Testimonials

Since I started training with Joe I would say overall composition has improved. Especially in my rear delts, arms, and back. Learning cues for execution and taking my intensity to the next level has really helped. Now I think less about the weight being moved and more about the muscle being worked. Feeling an exercise correctly really makes all the difference especially in bringing up those weak body parts.

When I execute exercises I understand more how to activate muscles and really feel them working. Previously I had a hard time feeling and developing a few lagging body parts, particularly back and delts. Now I love training delts and back now because I know WHAT to do.

I’ve met and have been around a lot of people in this industry. From research lab rats to top level pros and no one has the knowledge and skill set of Joe. He not only looks like captain America, he is as smart as Einstein. He has a great way of teaching you cues and proper technique with explanations of “why” you should do “x”. I always say to surround yourself with the best in order to be the best and i’m beyond grateful to have Joe in my corner. In addition Joe conducts himself with a very high level of professionalism. You can go from lord of the rings talk with me to let’s get to work in .02 seconds and keep focused.

After our first few sessions together my first thoughts were:

1. Why do I hurt so much where I need to hurt?
2. This is amazing, highly worth my time.

The workouts are always challenging, but not to where it’s uncomfortable to train. I get my butt handed to me on a silver platter, but I Learn something each time and it fires me up for my solo sessions.

21 year old who chose a life for herself that entailed taking her mind and body to heights that seem foreign to most.

My name is Dani Dillon, I am a nationally qualified and IFPA pro figure competitor from Kansas City, MO. I moved to Tampa at age 20 seeking growth and opportunity. Mi40 is a gym I happened to find via Instagram, I was very familiar with Ben Pakulski for he is a huge inspiration in my career. I commented on one of the pictures inquiring about the possibility of training with one of the elite trainers there. Fast forward 4 months and a notification came through in response to my comment and it was Joe! Joe Bennett the hypertrophy coach! My entire being filled with joy and excitement because I was going to get a chance to train with the best of the best, and that was why I came to Tampa.

After my first session with Joe I knew that I was going to grow so much from working with him but I had no idea the incredible impact this experience was going to have on me. After moving to Tampa I was struggling to keep up with the cost of living here and it showed in my training, I forgot what it felt like to push past the burn of those extra 5 reps that counted the most. My connection to the weights had become transparent. Once I started training with Joe, that light of purpose and meaning between myself and the weights was back. I was pushed and forced to become uncomfortable again in the gym which is exactly the level of comfort one needs in the gym in order to become better.

I am a trainer myself and knew that the most valuable gift you can give a person is the gift of impact. I always say my mission is to leave my mark on every life I touch. Joe left his mark on mine.

The amount of knowledge I developed while training with Joe has forever changed not only my own but my professional approach to training. The way I work my program and clients’ programs has Joe’s secret sauce mixed in now! See, being a young trainer and having been one since the age 17- fitness and this industry of physical and mental development was all I knew. I have studied training/nutrition/ supplement methods, concepts and approaches day in and day out as if I was my own university. Joe was the one who connected dots for me and also helped me justify a lot of my ideas or approaches.

Every time we trained I was sore in the exact place we had worked. I understood body position, placement and pathways in which would effectively execute a muscle’s active range of motion, greatest points of resistance/tension and my mental connection through the firing of the central nervous system.

OK a lot I know, simpler terms…I could lift weights the right way for the right muscles being targeted. This resulted in a thickening of my back and shoulders which was exactly what my goal was.

When it came to nutrition and supplementation, I was one of those super holistic and natural healers which was very similar to Joe’s approach. He expanded on everything I knew and taught me a ton about detoxification, hormonal imbalances and inflammation. The tools he taught me are still to this day apart of my every day regime.

Joe created a platform for me to grow and develop myself as a competitor and trainer. He will forever be my trainer because he transformed my outlook and intellectual approach to training. But the the part that truly means the most to me is that he brought my heart and mind back together in the gym…where they belong. Thank you Joe.

Since I started working with Joe I learned it’s not the amount of weight you lift that shapes a muscle but it’s the squeeze and your controlled form which makes it grow and defined. The first muscle part that moves is the one you are shaping. Learning to isolate a muscle group is extremely important in muscle development. I learned the most effective way to shape glutes and the hamstrings. I have a mind and muscle connection with both muscle groups after training with Joe. Also, my glutes are tighter and have a more profound shape. My leg biceps “hamstrings” are now one my favorite muscles to train.

My execution is now more slow and controlled squat with a two second pause at the bottom and then squeeze glutes and extend to the top.

Hips remain and pressed on the pad when doing a lying hamstring curl.

On the leg press machine, pause is at the bottom of the press not at the top (legs extended.)
Glutes were my previous lagging body part, now I am very confident in training my them. I do know that in the soon future they will not be a lagging body part but one of my best.

Not only is Joe educated but he “walks the walk.” He trains to compete which means that he is constantly studying on how to improve his physique effectively. Also, Joe shows an extreme passion for developing the body not destroying it by unnecessary weight lifting and bad form.
Joe’s explanations regarding form and technique make sense. Missed opportunity if you don’t train with Joe. He also has a style and mannerism that I am extremely comfortable with.
After our very first session I thought: Brilliant. I knew that I was at the right place to improve my physique.

My workouts were extremely challenging. Joe pushed me to the next level. I knew I was safe with his spotting and technique which allowed me “to go” the extra reps and added weight.I am an IFBB Figure Professional that is now stepping on stage for the 29th time to qualify for the Olympia. I’m constantly learning on how to improve my physique. MI40 is a perfect match for me because their in-depth knowledge of how the muscles are shaped/developed and grow. Joe understands my passion and drive to succeed in bodybuilding. There is no magic pill for it just hard work.

Joe Bennett is an outstanding master of his craft; incredibly bright with a treasure trove of health and fitness knowledge; expert in weight training, and nutrition. Joe brings a passion and enthusiasm unlike any other to every session. He makes each workout challenging, creative and most importantly, fun! Joe places a (high) value on “correct form” with each movement. He motivated me to push through my conceived limits to get results well ahead of my expectations. He is a wealth of information and an ongoing student within his profession. He is constantly re-upping his own game with continued new and more sophisticated fitness certifications.

One of the things I appreciated the most with Joe, is he works with the (whole) person – Mentally, emotionally, and physically. Joe taught me a lot about discipline and commitment. This has carried over into my career and made me a stronger and more successful executive… My proudest accomplishment while under Joe’s strict supervision and guidance, was his encouragement and contest preparation, which led to a first place victory in the 2012 NPC Sunset Classic Bodybuilding Championship in the Men’s Over 40 Heavyweight Division, and Masters Overall Title. In the 5 years that Joe trained me, he took me from a 190 pound frame with an 18% body fat to a 200 pound frame with a body fat below 10%. The principles, disciplines, and techniques that Joe presented, will stay with me the rest of my life…

-Thanks Joe, for your inspiring leadership! Alan T.

Since our training session I have never been more focused on mind muscle connection and fibre recruitment. This has really helped me squeeze the muscle & work through full or part ranges of motion for the specific muscle.

Working with Joe has revolutionized the way I train! Yeah we all still like to throw some weight about sometimes but the mind muscle connection, the intensified pumps are all down to increased learning! Thanks!

I’m currently 13 weeks out of my first show! Exciting times! Now the levels of fat are dropping I am seeing good striations and can still hold great workouts even with declining fuel input!

The execution is the number one thing that has changed! I was a “bro” using every single muscle in my body to move the weight from A to B! Well no more! We put all of that out of the window! Joe taught me to activate & isolate the desired muscle and then to work it through its longest and shortest lengths and then to attack it through the full range! Such valuable advice! Ive not looked back since!

For those hesitant to work with Joe, or skeptical of his training efficacy, I would say if they are hesitant then they don’t even need to be coming near the Mi40! I was so excited to get working with Joe to improve myself both physically & mentally that anybody who is thinking about it should stop thinking and pick up the phone or email!! If they got half of the information I got they would still be receiving value for money and priceless information that will last a lifetime! Don’t delay! Start with Joe today!

From our very first session, Joe’s attention to detail & knowledge was absolutely outstanding, he made me feel most welcome and you certainly knew how to keep somebody’s focus during the session. His teaching methods and form execution was perfect and gave me the fired up motivation I needed for this prep!

The sessions were perfect for what was required… An improvement of knowledge and tips on execution to enable me to take my training to the next level! Nobody wants to be told to work harder when you feel you’re giving your all but when somebody shows you how to work smarter then that’s they key for me!

I got into the gym life 4 years ago and fell in love with it! Soon I graduated from the “bro lifting” to actually the scientific side of it all and I’ve never looked back… The progression has been immense and the people I’ve met along the way have added to the journey. I am so glad i’ve decided to compete to see how far I can push the boundaries! October 29 i’m coming for you….!

Many thanks to Joe for his input during training sessions which in turn has led to sky high motivation and the needed changes to my training to help me achieve my goal! Training with Joe has set me up for life with priceless information not available to the “bros” through google!

I met Joe Bennett back in 2012 right after I started working as a personal trainer and was also getting ready to start prepping for a figure show, I wasn’t happy with my coach at the time, I found myself falling out of love with training, I wanted to learn more and I wasn’t getting that, I had a certain physique I wanted in mind and I ended up looking the complete opposite for my last show at the time, so I decided I was going to try it on my own… and then Joe and I met!

Working with Joe changed my life in more ways than I can put into words, he got me right away, he helped me get the physique I had in mind but most importantly I found my love for training again, learned so much about my body, nutrition and supplementation, just by working with him I’ve become a better trainer and a better competitor, he’s not only my coach, he’s my mentor and best-friend!

He’s a unbelievable coach who understands functional anatomy and how the body works. He’s an amazing writer and educator and is able to take complex topics, simplify them, and make them more easily accessible and understandable.

The first time I reached out to Joseph Bennett was to help me on my posing as I was competing in the 2015 Southeastern USAs as a bodybuilder with the goal to qualify for the NPC Nationals in Miami that same year. As we finished our posing session, Joe offered me a training session.

The first thing that came to my mind was, what is he doing to teach me that I already know. I had been training for 18 years and was hesitant on learning anything new that I had already applied or done in the past. So I gave it a shot and scheduled a training session with him at MI40 the following week. As soon as our session ended, I found out I knew nothing about training.

My goal before was to move as much weight from point A to point B. I learned about proper execution, contracting the desired muscle before anything else moved, keeping tension, and pushing your limits past the pain barrier. My body was transforming by the day. Unbelievable!!!! Three months later, I won 1st place in my weight class (Middleweights) at Southeastern USAs AND the Overall title as well. We continued training for 6 more weeks and I won my IFBB Pro Card as a Middleweight at the 2015 NPC Nationals in Miami.

Important to note as well is Joseph Bennett’s professionalism. Never has he cancelled or been late to a session. He has always given me his undivided attention while we train. If I have a concern, he’s always there.

Not to mention he traveled to both of my shows as support which I will never forget. More than a coach, I consider Joe a great friend. Hypertrophy Coach and MI40 Gym transformed my physique and made my dream a reality of becoming an IFBB PRO.

When I made the decision to compete in the Classic Physique division this year I knew I needed to change my approach to contest preparation. Having competed in bodybuilding since 2009 and most recently WBFF Male Muscle Model last year, there was never an issue with “getting in shape/getting shredded”, the issue would be in how I felt in those final weeks and the weeks following a show. Now I know the prep shouldn’t be “easy” by any means, but a person should not fall into a deep depression every time they pushed their physique to the limit, and that was the case with me. I had been following Joe and the mi40 crew and what they were teaching for quite some time, just through their social media or any other free content they put out there, and I knew they took an educated approach to working with their clients. One of the things that I would say really impressed me before even working with Joe was in our first meeting together, two topics we discussed was overall gut health and digestion and the fact that I needed to bring up my delts (Joe looked at me in a t-shirt and was able to tell me that). These 2 conversation points had me leaving the initial meeting feeling very confident about the decision I was going to make to work with Joe because a.) the fact that my health was a top, had me believing that even as we approached the show and really started to push that “healthy” factor with prep, that my body would still be proficient and running optimally and b.) the fact that he could eye an weakness in my body just sitting there with a t-shirt on made me believe that he truly had a gift for looking at physiques and I would be in good hands handing over my training, and he would set the plan for bringing my physique to the best it ever had been.

One of Joe’s greatest strengths as a trainer is his ability to explain the why and how each exercise or movement is optimal for your specific body mechanics. This makes each training session much more than just a workout, it is a learning experience, and you leave that session not just with the feeling of having some of the best workouts you’ve ever had but with the tools necessary to take your own training to another level, as he has equipped you with the knowledge and information necessary to apply those techniques on your own. And for someone like myself who has been lifting weights and training for more than half of his life, having someone humble you to the point where you feel muscles working in a way you have never felt is a great experience. Joe has done an amazing job and learning the body’s mechanics and how to put the mechanics to work in a way to really develop the physique through resistance training.

Our prep together was one of the smoothest preps I have ever taken part in. There was never a moment of panic, and it just seemed that every time we met, just slight adjustments would need to be made to either the nutrition or training. This was definitely due to the fact that Joe did an unbelievable Job of setting the tone of the prep from the beginning, and gradually increasing volume allowed us to never really have to make huge adjustments to the nutrition. Physically not only did he bring me to my best physique ever, but the way the I felt mentally and emotionally during the final stages of the prep was amazing. I have and will continue to let anyone that asks know that working with Joe for a contest prep and training is well worth the investment, and for anyone who is looking to gain both experience and knowledge of how to optimally train, they need to get over to the mi40 gym for some time working with “The Hypertrophy Coach”