Discover Training

The Dinnie Stones are a famous Scottish strength challenge dating back to 1860, when Donald Dinnie, a legendary highland games athlete and stonemason, is said to have carried two large stones, each fitted with an iron ring, across a bridge at Potarch in Aberdeenshire. Today the stones weigh roughly 144kg (the “small” stone) and 188kg (the “big” stone), for a combined lift of about 332kg. The challenge is to deadlift both stones together by their rings and stand fully upright. The awkward shape, uneven weights, and brutal grip demand make it a serious undertaking. I'm attempting to lift the legendary stones on the 2nd of July 2026. This is a deeply personal challenge for me, encapsulating much from my family, personal and professional life. I am a personal trainer and two of my biggest inspirations are my Grandpa, Campbell Letham and George Hebert. Both military men but uniquely both proponents of self-development and strength & fitness training as a means to being more helpful and contributing to your community. In that spirit, rather than lifting simply for myself, I'm also raising money for a charity I know would have meant much to both of them. Any contribution is gratefully appreciated. "Etre fort pour etre utile": Be strong to be helpful. Support me at: /page/derek-budd-1?utm_medium=FA&utm_source=IG #charity #fundraising #whodarescares #strongtobehelpful #dinniestones @mauchtymalts @jpsgym @paulmcilroyamazing12 @stevie_shanks

Who am I? 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏋‍♂️🐈🐍🥃 I'm Derek and I’ve spent over 20 years in gyms, wearing a lot of different hats: glorified cleaner, gym instructor, health club manager, PT, and I've travelled the UK with some other amazing coaches working in coach development delivering seminars. I’ve competed in powerlifting and strongman, coached competitive athletes, and have a particular interest in oldtime strongman training, but most of my work and where my passion lies has been with everyday people, especially beginners and those trying to rebuild confidence and competence through physical development. I don’t focus on transformations or aesthetics-driven training, not because those things are bad or don’t matter, but because they’re not what motivates me. I’m more interested in how training changes the way someone carries themselves through their life than how they look in a before and after snapshot of a single moment. To me, the process and the lifelong skills it develops ARE the point, regardless of the desired short-term outcome. I believe strength, physical ability and self-development as a whole should make you a better human. That means contributing, being more helpful. To your family, to your community, and to yourself. Humans are a social species and we work best when we cooperate and lift each other up. I believe the strongest of us (physically and metaphorically) have even more responsibility to do so. We get stronger, move better, and train with honesty and intention, not to show off but to show up. If any of that resonates then I can help. #strengthforlife #personaltrainer #ukfitness #functionalfitness #strengthtraining @jpsgym

🤸‍♂️ Last weekend I had the pleasure of attending a 2-day seminar by Range of Strength, learning all things flexibility, splits and oldtime strongman. As usual I was having too much fun down the rabbithole to remember to take many pictures, but there was a lot covered and I plugged a good few gaps in my knowledge as well as learning new, creative, ways to program some of these unconventional and innovative approaches for everyday clients. A mark of a good training course is being able to walk into the gym the next day and immediately apply what you've learned. Honestly though, for me, the highlight of the weekend was just being back in a room with like-minded, passionate coaches and sharing experience and ideas. I also got the chance to chat with @rangeofstrength and @jp_bryce about training history, philosophy and how we take it forward (over a dram of course 🥃😉). That conversation alone gave me a lot to think about and practice. Thanks to @jpsgym for arranging and hosting the event and all the other coaches in attendance for your company and conversation. @jcscoaching_ @sym8ry @coachsam_ncl @alex_grnbox @sebastiancnanderson @safiya.coaching @sambaconpt @pioneerperformanceeducation @rangeofstrengthnetwork #StrengthCoach #OldTimeStrongman #MobilityTraining #PersonalTrainerUK #RangeOfStrength

What is the bent press? Despite the name, it is not really a press in the strictest sense. Instead of driving the weight overhead, the working arm & shoulder creates tension to prevent the weight from falling while the body folds, shifts and rotates underneath it, until it's held at arms length before standing upright. It is less about moving the bar up, and more about moving the body to create structure to resist and control heavy load with one arm. That may explain why it was also known as the "body press". The barbell bent press requires & challenges a lot at once, physically & mentally; strength, mobility, stability, coordination, balance, proprioception, tension, breathing/bracing, control, patience, concentration, focus, discipline & composure under load. You can't rush a heavy bent press. You can't hit the smelling salts and attack it. You must stay calm and pay attention.You have to feel where the balance of the weight is, where you are, how both are moving and whether the whole system is working together. A single rep may take 20-30s of concentration to complete. Arthur Saxon reportedly required absolute silence during his attempts. This is one reason it mattered historically. Before there were clear distinctions between calisthenics, bodybuilding, weightlifting powerlifting, kettlebell lifting and strongman like there are today, oldtime lifters valued the bent press not because it's optimal for any one thing, but because it displays so many physical and mental capacities at once. It's part feat, part discipline and all skill. In essence, it was seen as a physical demonstration of well-rounded ability. That doesn't make it essential, "better" than any other exercise, or something anyone absolutely needs to train. But it does make it interesting, worth understanding and an important part of physical culture history. It still has value, plus, it's a lot of fun! "the bent press is a joyous activity. If enough of us get good at it, we can make the world a happier place" - @irontamer #bentpress #physicalculture #oldtimestrength #strengthtraining #personaltraining @paulmcilroyamazing12 @jpsgym

This depiction of a Coatbridge Ironworker @summerleemuseumscotland might look a bit exagerrated at first glance but I think it unintentionally nails the towns other "iron legacy". I often speak to my clients about the history of physical culture in Coatbridge & Airdrie, because weight training and bodybuilding have pretty deep roots in this area. Iron wasn't just mined and refined here, it was used in gyms like The Muscle Inn, Langloan Health & Strength club, Fergie's gym, and a few more, to build bodies and a whole culture around them. Pumping iron was so popular in the area, that culture grew big enough to spawn regular "Mr. Monklands" and "Mr. Lanarkshire" bodybuilding competitions, which also included feats of strength, performed as entertainment and offered up as challenges to audience members for the chance to win prizes. Not only that but legened has it, the entire town was founded on a feat of strength 😉 So, deliberate or not, I think this is a pretty cool nod to a place once known as the "Iron burgh". #coatbridge #scottishhistory #physicalculture #strengthtraining #summerleemuseum @jpsgym

The "Doorman fallacy" is the error of reducing a human role to its most simple, obvious task and thinking that by replicating this task you are replicating the entire role. e.g. replacing a doorman with an automatic door then losing all the real but "intagible" value that comes with having a human do the job. I see a similar error all the time when people mistake a training program for coaching. The obvious task of a coach is to write the plan; sets, reps, exercises, progressions etc. Easy to copy, generate or download for free. The real job is everything that sits around the obvious bit: ⚾️ Noticing and ASKING how you are that day; energy, stress, pain, confidence, mood etc and adjusting accordingly. 🏀Picking the right dose: push hard, stick to the plan, or back off. 🏐Spotting the rep that looks fine today but will bite you in 6 weeks when a bad habit  has become your technique. 🏈Making small technical changes that turn a movement from an exercise into focused practice and real training. 🏉Adjusting cueing strategies and even inventing new, personal ones for when you're not understanding something. ⚽️Choosing what matters right now instead of what the plan says. 🥎Providing accountability so you'll show up and build consistency. 🎾Believing in you when your self-belief waivers, building confidence. So yes, I can give you a program, you can get one for free on Google or AI and you can find any exercise on Youtube. But none of that is coaching. Coaching is a relationship. It’s the feedback, accountability, and the human "intangibles" that come with another person in the room.  A person who has the empathy to put you at the centre of the training and the skills to help you forge your own, unique path towards the goals that matter to you. A program is a map. Coaching is an experienced guide, walking the path with you and teaching you how to navigate in the real world, through bad weather, impassible routes, detours, bad decisions, and unexpected events. It's an arm around your shoulder and a voice saying "c'mon I'll show you". #personaltraining #strengthtraining #coaching #programming #gymlife @jpsgym 📷@matthewsmillie_photography

Strict Press vs Push Press: What’s the difference and why should you train them? Strict Press: no knee bend or leg drive. Upper body, specifically shoulders and arms, do the work. 🏋‍♂️- Trains pure shoulder strength & hypertrophy. 🏋‍♂️- Make sure to bring the bar all the way down to AT LEAST under the chin to get the best shoulder stimulus. 🏋‍♂️- Requires control, good bracing & sound            pressing mechanics. Push Press: Explosive dip and drive with the legs. The triceps finish the lockout. Allows heavier loads than strict press but less effective for pure, targeted shoulder strength & hypertrophy. 🏋‍♂️- Power generated in the lower body transfers to the upper body via the core. 🏋‍♂️- Trains full-body power & overhead lockout       strength. 🏋‍♂️- Requires everything the strict press does PLUS speed, timing, and coordination. Both are fantastic overhead barbell variations but they train different capacities. If you want bigger, stronger shoulders, don't let ego take over and cheat the strict press by turning it into a push press. Lower the weight and keep it strict. If you just want to put massive weights overhead, train full body power and/or improve your overhead lockout then the push press is a great option. But make sure you've got the speed, timing and coordination nailed. Either way, solid technique is critical to get the most from these exercises. #strictpress #pushpress #strengthtraining #ukfitness #personaltrainer @jpsgym

🦍 Training with a couple of gorillas 🦍 Not often you get to coach a mother and son powerlifting duo! @vanillagorillax1 just a few weeks out from the National single lifts and inspired by watching her boy under the bar a few months ago, his mum @girlygorilla1 training for her first competition at the @bdfpa_scottish spring qualifier in Montrose! Some team! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 💪 #powerlifting #strengthtraining #motherandson #ukfitness #personaltrainer @jpsgym

fUnCtIoNaL tRaInInG I'm starting to see more "Functional training" posts on socials again recently but as with any supposedly technical term on the internet, there are arguments about what it actually means and how to put it into practice. For most coaches/PTs, it's a nuanced and variable term used to inform, not dictate their programming. For clickbait coaches, it's a social media ragebait goldmine that has their clients doing dynamic power-BDSM using bands, bosu balls and kettlebells for everything except their actual purpose. What's functional depends on the function. If a bodybuilding show is your goal then bodybuilding training is functional af. If you just want to get/stay healthy then ANYTHING that gets the heart rate up and builds muscle a few times a week is functional. If you want to do more than that or have specific goals in mind, then there's a little bit more thought and planning required, but as long as the training is moving you towards the desired outcome, it's functional. But while the internet loses it's mind arguing over minutiae and gaslighting you into thinking your training is useless because it's not complex and novel enough, lets not forget the "functional" universals of a healthy human life: - prioritise sleep and recovery. - eat enough protein, not too much. - eat enough carbs, fats, fruits and veg, not too much. - drink enough water. - reduce stress as much as you can. - lift weights of some sort 2-3 times per week. - raise your heart rate a little for 20 mins 3-5 times per week. - walk. - spend time with real people in real life. - do things that bring you joy. Oh, and if you're over 30 and training just to be the best parent/partner/sibling/grandparent/whatever human that you can be, one of the most funtional things you can do is NOT smash yourself to hell in the gym. Leave something in the tank for real life. Spending hours in the gym beating strength & fitness into yourself is neither required nor sustainable. Training is a catalyst for a better life, not a substitute for one. #functionaltraining #functionalstrength #trainforlife #ukfitness #personaltrainer @jpsgym

Why Zercher Squat? The Zercher squat, named after 1930s strongman Ed Zercher, places the load in front of the body, cradled in the crooks of the elbows. It looks unusual and can be a little uncomfortable, so what is it useful for? 🏋‍♂️ With the weight held in front, you’re forced to stay more upright and strongly engage the core. For many people, this can reduce lower back strain compared to back squats and front squats, by spreading the load over the mid/upper back muscles and encouraging better positions and patterning rather than relying on spinal tolerance. 🏋🏻‍♀️ Holding the bar in the arms naturally pulls the shoulder blades and ribcage into a more neutral alignment, which can encourage and reinforce effective bracing and breathing under load. 🏋‍♂️ It works well as a stepping stone between goblet squats and front/back squats, helping build confidence, control, and positional strength without jumping straight to a racked barbell. 🏋🏻‍♀️ For those who dislike having a bar on their back or shoulders, Zerchers are often far less intimidating. They can be loaded heavy, but if something goes wrong, the bar can simply be dropped, with no bail out needed. 🏋‍♂️ Real world carryover. Outside the gym, we tend to lift and carry heavy things in front of us. That also makes the Zercher a useful assistance exercise for strongman loading events like stones, sandbags, kegs, front-loaded carries or even a substitute when that equipment isn’t available. 🏋🏻‍♀️ Finally, the discomfort is a feature, not a bug. Zerchers teach you to stay calm, braced, and controlled under awkward load. There are some practical and philosophical strength lessons here. #strengthtraining #functionalstrength #barbelltraining #ukfitness #personaltrainer @jpsgym @calebsgymandgrouptraining

"Be strong to be helpful". Campbell Letham (my Grandpa and army PT during WW2) and Georges Hèbert. Two men who have probably had the biggest influence on how I think about training; most easily summed up by Hèbert's motto, quoted above. If all your effort, discipline and “self-improvement” only ever point inward, you haven’t improved anything that matters. Self improvement isn't improvement at all if it's just all about you. A fit body, big muscles and heavy lifts are just fancy baubles without the strength of character to use them to make the world a better place. Help someone move furniture, change a tyre at the roadside, help a parent lift a buggy on/off a train or up/down stairs, just be calm and present when someone vulnerable feels unsafe, carry shopping for someone, hold open a heavy door or gate. Even in the gym; spot someone, help them load/unload their equipment, commend their effort, even if how they train makes no sense to you. Especially then. Share knowledge and experience. Carry the burden when others can't, support those that are struggling even if it seems small and insignificant. Do it for the person closest to you or a complete stranger. It all makes a difference. These days more than ever, when platforms like this one reward what looks impressive and what's easiest to show, but which is rarely what matters most. Train to have the capability to help. Practice having the decency to try. #StrengthTraining #FunctionalFitness #PersonalTrainer #UKFitness #Coatbridge @jpsgym

Harry hadn’t found a way of training that he actually enjoyed. Nothing ever really clicked, so consistency was always a bit of a struggle. A few months ago he decided to give me a shout and give kettlebells a try and now he’s training regularly, moving better, building new skills, getting stronger, and it doesn’t feel like a chore to show up. The progress has followed because the enjoyment came first. That’s the part that's often missed: "if movement is medicine, then we're much more likely to take our daily dose when it tastes good" - @nick_tumminello Consistency doesn’t come from willpower alone or mindlessly grinding through til you break. It comes from finding a way of training that suits you, so that when life gets in the way, you pick back up where you left off and keep going. That's one of the reasons I've gained experience in so many diverse styles of training, so I can give people those options to find what works for them. Because you're never done. The next thing is not the last thing, it's just next. What lasts is what fits for you 💪 @jpsgym #PersonalTrainerScotland #StrengthTraining #Kettlebells #TrainLocal #DiscoverTraining