Training for Warriors: Martin Rooney

Transformation Unplugged

Martin Rooney is the founder of Training For Warriors. An internationally recognized trainer, speaker, author and pioneer of strength and conditioning, Martin holds a Master of Health Science and Bachelor of Physical Therapy from the Medical University of South Carolina. He also holds a Bachelor of Arts in Exercise Science from Furman University.

Martin was a four-time All Conference, and four-time MVP performer in Track and Field at Furman and a member of the United States Bobsled team. Following his exposure to MMA in the mid 1990s, Martin began training with Renzo Gracie and started training fighters shortly afterward. Since the foundation of the TFW system, Martin has traveled around the world to train, compete, and conduct seminars and help prepare world class athletes and coaches. Martin has been the martial arts consultant to the NY Giants and the NY Jets and a coach on the IFL World Team Champion New York Pitbulls. Martin is currently a purple belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu under UFC fighter Ricardo Almeida and a black belt in Kodokan Judo under Olympian Teimoc Johnston-Ono.

Martin has lectured about TFW for the American College of Sports Medicine, the College Strength and Conditioning Coaches Association, the National Strength and Conditioning Association, the UK Strength and Conditioning Association, the Finnish Coaches Association, American Fitness Professionals and Associates, Perform Better and has been commissioned by Nike to run speed testing camps at a number of major universities. Martin has also presented for numerous companies on leadership and teamwork including Fortune 500 companies such as Marriot International and Hasbro.

Martin and the TFW system has been featured on ESPN, ESPN2, Spike TV, Sports New York, Fox Sports Net, Fox Fight Game, the NFL Network, HDnet, NBC.com, Bodybuilding.com, tmuscle.com and in the New York Times, Men’s Health, Men’s Fitness, Men’s Journal, Muscle and Fitness, The Sporting News, Stack Magazine, FIGHT!, Fight Sport, Fighters Only, Grappling and Sports Illustrated for Kids.

He has written eight books called “The Book of 5 Things,” “Rooney’s Rules”, “Train to Win”, “Success Patterns”, “The Team Renzo Gracie Workout”, “Training for Warriors”, “Warrior Cardio” and “Ultimate Warrior Workouts”, the latter three published by HarperCollins. Martin is also on the editorial council of Brazil’s Gracie Magazine and a regular contributor to Men’s Health and FIGHT!.

In addition to training many world champion martial artists, Martin has also been a consultant to the New York Giants, Carolina Panthers, Cincinnati Bengals, Arizona State University, University of Alabama, Oregon State University, Rutgers University, Montana State University as well as other athletes from the NFL, MLB, NBA, WNBA and numerous top Division I colleges across the country. He has also trained numerous Olympians including one gold, four silver medalists, and one US Olympic Trials champion. His TFW system has also been implemented by the Army Rangers and Army Airborne Division.

As a partner with the Parisi Speed School, he has also developed one of the top NFL Combine training programs in the country producing the fastest athlete at the 2001, 2004, 2005 and 2006 NFL Combine and first place finishers at ten different positions, including five all-time records. 130 athletes Martin has trained have been drafted to the NFL including the #2 pick overall Chris Long in 2008.

Now Martin’s mission is to spread the TFW System around the world to help any person to Bring Out The Warrior Within.

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