About John Paul

John Paul Catanzaro, BSc Kin, CSEP-CEP, CSEP-HPS, is a CSEP Clinical Exercise Physiologist and a CSEP High Performance Specialist with a Specialized Honours Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology and Health Science. He owns and operates a private training facility in Richmond Hill, Ontario. In 1996, John Paul opened a personal training studio at his home in Toronto, Ontario. With vision and passion, the business quickly grew and the word got out: “If you want to get in shape, go see this guy!” Now located in Richmond Hill, Ontario, the business boasts a state-of-the-art training facility and a waiting list of clients. John Paul founded The Catanzaro Group in 2004 with divisions in fitness, nutrition, supplements, lifestyle, seminars, and publishing. In 2010, Catanzaro Supplements was introduced, a new line of nutritional supplements with the objective of providing high quality supplements in a convenient form at an affordable rate. Over the years, John Paul has appeared on television and has written articles for several publications, including American Academy of Health and Fitness (AAHF) Gamut eJournal, Bodybuilding.com, Bodybuilding Italia, canfitpro Magazine, Coaching One-On-One, Dolfzine, FitCommerce, Fitness Business Canada, Fitness Professional Online, Fitness Trainer, Flare, grrlAthlete.com, Intense Fitness, Men’s Health, Mercola.com, MuscleMag International, Olympian’s News, Personal Trainer Development Center, Personal Training on the Net, Planet Muscle, Quest For Advanced Condition, SelfGrowth.com, SpotMeBro.com, Testosterone (aka T-Mag.com and T-Nation.com), TheGymLifestyle.com and Wannabebig.com. His newsletters are informative and entertaining, and he has provided reviews for numerous publications, including the inaugural edition of Sport First Aid in Canada. John Paul has authored six books, The Elite Trainer (2011), Mass Explosion (2013), The Business of Personal Training (2014), The Warm-Up (2016), Lean and Mean (2017), and Invincible (2022), and has released two DVDs, Stretching for Strengthening (2003) and Warm-Up to Strength Training (2005), which have sold copies worldwide, featured in several magazines, and been endorsed by industry-leading experts. John Paul has also released four webinars, Strength Training Parameters and Program Design (2013), Body Composition Strategies (2013), The Business of Personal Training (2014), and Injury Prevention Strategies for Aging Athletes (2016), providing the latest cutting-edge information to fitness professionals. Throughout his career, John Paul has consulted for various corporations. He’s worked with law enforcement personnel and has contributed to the Toronto Police Service health and wellness program. John Paul has worked with bodybuilders, fitness models, athletes, and coaches ranging from amateur ranks to national-level caliber. John Paul is one of the premier trainers in Canada. Building a reputation for getting his clients in top shape quickly, his expertise has not gone unnoticed by other health practitioners who attend his private studio regularly for instruction. John Paul has attracted the attention of various fitness-related organizations seeking lectures and workshops. The list includes canfitpro, Certified Professional Trainers Network, Granite Club, Masters Swimming Canada, Ontario Kinesiology Association, Ontario Society for Health and Fitness, Toronto Cricket Skating and Curling Club, and more. Those who experience his presentations have dubbed him “the man with an encyclopedic mind.”

In this interview, I share the story of how I became a personal trainer—and a die-hard San Francisco 49ers fan. I’ve been in the business of personal training for over 20 years, and I’m busier today than ever. Want to know the secrets behind my longevity and success in the industry? Join me at the…

I know what you’re thinking—the title probably made you expect a post about steroids. Sorry to disappoint! This one’s about fruit juice, specifically cranberry juice and tart cherry juice taken after your workout. Let’s rewind to the mid-’90s when creatine first hit the market. Remember EAS Phosphagen? Back then, the recommendation was to take creatine…

It’s that time of year again when personal trainers spend hours crafting new programs for their clients. I usually set aside an entire day just for this task. To give you an idea of the thought process involved in designing an effective training plan, check out this video: Want to go deeper?👉 Continue watching Part…

As 2019 comes to a close, let’s take a look back at our most popular and impactful articles of the year. These posts sparked conversation, challenged the norm, and offered practical strategies to help you train smarter. Here are the top 10, plus a bonus: 1. Heavy Hip Thrusts Are Dangerous One of the most…

Research can provide golden insights for health and fitness professionals. Here are some recent findings in the fields of nutrition and supplementation to help you stay ahead of the curve: Nutritional and Supplementation Strategies to Prevent and Attenuate Exercise-Induced Muscle Damage “Exercise-induced muscle damage typically results in impaired performance, increased pain and soreness, and reduced…

Here’s an exercise you may not have seen before: the seated one-arm thick-bar javelin press. In the video below, I’m using an Apollon’s Axle. I picked up the movement from Stéphane Cazeault of KILO Strength Society. Stéphane performs it standing in a staggered stance, but if you don’t have enough height in your power cage,…

That’s 15-year-old Joseph struggling with chin-ups in the first part of the video. The second part shows the results of just five sessions of eccentric training. So how did we improve his performance? Take a look at his program: A1. Mid-Grip Barbell Bench Press: 5 x 5 @ 5-0-X-0, 90sA2. Standing Rope Face Pull: 4…

The concept of accommodating resistance using chains has gained popularity over the past two decades—and for good reason. Exercises like the front squat follow an ascending strength curve, meaning you’re stronger at the top of the movement than at the bottom. Chains are an effective way to match resistance with your natural strength curve. Here’s…

I’ve had some trouble finding a high-quality safety squat bar that actually fits my power rack. Every year, I do a “fitness equipment” shopping spree, and on my last one, I came across a bar that looked great—solid build, good padding, the works. My power rack is four feet wide, so I asked the clerk:…

If you’ve read my book Lean and Mean, you’ll know I’m a big fan of leftover dinner for breakfast and lunch. Just make enough food at night to carry you through the next day. It’s a simple, effective way to prep your meals and stay on track. But what happens when you run out of…