Mark Rippetoe (born February 12, 1956)[1] is an American strength training coach, author, former powerlifter, and gym owner.[2][3][4] He is best known for his barbell training program, the subject of his book Starting Strength: Basic Barbell Training.[5] Rippetoe is known for his brash teaching style and humor, prompting several online compilations of his attributed quotations.[6][7]
Rippetoe bought Anderson's Gym in Wichita Falls in 1984, which he renamed the Wichita Falls Athletic Club.[3][10] He used the WFAC to test and refine his barbell training program, culminating with the publishing of the first edition of Starting Strength: Basic Barbell Training, co-authored with Lon Kilgore, in 2005.[5][10] The Starting Strength program focuses on building strength with compound lifts—the squat, deadlift, press, bench press, and power clean—and a limited number of assistance exercises, such as chinups.[15] In collaboration with Glenn Pendlay and Kilgore, Rippetoe also established the USA Weightlifting Regional Development Center in Wichita Falls.[10]
In 1985, Rippetoe was a part of the charter group of individuals to receive the Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist certification when it was first offered by the National Strength and Conditioning Association.[4] He formally relinquished the credential in 2009.[5] Rippetoe was also formerly associated with the CrossFit community as a subject-matter expert in barbell training.[16] He authored many training articles for the CrossFit Journal and created, with Lon Kilgore, the Basic Barbell Certification course, which they conducted from 2006 to 2009.[17][18] After he ended his formal association with CrossFit in 2009, he expanded this course into a three-day Starting Strength Seminar produced through the Aasgaard Company.[17][19][20]
Beginning in 2018, the Aasgaard Company established a national franchise gym chain of Starting Strength branded gyms which feature the use of basic barbell equipment and the Starting Strength method.[21]
Rippetoe has authored several books, peer-reviewed articles, online and DVD instructional videos, and internet posts concerned with strength training.[3]
^"Wichitans Win in Powerlifting". The Wichita Falls Times. December 10, 1981. p. 6B. Mark Rippetoe won first place at the 198-pound class...a total of 1514 (573 squat; 341 bench press and 600 deadlift.)
^Rippetoe, Mark; Bradford, Stef (2011). Starting Strength: Basic Barbell Training (3 ed.). Wichita Falls, Texas: The Aasgaard Company. pp. 7, 73, 97, 145, 177. ISBN978-0-982-5227-3-8.