The Iron Samurai is not your average weightlifting blog.  So many of the strength training, conditioning, and weightlifting websites and blogs out there on the internet focus on the “hard core” side of strength.  Of course, this side exists, but it’s the least interesting part to me.

I’ve spent years practicing Zen Buddhism, which may seem incongruous for a strength coach and competitive Olympic weightlifter. But I feel strongly that a powerful connection between the mind and the body is one of the key factors in an athletes success.  And while most coaches and athletes pay lip-service to the idea of mental training in sports, few put it into practice.

70 pounds heavier than when I started. Proof that cleans and squats work!

I’ve never been a “tough guy”.   I grew up both skinny AND short.  I’m still short, but at least I’ve packed on a substantial amount of muscle (70+ pounds and counting) since I started training.   I have a light-hearted and jovial attitude towards life.  I’m the guy who’s always making dumb knee-slapper jokes and then preceding to be the first guy to laugh at them!  When I was in High School my favorite musician was Prince and I just HAD to dress like him … not a tough guy.  I was “metro” long before that word became popular.

Here at The Iron Samurai I take seriously not only training the body but the mind via posts on the science behind weightlifting, the psychology of success, and even how I believe that Zen meditation practice can benefit ones game in and out of the weightroom.  And I do it all with a relaxed voice and a decidedly non-hardcore style.

One of the reasons Olympic Weightlifting drew me closer than did Powerlifting was precisely the requirement in Oly lifting that one must focus.  You can’t do the whole “smelling salts” thing, or the “grunt and yell and run around the gym” thing if you want to lift heavy weights above your head.

Instead, you have to stop, compose yourself, save your energy, and make sure all of your effort and explosion is transferred into the bar in EXACTLY the right way.  Any slip-up, and you just lost 10 or 20k off of your lift.

As to the sport specific content areas of the blog, generally Olympic weightlifting and other strength sports, as well as techniques for extreme fat loss and total body transformation (these are what I specialize in in my offline business).  But, hey, this is a blog, so you’ll see a lot of my pet interests as well such as Sumo (yes, Sumo) and Trail Blazers Basketball (go Blazers!)

With that said …

My name is Nick Horton, and I’m a Certified USA Weightlifting Sports Performance Coach and a Crossfit Certified Olympic Weightlifting Coach. I am the Founder, President, and Head Coach of PDX Weightlifting, which is the name of both my strength and fitness training company and of my Olympic Weightlifting team.

I am currently a graduate student studying Mathematics and Mathematical Biology.  I’m a competitive Olympic Weightlifter myself and will be competing for the second time in the Highland Games this summer. This is me using my mind to throw the Portland Stone.  Mind over Matter!

Using my Mind!

For more information about Personal Coaching in the SE Portland area, email Nick at Coach@pdxweightlifting.com