AWT-Syllabus
Programme Aim
The Advanced Weight Training Specialist Clinic is designed for fitness professionals, strength coaches, personal trainers, physical educators, and experienced exercisers who wish to develop advanced knowledge and practical competency in resistance training, strength development, hypertrophy programming, power training, exercise biomechanics, and advanced coaching methodologies.
Participants will learn to design, deliver, monitor, and progress advanced resistance training programmes for a wide range of clients while maintaining high standards of safety and professional practice.
Phase 1: ONLINE SESSION
Foundations of Advanced Weight Training
Strength Qualities
Maximum strength
Relative strength
Functional strength
Strength endurance
Explosive strength
Reactive strength
Introduction
Scope of advanced resistance training
Roles and responsibilities of the advanced trainer
Evidence-based resistance training
Physiology of Strength Development
Neural adaptations
Muscular adaptations
Connective tissue adaptations
Bone adaptations
Training Principles
Individual differences
Progressive overload
Specificity
SAID Principle
Supercompensation
Use and disuse
Reversibility
General Adaptation Syndrome
Assignment
Analyse and compare the training requirements of:
Strength athlete
Bodybuilder
General fitness client
Biomechanics and Exercise Analysis
Applied Biomechanics
Planes of movement
Axes of movement
Force vectors
Leverage and moment arms
Functional Anatomy
Prime movers
Synergists
Stabilizers
Force couples
Exercise Selection
Based on goals
Based on limitations
Based on sport demands
Movement Patterns
Squat
Hinge
Lunge
Push
Pull
Carry
Rotation
Exercise Classification
Compound exercises
Isolation exercises
Open-chain exercises
Closed-chain exercises
Bilateral exercises
Unilateral exercises
Assignment
Perform biomechanical analysis of:
Squat
Deadlift
Bench Press
Programme Design and Advanced Training Systems
Manipulation of Training Variables
Volume
Intensity
Frequency
Density
Exercise order
Tempo
Set and Repetition Systems
Traditional sets
Pyramid training
Reverse pyramid
Ascending loading
Descending loading
Strength Systems
Cluster training
Wave loading
Accommodating resistance
Isometric training
Weider Training Systems
Supersets
Compound sets
Giant sets
Tri-sets
Drop sets
Forced repetitions
Rest-pause training
Pre-exhaustion
Post-exhaustion
Cheating principle
Peak contraction
Assignment
Design a hypertrophy programme and a strength programme.
Recovery, Special Populations and Coaching
Weight Training for Special Populations
Older adults
Obesity
Diabetes
Hypertension
Low back pain
Knee dysfunction
Recovery Management
Sleep
Nutrition
Hydration
Recovery modalities
Deloading
Coaching Skills
Verbal cueing
Visual cueing
Tactile cueing
Error correction
Fatigue Monitoring
Acute fatigue
Functional overreaching
Overtraining syndrome
Risk Management
Screening
Referral systems
Scope of practice
Phase 2: OFFLINE PRACTICE
Advanced Technique and Exercise Mastery
Session 1: Movement Screening and Readiness Assessment
Mobility screening
Stability screening
Functional movement evaluation
Exercise readiness
Session 2: Lower Body Strength Training
Squat Variations
Back squat
Front squat
Box squat
Goblet squat
Split squat
Deadlift Variations
Conventional deadlift
Sumo deadlift
Romanian deadlift
Trap bar deadlift
Session 3: Core Stabilisation and Bracing
Breathing mechanics
Intra-abdominal pressure
Bracing drills
Anti-extension drills
Anti-rotation drills
Session 4: Spotting and Safety Workshop
Bench press spotting
Squat spotting
Safety rack setup
Emergency procedures
Advanced Upper Body and Hypertrophy Systems
Session 1: Upper Body Strength Exercises
Pressing Exercises
Bench press
Incline press
Dumbbell press
Overhead press
Pulling Exercises
Pull-ups
Chin-ups
Rows
Lat pulldowns
Session 2: Advanced Hypertrophy Methods – Practical application of:
Supersets
Giant sets
Tri-sets
Compound sets
Drop sets
Rest-pause training
Pre-exhaustion systems
Session 3: Tempo Training Workshop – Application of:
Slow eccentrics
Isometric pauses
Explosive concentrics
Time under tension
Session 4: Coaching Practicum – Participants coach one another while:
Demonstrating exercises
Correcting technique
Delivering training cues
Power Development and Programme Design
Session 1: Power Training Workshop
Medicine ball throws
Jump training
Box jumps
Bounding drills
Contrast training
Session 2: Functional Strength Development
Farmer carries
Suitcase carries
Sled pushing
Sled pulling
Sandbag lifting
Session 3: Programme Design Laboratory – Design programmes for:
Case Study 1: Male seeking maximum strength
Case Study 2: Female seeking hypertrophy
Case Study 3: Older adult seeking functional strength
Case Study 4: Athlete requiring power development
Session 4: Practical Assessment – Participants must:
Conduct a movement assessment
Teach selected exercises
Demonstrate coaching competency
Apply corrective cues
Design and justify a training programme
Phase 3: GUIDED HOME STUDY
Exercise Analysis Workbook
20 exercises
Programme Design Assignment
Strength programme
Hypertrophy programme
Power programme
Case Study Project: One detailed client case study including: