Kevin Toonen uses his military experience to help train Sydney Roosters players — and he reveals three core functions which help us live longer, healthier lives.
What you might not know, as you watch the Sydney Roosters edge closer to a possible NRL title this month, is that the club has a secret weapon that helps its players be the fittest, strongest and toughest they can possibly be.
And I really do mean it when I say weapon.
Man mountain Kevin Toonen, all tree-trunk legs and bulging, tattooed biceps, is the club’s head of strength.
And that’s something he’s got plenty of to share around.
Having spent 18 years in the Australian military – several of them as the Special Air Service’s high-performance coach, where he pushed soldiers to their physical and mental limits — Toonen knows plenty about inflicting pain.
But the pay-off, he says, is an overflow of positivity.
And the best part is that you don’t need to train like a soldier, or a professional footy player, to get it.
“We know that movement creates a better emotional state and allows for a more positive thought process,” Toonen says.
“It’s so important to train.
“Our bodies are designed to move, to be under stress so they can adapt, grow and become stronger.
“And this process cannot happen without the mind.
“When one becomes strong so does the other.”
So what if you don’t have access to a military gym or an elite football club’s facilities?
Toonen tells Health Hacker that we should all be focusing on three core functions when
we’re training, which he says are critical in helping us live longer, healthier lives.
“I keep in mind the three things that shape your overall mortality rate – grip strength, leg strength and agility,” he says.
“With this in mind I make sure my training is always moving towards getting better, fitter, faster and stronger.”
Kevin Toonen on …
The best advice he ever received
“It was to always learn and ask why. Ask why are we doing this, what does this do, how has
it worked before and how do you implement it? This works for your training, your supplements, your work and education, and ensures you know what you are talking about.”
The best way he trains his mind
“Each day when I get home I ask myself what three things I was grateful for, and what did I
enjoy? This helps me focus on the good things, and prime my brain to look for the good and
focus on the positive.”
Why he takes cold showers
“I wake up and shower with cold shower for the last two minutes. The cold shower primes
my day, and I tell myself why it’s good for me, and why it gets me ready for the day ahead. It sets the tone.”
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Originally published as How Kevin Toonen prepares NRL stars for battle on and off the field
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