 5/3/1, Crossfit, and Bodybuilding. If you can name it, then I have probably squandered precious time doing it. Oddly enough my path to Starting Strength began with Arnold Schwarzenegger. Arnold’s Education of a Bodybuilder led to Reg Park’s Strength & Bulk Training for Weight Lifters & Bodybuilders which led to John McCallum’s Keys to Progress which led to Bill Starr’s The Strongest Shall Survive. The aforementioned works instilled a passion for basic barbell training and 5s that finally drove me to Mark Rippetoe’s Starting Strength: Basic Barbell Training.
I ran my first Novice Linear Progession in 2016 and made tremendous progress, ending with: Squat 495x5x3, Press 210x5x3, Deadlift 555×5, Bench 290x5x3 at 5′ 8” and 230 lbs. I attended the Starting Strength Seminar held at Andy Baker’s gym in Kingwood, Texas in 2017. I competed in 2 strength lifting meets at WFAC. My best lifts were: Squat 600, Press 237, Deadlift 660.
I began my journey to become a Starting Strength Coach as an apprentice coach at Starting Strength San Antonio when the gym opened in November 2021. After completing the Coach Development Course I attended the Starting Strength Seminar held at WFAC in October 2023 where I opted in and passed the platform evaluation. I passed the oral board evaluation in November 2023, earning my Starting Strength Coach Credential.
I offer in-person semi private training out of my garage gym in New Braunfels, Texas.
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12 Reviews on “Joseph Rodriguez, SSC”
Joseph is a great, attentive coach. With his guidance I went from having near zero experience with a barbell to well exceeding the goals I had.
I’ve had the pleasure of working with Joseph since I joined Starting Strength San Antonio in May of 2021. He’s helped me immensely along the way. I’ve had issues with my bench press but he’s helped me iron out the kinks. He provides clear feedback and if I have trouble applying it, he’ll find another way to explain what I need to do to continue to succeed. What makes Joseph a great coach is his ability to tailor his communication to the client. He’ll use a big voice for some lifters and take a milder approach with others. I think that skill helps make him a great coach.
Joseph is also extremely knowledgeable and I can see his enjoyment in sharing that knowledge. If you follow him on Instagram, you’ll see if incredible lifts and screenshots of his messages where people will ask him questions. He takes time to provide thoughtful explanations and shares his personal experiences. Also, Joseph’s background as a firefighter has given him unique insight into the importance of building and maintaining strength.
I’ve really enjoyed my time working with Joseph.
I had the privilege of training with Coach Joseph for the past few months, and the experience has been nothing short of phenomenal. Joseph’s expertise in weightlifting is truly remarkable, and I’ve seen significant improvements in both my technique and strength.
Coach Joseph brings a perfect blend of knowledge, enthusiasm, and personalized attention to every session. His coaching style is tailored to individual needs, ensuring that each participant receives focused guidance. The emphasis on proper form and technique has been instrumental in preventing injuries and maximizing gains.
The training programs are challenging but incredibly effective. I appreciate how Coach Joseph motivates and pushes me beyond my comfort zone while maintaining a supportive and positive environment. It’s evident that he is not just a coach but a mentor genuinely invested in his clients’ success.
If you’re serious about improving your weightlifting skills and achieving your fitness goals, I highly recommend Coach Joseph. His commitment to excellence sets him apart, making the training experience both enjoyable and transformative. I’m grateful for the progress I’ve made under his guidance and look forward to continuing my fitness journey with such an exceptional coach!
I am a 55 year old retired firefighter and Joseph has been training me for over 4 years. His knowledge of strength training is both in depth and practical. Joseph is not only able to relate the obvious health benefits of strength training, but he is also able to impart the practical importance of being strong and useful to your family, friends and colleague’s in everyday life. Also, as a firefighter himself he has seen the consequences of not maintaining and improving ones physical abilities as we age. And, having a more than full time job (firefighters work 56 hours a week) and being a husband and father of two kids under 6, he is also able to relate to the everyday challenges of trying to find time to train amidst a busy and hectic life. He does not judge and does not care where one is in their strength/fitness journey. He is just proud and excited that one has taken the hardest step of all, to start and seek guidance. Joseph is extremely knowledgeable and supportive and able to motivate in a positive way, getting to know each of his clients and their individual goals, and helping them achieve those goals. Joseph is an excellent coach and will be extremely helpful to anyone wanting to get stronger, healthier and just be more useful in their everyday life. I recommend him without reservation.
I’ve been training at Starting Strength San Antonio for about a year now. And have had the pleasure of being coached by Joseph. He is a very knowledgeable and excellent coach. He gives good cues and value feedback after the set. His coaching has helped progress my training beyond anything I could do on my own. I highly recommend Joseph as a strength coach.
Joseph is very knowledgeable and a great coach! He helped me with my squat, deadlift, bench press, and overhead press. The little details greatly improved my lifting and, most importantly to me, my ability to do them safely. He explained what I was doing, whether right or wrong, in a constructive way. I would highly recommend him to anyone looking to improve their strength and to better themselves.
Joseph is passionate about training and fitness. He is a down to earth person who will train anyone with a desire or interest to get stronger or reach a personal fitness goal. I have witnessed him train numerous people at all skill levels and ages from their 20’s all the way up to people aged 50-60.
He helped me after a back injury get stronger than I was before the injury. Working with Joseph added 100 pounds to my squats.
Amazing and thank you Joseph.
I worked with Joseph for 2 years and was grateful for his experience, expertise, enouragement! He was great at explaining how I could revise my form and always quick to give positive feedback! This guy knows his stuff and wants you to succeed! Don’t hesitate to reach out to him for coaching! 👍
Joseph is an amazing coach! I joined Starting Strength as a novice lifter. Because of trainers like Joseph I was able to make great progress on all my lifts and learn the correct form for all the movements.
Joseph really understands the fundamentals and is an excellent teacher. I highly recommend Joseph as a coach for anyone looking to learn how to get stronger.
Every time I have coaching sessions with Joseph I know he is going to keep me accountable with my form and prioritize one-on-one teaching moments after my lifts. I oftentimes hear his voice echoing in my head as I am lifting – his advice just sticks!
Joseph is an amazing coach. His depth of knowledge in all strength subjects is exceptional. Joseph is a joy to work with and his positive attitude, friendliness and ability to notice exactly what is needed with each lift sets him apart from any non starting strength coach.
I worked with Joseph last year for a number of months. I appreciated hi no nonsense approach to coaching. His cues and coaching were clear, concise and incredibly helpful not to mention FUN.
If your considering working with Joseph don’t hesitate he’s a good person and a fantastic coach.