athleticus
Testimonials
Prior to being coached by Prime Athleticus (PA), I had been training based on my own research for 6 years, where I hit a plateau for a long time. Results and improvements quickly showed themselves right after being under PA. All 3 lifts were treated on a very systematic basis which catered to my personal needs. The coaching provided by Dominic was not just the programming but in many different areas. First, was the correction of my form for all 3 lifts that contributed to the very foundation and longevity of my results. Secondly, accessories lifts were programmed that they aided in my overall improvement. Resulting in my personal achievement of a 220 kg squat, 235 kg deadlift and 130 kg bench at a bodyweight of 74 kg.
I stuck to PA as they are backed by science and have a team of dedicated people that want to push the strength and best interests of every athlete.
With years of dedication and record-breaking achievements under their belt, I would strongly recommend you to join PA if you have a strong interest in powerlifting. You'll be well taken care of under them and you'll learn a lot of golden nuggets that will help you to reach a new level.
AO SHENG, 29
FINANCE EXECUTIVE
Dominic devised a routine to help me increase my front squat from 160kg to 170kg. Being a fairly advanced trainee, I could see that his programming was not the typical cookie-cutter types that many other coaches tend to prescribe; it was tailored to my individual needs. Dom was also in frequent contact with me during the course of the routine, and he suggested tweaks to cater for changing circumstances. I highly recommend him as a strength & conditioning coach not only for his "hard" skills (subject matter expertise), but also for his "soft" skills as he is one with that extra human touch.
BEN HO, 37
ACADEMIA/ VETERAN STRONGMAN
I started powerlifting about 6 years ago. I decided to try it just to see if it could complement other sports I was currently doing at that time and found a passion in the sport.
I soon realised that I could break a national record, but I was disqualified after not getting a single attempt on my deadlift. A close friend offered to coach me and eventually I achieved some of my goals. However, after I entered NS, I decided to stop powerlifting as I was unable to train properly.
I approached Daniel soon after to get back on track and I never looked back. I've always wanted to achieve a total of 550kg, in which I hit a 565kg total within a few months of training with Daniel.
Having a coach that has the same passion as you is very important and that you should pick the coach which you feel is the best for you. In order to see progress, there has to be consistency. I would never be able to be where I am without the support of the people I have met along the way. Having Daniel as a coach has been very fulfilling and I can't wait to see what's in store for the future.
CALVIN SOH, 23
MARINE FIREFIGHTER (NS)
Before I had Daniel as my coach from Prime Athleticus (PA), I was struggling with my technique and had no direction in the sport. I was also suffering injuries often due to the poor technique.
I engaged coaching services from Daniel in the hopes of improving my technique to prevent past injuries, improving my powerlifting numbers and have personalized goals to work towards. I made PA my choice as I knew how knowledgeable and genuine the team of coaches are. I met Daniel at a local gym and he even offered help to me out of goodwill before I even started working with him!
After receiving coaching from Daniel, my technique and numbers have grown exponentially and I no longer have to deal with injuries that affected my daily life. Daniel was always there for me, as both a friend and a coach. I clearly recall there was a time where I was really struggling with internship and training which took a toll on me physically and mentally. Daniel was able to adjust my programme and render guidance which made things more manageable.
What made me happy about being in PA was how much of a family we are. I generally enjoyed the process of being stronger due to the constant support from everybody from Prime Athleticus. It is always a blast when I am able to train together with them! I recommend PA to all athletes out there as it made my powerlifting journey much more fruitful and enjoyable.​
COLLIN, 23
STUDENT
I always had a passion for powerlifting but decided to go into physique due to a leg injury in 2016. I placed 3rd at the FM League Physique War 2016. I then enlisted for National Service and trained for general fitness. During this period, I received another severe leg injury that required multiple surgeries to fix.
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After I ORD’d, I decided to try my hand at powerlifting again but was making limited progress on free online programmes. I considered getting a coach but many of them did not seem to be qualified/ experienced to handle the aforementioned injuries.
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However, through the powerlifting club in university, I met Tian Jie, who connected me with Dominic. After a short interaction, I decided to enlist him as my coach, mainly due to the highly personalised and customized programme that took my prior background of bodybuilding and injuries into account. As a qualified rehabilitation specialist, Dom understands the limitations of injuries, how to deal with them appropriately and enables me to put my mind at ease during training. As a coach, he provides frequent feedback to improve my technique and is always ready to clarify anything should I be in doubt.
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I enlisted Dom’s help to prep for the Tertiary Powerlifting Championship 2020. In a span of 10 weeks, I increased my total by 37.5kg, with lifetime PRs on all lifts. I highly recommend Prime Athleticus for anyone looking for a coach due to the level of effort and care provided.
DARRYL EUGENE TAN, 24
STUDENT
I decided to go with PA because of their solid and diverse background of coaches: ranging from qualified rehabilitation professionals to strength and conditioning (S&C) specialists, etc. Under PA’s guidance for close to 4 years now, I can say that they have time and again proven to be the best in all areas: individualised strength programming, injury management, technique analysis, and most importantly, their coaches’ sheer will in chasing self-improvement. Not only did PA develop my physical lifts, they cultivated discipline, persistence, attention to detail and a strong will to succeed against all odds. I highly recommend PA if you are looking for the best coaching service out there.
JIN XIANG, 25
PHYSIOTHERAPIST
Hello I’m Nikki Sam!! I was still studying when I first got in contact with powerlifting. Like many of you, I was lost and young.
I was following some free online programmes and TBH I didn’t know what I was doing but I just did it anyway. The risks of getting injured were way too high because my form was all over the place and obviously had no results.
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Things started to improve after Daniel’s coaching. I felt much better after each session; physically and mentally. Things started to become more organised and I saw improvements in my numbers. I had my personal goals to achieve and glad to say that not only I managed to do it, I achieved more than what I wanted with Daniel’s help!
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I like it because each program is personalised individually to your needs and goals. Explanations are given, not a ‘I say, you just have to follow’ kind of relationship and it was just what I really needed! I believe that a coach does not only have to be knowledgeable but being genuine is as important. If you are seeking to engage a coach, hit Daniel up and you’ll realise he has what it takes to be a top coach!
NIKKI SAM, 24
HR CONSULTANT
I was working with Daniel for under a year. I switched to Prime Athleticus (PA) as I thought that I wasn't progressing and reaching my potential. I chose PA out of all the other coaching services in Singapore because their approach to powerlifting programming is the most scientific based. The coaches: Daniel and Dominic also have a formal education in the sports science field, coupled with ample experience!
Switching over has been the best decision for my lifting career so far! Within one year, my technique has drastically improved. I've learned how to make my lifts more efficient by improving my technique (E.g squat bar paths, retraction for bench press, pulling the slack for deadlifts). Daniel also taught me that you don't have to max out constantly or lift super heavy in every training session to lift heavy in competitions.
On the nutrition aspect, before PA, I was constantly eating ~1200kcal. Daniel taught me not to fear food, that eating little was not the way to go. Moreover as lifters, we need food to fuel our training sessions. Also as a young lifter who is still growing, you shouldn't be constantly cutting.
After training with Daniel for a year, I won the Asian Championship at Mongolia, even breaking the Asian Deadlift and Total Record and also came in second in the recent World Championship in Sweden, narrowly missing being the World Champion. For athletes looking for coaches, I highly recommend PA! You'd not only have coaches who know what they're doing, pushing volume onto you, you'll also get coaches who pay attention to your concerns and help you maximize your potential.
QIAN QI, 21
NURSE
My name is Kyaw Phone Nu, I’m a student at Singapore Management University and am also a freelance analyst. I've been powerlifting for about 3 years and have competed in 5 competitions to date. Before PA, I drifted from programme to programme whenever I did not make progress, failing to realize that it was due to my poor technique. I did not stretch or warm up properly and thought it was not important even though my job and school made me very stiff from the long hours of sitting.
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I chose PA because my good gym buddy- Tian Jie, was under Dominic at that time and I saw he was making good progress and I realised that Tian Jie was so knowledgeable in powerlifting due to his discussions with Dominic. To me, it showed that the coaches at PA knew what they were talking about and I asked to connect me with Dominic. Ever since then I have achieved a lifetime comp squat PR of 175kg which honestly I never thought I would be able to reach, given that my previous comp PR was only 145kg.
I loved how fast Dominic would reply to any questions I had and even trusted me to auto-regulate whenever I felt the need to, but at the same time still keep me in check and explain to me what each block meant. If you want a coach who not only knows what he is talking about but is actually well qualified, someone who treats you as an equal and shares knowledge with you, Dom is the coach.
PHONE NU, 24
STUDENT/ FREELANCE ANALYST
I first learnt of Prime Athleticus through receiving encouraging messages and comments from the coaches and its members on my training videos. Daniel was one of them! This is why I later decided to enlist him as my coach - not only is he brilliant as an athlete himself, he was also always ready to impart knowledge whenever he could. As a coach, Daniel provides personalized feedback and easy to comprehend cues which has significantly improved my understanding and the execution of the main lifts. While the gyms are not operating during the Covid-19 period, I continue to receive programs in the form of home workouts, catered to the equipment I own. Prime Athleticus also continues to service and educate their athletes in this period through online seminars and group discussions. All in all, I’ve really enjoyed the welcoming, communal spirit that Prime Athleticus fosters.
SELINA, 22
STUDENT
I am Wei Chaai and I believe some will know me as "Lao Da". I have been handled by Daniel since 2018, who coached me during 2018 and led me through SPO 18, SPI 18 and Asian Powerlifting Championship 2018 held in Mongolia.
My advice for everyone before reaching out to any coach, first know your purpose and goals. For me to be the best, I have to learn from the best. My weakness is the Squat, and I have to learn from someone who is not only proficient but knowledgeable about technique and the art of programming, and I believe that person is Daniel. He is someone who is one weight class lighter than me but squats more than I do. I never believe in being under a coach who only has multiple achievements as an athlete because not many individuals can be a coach and athlete at the same time.
Another reason why I reached out to Daniel is because of his work ethic. He is understanding and puts his best interest for any athlete. Lastly, as a seasoned powerlifting athlete with some experience, not many coaches can programme proficiently for a transition from off-season to the competitive phase. At the end of the day, it takes 2 hands to clap. In this case, it is about the effort from both the coach and athlete to work together in training and perform during game day.
Now that you've learnt what some of our clients have to say, are you prepared to get #PrimedandReady with us?
WEI CHAAI, 25
SALES ACCOUNTANT