TBP 057 :: Joshua Rucci Compares Training College Athletes to Climbers

About Joshua Rucci

This is an interview with Joshua Rucci, a collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coach in the Southeastern Conference (in Athens). He currently coaches women's basketball and women's gymnastics, and he has experience coaching all kinds of athletes, including the Chicago Bulls.

He has always been passionate about helping athletes get better and reach their potential. Upon arriving to the Southeast, Joshua quickly realized that his days of team sports were over and that he belonged in the woods mountain biking and climbing. Joshua entered the climbing game later in life at the ripe old age of 24 and for the past decade has been training to transform his body from a 200lb college lacrosse player to a 155lb rock climber.

Joshua’s progression has been slow and steady up to 5.13 sport and double digit boulders with limited interruption from injury or major setbacks. Amidst having to work long hours as a coach, Joshua has effectively been able to manage his time to accommodate training, getting to the crag, work, and a new addition to the family.

Certifications and Degrees

Joshua’s certifications include NSCA CSCS, NASM PES, SFG Level 2, FMS Level 1, and he completed his undergraduate degree at BGSU in exercise science and completed his graduate work at UGA in motor behavior.

Articles by Joshua Rucci on TrainingBeta

Joshua is passionate about strength and conditioning as well as climbing, and he's written a good handful of articles for TrainingBeta.

• Why Do I Suck at Climbing Some Days?
• Why Do I Suck at Climbing Some Days Part 2: Readiness Monitoring
• Why Do I Suck at Climbing Some Days Part 3: Efficient Training 
• Skill Acquisition and Technique
• How Breathing Can Increase Your Strength and Power 
• Periodized Training for Climbing

Through his blog entries he hopes to bring the two worlds together to help climbers utilize the science and practical training that he employs with his athletes.

About Our Talk

In this interview we covered a lot of bases, including how training for gymnastics relates with training for climbing, and much more...

• Climbers generally lack regimented training, as opposed to other sports
• Doing more isn't necessarily better
• How long it takes to see results
• Why strength training is so important in every sport
• Will you bulk up if you lift?
• Kettlebell workout for you
• Climbing drills for different levels of climbers
• Should you train to failure or is that dumb?

Joshua Rucci Links

• Joshua at University of Georgia - Athens (bio)
• Joshua climbing (vimeo)

Training Programs for You

• Check out our Route Climbing Training Program for route climbers of all abilities.
• Our other training programs: Training Programs Page.