High Intensity Training Interview of the Month: Bill DeSimone
This month’s interview is definitely one of the most unique, refreshing-and controversial-that I have done so far.
Our special guest this month is the author of the new training book Congruent Exercise, Bill DeSimone.
Bill is an experienced personal trainer, having started in 1983, and now owns his own studio-Optimal Exercise in Cranbury, New Jersey. 
As Bill says in Congruent Exercise: “You can get all the benefits of weight training, without the risk and frustration, by applying the appropriate joint movements, postures, moment arms, i.e. biomechanics, to your exercises. And you’ll be able to apply this anywhere, whether you are surrounded by the most current, high tech, selectorized machines, or sewer plates on a rusty bar, or doing chin-ups on a tree, because the one constant is your body and biomechanics.”
This is no run-of-the-mill training stuff Bill is talking about here. I have noticed for a very long time that many people who I considered experts in exercise and/or High Intensity Training were very weak when it came to utilizing orthopedically friendly, biomechanically sound techniques and positions.
Bill has spent a lot of time and effort studying this issue, and as a result he has come up with some fresh and fascinating ideas and techniques.
Listen now to this thought-provoking interview as Bill challenges strength training dogma and reveals:
- How a skating accident shaped his training philosophy
- His perspective on the teachings of Mike Mentzer, from 1976 through 2001 (wow-did he really just say that?)
- Examples of what “congruent exercise” means, and how it can help you
- His take on rep speed and full range of motion
- The relationship between joint function and torque as it applies to exercise (super interesting)
- His “Anti-Inflammation Theme” nutritional philosophy
- What he means by “functional fairy dust” (hilarious)
- And much, much more!
To hear the Bill DeSimone interview, just click on the play arrow (the little triangle on the left) below:
Bill Demonstrates The Congruent Chin-Up
Click here to learn more about Bill’s book Congruent Exercise
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Hi Bill
Great video,very well explain and detail on the correct way to do a chin up.
All the best to you.
anibal
Dave,
What a GREAT interview with Bill!! He is a thinker and our industry needs to have more thinkers like Bill.
As always, thanks for posting great information!!
Dwayne Wimmer
Vertex Fitness
Bill: You are a rockstar — and so normal. Thanks for your work!
Good interview.
I think it’s good for people to have differing points of view. Even a little debate over some of his methods would have been welcomed. Perhaps in a follow up interview.
We’re all trying to improve and we need to have our core beliefs examined from time to time.
And we must also be careful not to make idols out of those who may have inspired us.
I’m definatley looking to get his Congruent exercise book. He’s about 20 minutes away from me, so I may want to go to his training studio.
Hello Bill
I enjoyed the video, it was very informative.
Thank you
Anibal Lopez: a physique icon from Dan Lurie’s Muscle Training Illustrated magazines in the 1970s, thank you.
Dwayne, Beck, Paul, Dominic: thank you. Other similar videos are Moment Arm Exercise Chest 1 and 2, MAE Biceps 1 and 2, MAE Forearms, and Calves, all on the You Tube channel.
The Amazon entry isn’t right yet (according to Amazon), so if you’re interested in the spiral bound manual format of the book, it’s listed on ebay as Congruent Exercise.
Dave, thanks for the opportunity here.
FYI everybody–The Amazon entry is fixed now–there is a link to it above (right under the video).
An outstanding interview Dave,
A very sensible approach to exercise and nutrition.
great stuff.
Great interview gentlemen. We are looking forward to March!