Youth strength and conditioning · Hawthorn East
We coach young athletes out of Grouse Strength Studio in Hawthorn East. Ben started SISU, and he and Josh own it together.
/ˈsi.su/ · noun · Finnish
The will to keep going when it gets hard, without making a fuss about it.
We coach the physical side in detail and we test it. The bigger job is the athlete: doing the extra work when nobody's asking, putting up with the boring parts, and learning to lose well.
We want kids to care more about how they prepare and how hard they work than about the result on the day.
Founder
I've played basketball most of my life and I still coach it most weekends, at Hawthorn Magic in the VJBL and at Balwyn Blazers, where I've been head coach since 2017. SISU started on that sideline. I kept watching talented kids fade late in games, and more often than not the missing piece was strength and fitness.
I keep my coaching calm and methodical. I'll spot what's off in an athlete's movement before they feel it, and I explain the why, to the kids and to their parents.
Rep 8 is where SISU starts
Ben
Co-owner
I train for things with start lines. Mostly ultra marathons and trail races, with lifting alongside, because I reckon training more than one thing keeps you better for longer. I'm a dad, and I've coached people of every age for the better part of a decade.
In a SISU session I want the kids enjoying themselves first. From there it's about exploring what their body can do.
Club partners
Ben coaches at both clubs, and players from each train with us during term alongside their club program.
We work with Magic players on the strength, speed and power that show up on court.
Blazers players train with us to move faster, jump higher and last a full season.
Run a club or school and want to talk about working together? Leave a message and we'll get back to you.
Thanks. We'll get back to you.
Parents
Yes. We coach athletes who are new to structured training and athletes who've done years of it. Testing in the first session tells us where each one should start.
It depends on their age, their week and how much sport they already play. We'll recommend a load that fits around school and the sport they already play, with their long-term development in mind.
The tested numbers are the first thing: jump height, jump distance and sprint time. Parents also tell us about these:
It's a Finnish word for inner strength and determination: keeping going when things are hard, even when the odds look against you.
