John Edwin is the founder and owner of Strength Personal Training, Inc. Over the past 15 years, he has completed over 28,000 training sessions, and is one of the premier personal trainers on the East Coast. John trains clients and runs boot camps in Philadelphia and the surrounding suburbs.
John holds a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Physiology from Liberty University, where he graduated with honors. After graduation, he started his career at Philadelphia Sports Clubs, where he was named ‘Trainer of the Year’ 2002, 2003, 2004, among over 2,000 trainers on the East Coast.
In 2004, John started, Strength Personal Training, Inc. He trains clients at Strength Academy and offers in-home personal training sessions.
He is certified through the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM-HFI) and the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA-CSCS), as well as being Pre and Post Natal Certified. John specializes in kettlebell training, core-conditioning functional training and boxing.
John has also, recently co-authored a best-selling book, called Cutting Edge Sales, in which he wrote a chapter on goal setting.
He has had numerous speaking engagements on health, goal setting and overall wellness. If you are interested in having him speak to your group. Please contact him at strengthpt@gmail.com
He takes pride in partnering with his clients to help them attain and exceed their health and fitness goals. Whether you are looking to lose weight, gain muscle or train for a specific sport or event, John has the knowledge and expertise to get you there!!
John Edwin
Owner, Strength Personal Training
Kru Rigel Balsamico - better known as Kru, is the head coach here at Cool Hearts Muay Thai.
He's a scary looking dude but when it comes down to it - he's a really nice,
educated book-worm who LOVES muay thai.
But, he's able to kick most peoples heads off and punch holes in the moon.
No big deal.
Since moving to Philadelphia in the summer of 2005 Kru Rigel has been a driving force in Muay
Thai training and MMA training both in Philadelphia and internationally. Kru Rigel and the
Cool Hearts Muay Thai Camp have established a well known reputation for producing
accomplished Muay Thai fighters at every level, up to professional champions in highly
touted organizations such as the WKA, Friday Night Fights NYC Series, Elite XC, and
Belllator Fighting Championships.
The Cool Hearts Muay Thai Camp family tree reads like a “who’s who” of Muay Thai and MMA in Philadelphia. Fighters trained by Kru Rigel and have gone on to become successful competitors and trainers at gyms and camps all over Philadelphia including: BJJ United, Fight Firm, Balance Studios, Fight Factory, and many others.
Titles/Belts
Two time U.S. Amateur Champion at Middleweight and Super Middleweight
1996 Winner of 1st Warrior Champions – Super Middleweight
1997 – ISMTA Champion – Middleweight
1997 – WKMA Champion – Super Middleweight
1998 – IAMTF US Champion – Super Middleweight
1998 – King of the Ring Champion – Super Middleweight
Undefeated in the US and undefeated at Super Middleweight
Professional Record
24-7 with 11 KO’s Including wins at :Gawilla Stadium, Chiang Mai,
Thailand,TV5 ThailandQueen’s Birthday Celebration, Bangkok, Thailand
Kru Rigel Balsamico
Owner, Cool Hearts Muay Thai
Michael has been training professionally in the Philadelphia area for the past 15 years and has
many fitness accomplishments and credentials to show for it. Michael began his career as a
personal trainer after serving honorably in the United States Marine Corps. Michael is dedicated
to the pursuit of health and wellness!
Michael became a Certified Personal Trainer (CPT) through the National Academy of Sports
Medicine (NASM) and was later certified as a Master Kettlebell Instructor through NASM, as well.
Town Sports International (TSI), the largest fitness company in America, recognized
Michael’s training prowess by awarding him the title of Master Trainer, the highest title/award
TSI offers. In addition to training others, Michael was an avid Professional Power-Lifter,
competing nationally multiple times in contests sponsored by the American Power Lifting
Federation.
Whether you are a beginner or advanced athlete, Michael will educate you, and drive you toward achieving your specific fitness goals. Servicing a broad based clientele, Michael is well versed in: High Intensity Training (HIT), Bodybuilding, Kettlebell Training, Circuit Training and weight loss and will design a workout regimen that targets your specific goals. He will train your entire body and mind, giving you a functional and healthy body that you will love!
“Be focused – be positive”
Michael Mauncele
Master Kettlebell Instructor
Isaiah Wise is an up and coming amateur boxer, born and raised in Philadelphia with a 12-3
record counting 4 technical KO’s with 5 years of experience and knowledge in the sport.
He is a collegian national bronze medallist in 2010 IUP (Indian University of Pennsylvania)
and will be competing in the Golden Gloves 2015. Isaiah Wise currently teaches the kids boxing
classes as well as the adult classes here at Strength Academy.
Isaiah's intriciate fighting style comes from various training sessions with many pro fighters including Gabriel Rosado, Dennies Hassan, Paul Fielder, Antony Terrell, Victor Vasquez, & Miguel Acosta.
Isaiah Wise
Boxing Coach
Andrew James (AJ)
Personal Trainer / Strength and Conditioning Coach
Andrew James (AJ) is a certified Personal Trainer/Strength and Conditioning Coach. He is certified through the American Council on Exercise (ACE) and National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA). AJ comes to Strength Personal Training, Inc. with over a decade of experience in the fitness industry and a strong foundation of body mechanics.
A former Mixed Martial Arts amateur competitor, with 7 years of experience in the disciplines of Muay Thai Kickboxing and Brazilian Jui Jitsu, AJ is a well-rounded athlete and effective trainer. He also holds the CrossFit Level 1 coaching certification. AJ blends a variety of elements from his experiences and education to create challenging and unique programming for all levels of fitness.
Boot Camps and group exercise classes are his favorite playgrounds. AJ has experience working with pro and amateur athletes, College and High School athletes, clients with special considerations and everyone in between!
Adam Tischler
Functional / Rehabilitation Trainer
Adam has 12 years of experience in the fitness field and focuses on using the correct exercise
modality for each of his clients to achieve maximal results while minimizing injury risk.
Adam joins the Strength Personal Training team with 12 years of experience in the fitness field.
After graduating from Ithaca College in 2003 with a degree in Exercise & Sports Sciences,
he started his career at Equinox Fitness in NYC. After 7 months as a personal trainer, he was
promoted to Fitness Manager, where he taught other trainers program design, anatomy,
kinesiology, and biomechanics. While working at Equinox, Adam became a Certified Strength &
Conditioning Coach (CSCS) through the National Strength and Conditioning Association and a
certified Kettlebell Instructor.
Once Adam became a CSCS, he looked to his love of baseball for his next career move. In 2005, he was hired by the Chicago White Sox, and served as a Strength and Conditioning Coach in their minor leagues for 7 seasons. Adam is proud to have worked with over 2 dozen players who have reached the Major League level.
In 2011, Adam moved to Nashville and went back to his original passion of helping people feel better about themselves through exercise. Then he and his wife, Dana, moved to Philadelphia at the end of 2013 when she got a job at CHOP. Adam creates programs designed specifically to his clients goals and capabilities, while managing any existing injuries. He has trained clients from age 13 to age 85 and at all skill levels from novice to professional athlete. Adam focuses on using the correct exercise modality for each of his clients to achieve maximal results while minimizing injury risk. He specializes in training clients who have pre-existing injuries, are rehabbing from an injury, or have medical conditions.
Walt Moura
Boxing Coach/MMA Striking Coach
Walt was the 1979 South New Jersey Golden Gloves Champion in his weight class and has been a
talented and engaging boxing coach for students of all levels, from novices to pros, with over three
decades of boxing experience. Walt provides pure traditional boxing instruction and intensive boxing
conditioning training, as well as skilled striking insights for our MMA fighters.
Walt also has over 25 years real-world law enforcement experience. Walt is a crucial member of the
Strength Academy competition team and is a fixture at every fight supporting our amateur and
professional fighters in the locker room and in their corners.
With his decades of fight experience, unshakable calm, and confidence, Walt is a true ace in the hole for
Strength Academy.
Bobby Kaczak-Bobby brings a wealth of diversity with years of training in different styles of martial
arts. Bobby comes from years of experienced MMA fighting, kickboxing, and grappling. On top of that,
Bobby is a certified personal trainer that holds a blackbelt in karate, a blue belt in Brazilian jujitsu,
and a wealth of knowledge in stregnth and conditioning for all combat sports.
Bobby's possitive attitude and fast paced classes are great for everyone from a first timer to a professional fighter.
-Life is hard train harder for it-
Bobby Kaczak
Assistant Coach / Trainer
