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Text By: David Larkan
TM: Sean, could you give us a little background on yourself and how you got started?
SR: Sure, after graduating from Christian Brothers High School in Memphis, I attended the University of Central Arkansas and graduated with a B.S. degree in Occupational Therapy. I picked up certifications such as the CSCS (Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist) and the US Weightlifting Federation's Club Coach from the US Olympic team's weightlifting coaches prior to the 1996 games in Atlanta. I trained several young athletes and was fortunate to be able to open a training facility (Sean Ross Strength and Speed) a few years ago. I continue to work part-time as an Occupational Therapist at St. Vincent's Infirmary and then train athletes in the evening.
TM: What initially got your interested in weight training?
SR: I grew up in Forrest City and my older brother Marty was honorably discharged from the Marine Corps when I was 12-years-old. He bought a weight set and encouraged me to lift as well, offering me a whooping fifty cents a week to workout. I remember thinking that was good money at the time but I don't remember him actually ever paying me. Like probably 80% of guys who start weight lifting, I was on a mission to big "big guns." The other 20% who say this is not the reason are liars!
TM: What was your weight training like when you first started?
SR: Well, I can tell you that things sure have changed. When I was a teenager and in my early 20's, bodybuilding was the predominant way of training. It was not uncommon to lift weights for two hours, six days a week at the notorious Razorback Gym. It was a dedicated mission to put another pound on an endomorphic physique. I probably would have made a lot better progress by doing less volume and would have graduated college a lot sooner, also!
TM: When did you start in the strength and conditioning field?
SR: Training athletes to get faster and stronger is totally different than bodybuilding. I really knew nothing about it but in the mid 1990's I began studying its philosophies and attending several seminars around the country. Fortunately, I've been able to put my pride aside, play dumb, and absorb as much information as possible from coaches in the field that are way smarter than I'll ever be.
TM: Who you study under? Who are your greatest influences?
SR: Mike Boyle in Boston has been a tremendous help to me in the strength and conditioning field. I had the opportunity to study at his training facility and look forward to returning for another week of mentorship in May, learning the latest advancements in preparing athletes to be stronger, faster and healthier. Being able to bring these methods back to Little Rock will be beneficial to anyone who trains at my facility. I have also had the privilege of hearing Mark Verstegen of Athletes Performance in Tempe, Arizona and I have implemented several of his philosophies. Others I read about and study include Christian Thibeaudeau, Charles Polliquin, John Berordi and Joe Defranco among others.
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