World-Class Powerlifting Coaching, Built for YOU!
Our training is radically individualized using the Emerging Strategies process and decades of coaching experience. Everything hinges on the foundational element - "Follow the trail of athlete response!"
Following YOUR unique response type is how we help YOU get stronger and hit MORE PRs!
This is for you if.....
You've plateaued despite training hard
Your current programming seems random and confusing
You want to compete seriously in powerlifting
You're tired of guessing with RPE, volume, and intensity
Fatigue management seems elusive to you
You want world-class coaching
You seek to hit MORE Personal Records!
You want to understand what training is effective for YOU specifically
$220 USD monthly cost. Subscription can be cancelled at any time.
How do we get there?
Learn more about our coaching and programming philosophy below.
Leadership | Relationship | Creativity
We view coaching from 3-core tenants -- Leadership, Relationship, and Creativity. Our entire coaching process is built on this foundation.
Leadership is about providing athletes clear guidance and reinforcing good judgment. Whether it's sticking to your RPEs in training, deciding about weight class changes, or managing a difficult schedule, we can help provide useful, detailed guidance to athletes.
Of course all leadership must be built on a foundation of a quality coach-athlete relationship. Many decisions depend on the details of an athlete's preferences or life circumstances. Beyond tactical decision making, pushing into PR territory can be a difficult road at times, but it's much easier when you have a good coach to share in the journey. We understand that you are a person, not just an athlete.
We pride ourselves on being able to find solutions to any problems that arise. Each athlete responds to training in slightly different ways. For maximum results, it is important that training be tailored to fit the athlete. We individualize programs top-to-bottom and even come up with new solutions if previous solutions don't adequately get at the core problem.
Experienced, Professional Coaches
Each coach has experience in coaching at all levels of powerlifting - from local to international levels.
All coaches are enthusiastic and supportive of an athlete-centered approach. Their job is to help you set PRs.
RTS Coaches are sought after by other coaches. When knowledgeable lifters need a coach, they look to us and that's something we are proud of.
Our staff is in continuous communication to support each other along the way. Ensuring solutions are well thought out to solve problems that arise.
Training that is truly tailored for EACH individual!
We're ready to support your pursuit of strength!
Athletic Vision Casting
When you first sign up with RTS for coaching, you will go through what we call the Athletic Vision Casting process. This is where you will meet with your coach and talk about your goals and what you would like to get out of the coaching process.
We value knowing what is important to each of our lifters. Each lifter is a different person and will have different goals. With this information we can be of better support in directing your efforts. While goals are important, having a plan of action to work towards those goals is paramount if you want to reach them. Failure to plan is planning to fail.
During this call we're able to learn about you as a person and what kind of training is best fit for you. This allows us to create a unique starting point that is specific to you, your current abilities, and needs. As we're able to collect more data on your training response, we will follow that trail of individual response!
Hear from other RTS Lifters!
How Coaching Works
Intake
After signing up, you complete a detailed questionnaire, choose your coach, and gain access to athlete education resources and RTS tools (training log, TRAC, etc.).
Vision casting
Your first meeting with your coach establishes your Athletic Vision and builds your Unique Lifter Profile, diving into your training history, goals, and how you want to progress.
First Block
Your coach creates a fully customized training program—tailoring strategy, schedule, and exercise selection specifically to your goals, strengths, and limitations.
Athlete Monitoring
Your progress is continuously tracked using RTS tools and coach feedback, including video analysis for technique and weakness identification, with ongoing support via chat, email, or calls.
Competition Prep
You and your coach develop a detailed, individualized game plan for competition or test day, ensuring you’re prepared physically and strategically.
Lessons Learned
You and your coach review performance in depth —combining objective data and your experience to refine training and drive long-term progress.
Our Team of Professionals
Mike Tuchscherer
Mike is the founder & creator of Reactive Training Systems. In the infancy of RTS, Mike popularized the use of RPE to help auto regulate training with the core goal to put the right weight on the bar and perform the right number of reps. Mike continues his quest to understand training and its effects on the individual with the create of Emerging Strategies and the implementation of velocity as a training tool.
Ross Leppala
Ross joined RTS as a full time coach in 2017. Leaving behind a career in engineering to work with people and a sport he is passionate about. He began lifting at the age of 12 and participated in his first powerlifting competition in 1999. Now a 2x IPF Masters World Champion, Ross brings decades of lived training experience to the team and the athletes he coaches.
John Garafano
John joined RTS in 2018 after coaching strength athletes through Strength is Life, LLC, working with competitors from collegiate to national levels. A 75kg USA Powerlifting competitor and professional natural bodybuilder, he also serves on the ANBF board and is a certified USA Powerlifting Club Coach.
Passionate about evidence-based fitness, John combines his love of research with a commitment to helping athletes achieve their goals. As RTS Director of Operations, he oversees daily operations, coaching systems, and customer experience. A husband and father of four, he understands the challenges of balancing life, work, and training, and is known for his thoughtful, solutions-focused approach.
Mark Robb
Mark brings over 42 years of weight training experience as a competitive bodybuilder, powerlifter, and coach. An RTS athlete since 2009 and coach since 2015, he has achieved multiple world records in the squat, deadlift, and total, is a 7-time undefeated USAPL Masters National Champion, and a 3-time IPF World Champion. He has earned ten international gold medals, a Best Lifter award, and is one of only two men over 60 to squat over 600 lbs in drug-tested IPF competition.
A member of five U.S. National Classic Teams and former Assistant Coach for the U.S. National Masters Team, Mark brings deep expertise in the mental side of competition, injury prevention, and diverse training methodologies.
Adam Jones
Adam is a passionate powerlifting coach and athlete with over a decade of training experience and coaching since 2013. He has represented Australia and Singapore at IPF Worlds in the 83kg class and has served on coaching teams at multiple World Championships.
With a background in strength and GPP training, Adam brings a unique perspective to programming. His previous career in mining and construction shaped his ability to manage fatigue and design effective training for demanding lifestyles. He emphasizes adaptability, strong relationships, and continuous learning in his coaching approach.
Gaby Muller
Gaby is a full-time RTS coach based in Belgium with a degree in Sport and Exercise Science from LUNEX University. Her research focused on the menstrual cycle’s impact on strength performance, reflecting her mission to empower athletes of all levels to reach their goals.
Highly people-oriented, Gaby emphasizes communication and collaboration to deliver individualized training experiences. She is a creative problem solver with a strong attention to detail, ensuring each athlete’s program fits their unique needs.
Peter Lucey
Peter is based in Bangkok and has served as Head Coach of the National Team since 2018. He has worked with athletes from sub-juniors to masters at all levels, including international medalists at the IPF World Championships.
He is also the lead instructor for the TPF coaching certification program and has experience as a referee and meet director. Originally from Ireland and co-founder of Cork Strength and Performance Center, Peter is passionate about travel, development, and building strong coach-athlete relationships to help lifters reach their full potential.
Kenny Allen
Kenny earned his Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from the University of Wisconsin–Madison in 2023 and holds a B.S. in Kinesiology. He has coached the UW–Madison Powerlifting Club since 2019, serving as Head Coach since 2022, and has worked with lifters from beginner to national level.
A competitive 90kg USAPL powerlifter, Kenny is also a USAPL State Referee and certified Club Coach. His physical therapy background and passion for research allow him to individualize training, keep athletes healthy, and apply evidence-based methods to all levels of lifters.
Mel Kasper
Mel brings a diverse athletic background spanning powerlifting, CrossFit, Olympic weightlifting, endurance sports, and multi-day hiking. With foundations in massage therapy, physics, and architecture, she takes a systems-based approach to coaching, blending biomechanics and problem-solving to individualize training.
A passionate self-starter, she quickly progressed in powerlifting while programming her own training. Melissa emphasizes education, athlete autonomy, and mindset development—helping athletes build confidence, resilience, and decision-making skills. She values strong relationships and collaborative learning to achieve the best outcomes for every athlete.
Andrew Jessop
Andrew is a Boston-based coach with a collegiate background from Utah State University. He has coached and competed at both local and national levels, working with athletes ranging from beginners to nationally competitive lifters.
Specializing in meet preparation and evidence-based programming, Andrew stays current with hypertrophy research to support both strength and physique goals. A 125kg USAPL lifter, he views coaching as mentorship—helping athletes develop the skills and confidence to perform at their highest level.
Johan Frisk
Johan joined RTS in 2024 as Lead Developer, bringing eight years of experience building full-stack software in health technology. He oversees RTS’s technology infrastructure, including web applications, databases, and systems, working closely with the coaching team to improve the athlete experience.
A competitive powerlifter and WPC European Equipped Champion (2024), Johan has been part of the RTS community since 2018. He combines his engineering expertise with coaching knowledge and firsthand lifting experience to build tools that support athletes and coaches at every level.
Let's get started today!
We've refined our onboarding process over the years and will be able to get you moving forward with training within just a few days of signing up.