FAQs

Below is a list of our most frequently asked questions pertaining to our programming, nutrition, and training in general. Check back often, as we’ll do our best to continually update this page with the most common questions.

What is your training philosophy?

Epoch Ascent provides tactical, mountain, and recreational athletes with a place to train intelligently, improve performance, and increase their overall health. Our belief is that physical and mental strength achieved in the gym builds confidence that allows you to be more efficient during your activities. We also believe in training that is creative, progressive, and constantly evolving as you develop, with the end goal of helping our athletes achieve their training objectives. We conduct our sessions out of a private training facility located in Bend Oregon where a multitude of individuals train with varied goals in mind. We train mountain professionals, soldiers and housewives, recreational and weekend warriors. But most importantly we train those willing to commit themselves to progress.

What is your training methodology?

Epoch Ascent is a detail oriented, performance based, and progress-driven Strength & Conditioning project. Here you’ll find training methods that uniquely combine bodyweight strength, barbells, endurance modes, kettlebells and sandbag movements in order to enhance a wide spectrum of fitness abilities. We use each for their intended purposes with the end goal of building and fixing your body and outside performance. Our precise, intelligence driven approach will set the stage for you to exceed all prior limitations of strength, power, conditioning, physical proficiency, and mental durability.

Is this like crossfit?

No. Although the tools we utilize are similar to what you see utilized in CrossFit and other “functional fitness” modalities, the mountains, battlefield, and fireground have no place for handstand push-ups, muscle-ups or random programming for the sake of “muscle confusion”. Our belief is that CrossFit is a useful training program for certain individuals and definitely has its place, but the mission and sport-specific programming we use is very different than what you’ll see at a Crossfit box.

Where should I start?

For the majority of athletes it is recommended that you start with the Essential Strength or Ground Zero mesocycles which can be purchased from our online shop. The movements and progressions are simple, and it does its job of introducing you to the training that you can expect during your tenure with Epoch.

HOW DO YOU APPROACH PREHAB, MOBILITY, AND DURABILITY WORK?

Any truly holistic fitness program needs to address as many or more weaknesses as it does strengths. At Epoch we figured out early on that placing “prehab” or mobility work at the end of a session very often resulted in athletes skipping it all together, so the solution here became to incorporate it into the various supersets and circuits that you’ll see within our sessions, usually during each rest period within the workout itself. A healthy and durable athlete is a high functioning athlete, and pain-free range of motion is much more important than how much weight they can lift.

I’D LIKE TO TRAIN AT YOUR FACILITY, WHAT IS THE PROCESS FOR JOINING?

Our focus is on safety and the efficiency of instruction so all new candidate athletes undergo an intake interview to assess individual goals, motivation, standing health, physical ability and client/trainer compatibility. Once we've decided on a few program objectives and initial training cycle, physical, psychological, nutritional and correctional exercise programming will be planned. We'll also use this time to discuss fees for the training.

WHAT CAN I EXPECT AFTER THE INTAKE INTERVIEW?

All prospective members must complete an Intake Interview and short Indoc Training Cycle. The Indoc Training Cycle is a comprehensive teaching and assessment process structured to familiarize you with the Epoch’s basic gym rules, conduct and methodologies. It is also designed to help you establish your level of strength, mobility and work capacities. This will ensure that we have a better understanding of your training threshold and can design or recommend the right path for you to achieve your goals.

What is your take on nutrition?

Food is fuel, and athletes need the right kinds of fuels to effectively support their training and performance efforts. Simply put, match your diet to your objective and this will serve as your blueprint for progress. While we do not advocate any one diet over another, there are still some principles we like to follow whether you're eating for optimum health or to improve performance.

Here are some things to consider regarding nutrition:

1. What do you want to accomplish with your training? Your diet should be tailored to support that objective.
2. Determine your daily calorie requirements based on your target objective and spread this over 5 to 6 meals per day.
3. If you're hungry, eat a small snack between meals balanced with carbs, proteins and fats.
4. Include fiber-rich carbs such as vegetables, quality proteins, and good fats in every meal.
5. Make it a point to drink at least 8 to 10 glasses of water each day. More if your level of activity requires it.
6. Keep a close eye on how much of your food comes from the earth and how much comes packaged.
7. It is ok to include supplements in your daily diet only if you are lacking nutrition in the areas you are supplementing
8. Avoid drinking calories (such as soda and other sugary beverages) and keep the coffee intake to a minimum.
9. Limit the amount of "pseudo" foods (meal replacements drinks, protein bars, etc.) you're eating every day.
10. Consider keeping a food journal, this will create an awareness and hold you accountable to what you're eating.

HOW OLD DOES MY CHILD HAVE TO BE FOR THE YOUTH TOTAL STRENGTH PROJECT?

Our TSP syllabus can accommodate children from 12 to 16 years old. Children develop at different rates so some 11-year-olds may not yet be ready to attend class. If you are unsure, you can bring your child in and watch them train so that after their first training session we can discuss the potential for training. The first session is always free.

I HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT TRAINING FOR (INSERT MILITARY/LEO/FIRE & RESCUE/OTHER
ATHLETIC PURSUIT).

Our aim here is to act as a “force multiplier” to those that maintain the integrity of our country and individual communities. As such, we take pride in being transparent and helpful where possible as it relates to training for military/law enforcement/first responder selection and assessments, and other athletic pursuits. Use our Contact page for questions specific to your situation.

I’LL BE IN THE AREA. HOW CAN I TRAIN AT EPOCH?

Do you have more questions?