Testimonials
From the White House:
Click for a larger view of the note from President Obama
"I have been training athletes of all ages at Gridiron Training. When it comes to teen athletes, they need a well-rounded and easy to understand approach to training. “How a Champion is Made” is exactly what the doctor ordered. I recommend all my athletes read this book. I am proud to be a part of this revolutionary guide to teenage weight training."
Pat Downey
NFL Washington Redskins, Atlanta Falcons
AFL Nashville Kats
NFL Europe, Frankfurt Galaxy
“After reading ‘How A Champion Is Made’, not only did I want reschedule my kid’s after school activities, I wanted to reschedule my own! You see and you feel the dedication and the passion that Steve Cardillo has for his field. If he could bottle that, it would sell more than any supplement on the market.”
Gunnar Peterson C.S.C.S.
Celebrity Trainer
http://www.gunnarpeterson.com/
“In my 18 years of competitive experience, I have found that no matter how hard, heavy, or often I trained my chest, it would not grow like the rest of my body. Instead of spinning my wheels, I decided to embrace the body parts that did respond, like my legs. I am now known for having some of the very best legs in the division. This is not to say that I neglect my chest, but rather that I maximize my strengths and hide my weaknesses.
Bodybuilding is all about illusion and by having legs that jump out and have a WOW factor, I have managed to catapult myself to the very top of my field. I did it the Cardillo Way! Thank you, Steve, for all of your help, knowledge, and insight. I am sure many others will be thanking you soon after reading this book.”
Jose Raymond
IFBB Pro
Doug Clark, Teenage Trainer and world record holder of the "300 workout."
I was barely a teenager, growing up in Texas, when I began hitting the weights. It proved dividends for me, because when I got to high school I hit the ground running.
When football began, I never stopped. I carried out my work ethic right through to the end of the season. The reason was I never wanted the guy next to me to have an advantage. I’d run, do sit-ups, or flip tires if I had to, to get ahead. Furthermore, I knew by strength training early and often I’d have a better chance of avoiding injuries.
Without question, training with weights as a young kid proved to be advantageous for me, all the way until my last game as a pro.
Vernon Crawford
NFL New England Patriots
"I never knew a person that was bigger, stronger and faster than the rest, but was not confident. It doesn’t happen. Confident people are effective leaders in all aspects of life. The only way to gain confidence is to force yourself outside of your comfort zone. The more you experience, the more you grow as an individual. Through growth, comes confidence. It all began for me, training with weights at an early age."
Eric Kapitulik
United States Naval Academy, Lacrosse
1st Force Reconnaissance Company, US Marine Corps,
Iron Man finisher
Mt. Everest Summit (April 2010)
Founder and CEO, The Program LLC
www.theprogramathletics.com
Explore the Book
Videos Sponsored by Gridiron Training Athletics
Doug Clark - Personal Trainer for Teens
You Think You Train Hard? Check out this 8 minute video then make your decision!
Doug Clark performing Cardillo descending water keg workout.
Starting weight of keg 220 lbs.
MERRIMACK COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYER JESSE FOWLER PERFORMS A FREAKISH 60" BOX JUMP AT GRIDIRON TRAINING
GRIDIRON TRAINING HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PLAYERS
PREPARE TO "GET AFTER IT"
TWO GRIDIRON TRAINING FOOTBALL GROUPS COME TOGETHER TO PERFORM AGILITY DRILLS WITH HURDLES ON THE TURF.
6'4" 300 lbs. AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYER VIONDY "BIG V" MERISMA PUSHES a 615 lbs. PROWLER SLED FOR 20 YARDS
MERRIMACK COLLEGE ALL-AMERICAN LINEBACKER SHAWN LOUISEAU DEADLIFTS 605 LBS.
YOUTH HOCKEY PLAYER RICHIE "THE LION" CARDILLO ATTACKS A 300 LBS. TRACTOR TIRE DURING HIS RATE OF FORCE DEVELOPMENT WORKOUT AT GRIDIRON TRAINING
NE-10 ALL CONFERENCE WIDE RECEIVER MARC WILSON FROM ST.ANSELMS COLLEGE ATTACKS THE BULGARIAN SPLIT SQUATS
COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYERS COMPETE IN "HERCHELS" AT THE END OF THEIR WORKOUT SESSION AT GRIDIRON TRAINING
All-AMERICAN LINEBACKER SHAWN LOISEAU OF MERRIMACK COLLEGE DEADLIFTS 585 lbs. FOR 5 REPS. Remember,THERE ARE LIONS, AND THERE ARE LAMBS !!! WHAT ARE YOU ?!!
6'3" 247 lbs. Merrimack College All-American Linebacker Shawn Loiseau bangs out Kettlebell Swings during his workout at GRIDIRON TRAINING.
Merrimack College All-AMerican Linebacker Shawn"THE BEAST"Loiseau Attacks "Chain Push-Ups" as is FINISHER during GRIDIRON TRAINING.
NE-10 Conference Defensive Player of the Year, Shawn Loiseau Attacks “Football Energy System Training” with 400 lbs. Tire Flips and 10 Yard Sprints.
College Football Players "COMPETE" in TUG OF WAR at GRIDIRON TRAINING !!! THATS HOW WE ROLE BROTHA !!!
View More Amazing Videos Here.
Testimonials
Dear Steve,
Thanks for sending your book to me. Wish I had it when I was a kid. I was one of those ectomorphs you talked about. Very thin. When my father returned from the Marines after WWII we drove to Work, PA to buy a barbell set. That was the beginning. At Notre Dame I worked out at an old gym run by a tough old priest, Father Lange who at one time was considered the fourth strongest man in the world. Funny how all these memories come up as a I read your book. Anyway, I’m still working out all these years later still fighting the ectomorph genes I inherited. Steve, I think your book is terrific. It should be in all the high schools. You look terrific.
Good luck and thanks for all you’ve done for all the kids you helped.
My best,
Regis
Regis Philbin

I wish I was fortunate enough to have had this book when I was growing up. It is excellently written. It’s detailed and concise, and a perfect guide for the parents of teenage athletes who wish to see their child become a success in every aspect of life.
-- Gerry Cheevers, Boston Bruins Hall of Fame Goalie
Mickey Ward gives How a Champion is Made
the thumbs up!
"Training with weights early in my life enabled me to set goals, become a confident leader, not only on the field, but in the classroom… and when I reached my growth spurt around 13-14, I hit the ground running, all because I learned the fundamentals of weight training at an early age."
Dan Curran
NFL - Seattle Seahawks, New Orleans Saints
Arena Football League - Nashville Kats, Georgia Force, New Orleans VooDoo
"A proper strength and conditioning program is essential for any young athlete these days. The competition is so fierce that maximizing your physical fitness greatly enhances your chance of succeeding.
I started training at a very young age. It is one the major assets that has helped me excel and achieve my goals of playing at the collegiate and professional levels."
Jason Krog
NHL New York Islanders, Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, New York Rangers, Vancouver Canucks
Hobey Baker Memorial Award (Top U.S. Collegiate Player) – 1999
Jerry Azzinaro, D-Line Coach for the Oregon Ducks picks up a copy of How a Champion is Made
The cover is a priceless graphical icon of what weight training is all about, and Steve has the basics down pat for any young trainee who wants to step up and fly into a future of fitness and functional strength.
Mike Lambert
Power Lifting USA
“Steve Cardillo has tapped into a niche that has until now been relatively untouched and with his expertise in training, conditioning and nutrition, he is absolutely the man for the job! How a Champion is Made is a book that will help teach young athletes the life skills needed a get leg up on their competition and beyond.”
Terry Frendo
As an 8-time super bowl champion as the head coach of the Everett High School football team, I’m proud to say I’ve incorporated the same principals in this book, for my teams and my son’s training. My son is an All Scholastic and super bowl champion. I coached Peter Morel and saw what Steve Cardillo’s guidance did for him as a youth. Peter’s biggest attributes while playing 4 years of varsity basketball for me was his strength and determination. I’m now making How a Champion is Made a prerequisite for all athletes playing for me… great book!
Coach Dibiaso
Everett High School Football
“Kids today are timid. They lack the toughness we’ve grown accustomed to seeing from the youths of yesterday. Moreover, training as a young person is a way to boost the self- esteem and self confidence, which is so crucial in one’s early life development.
The dedication to exercise and good nutrition at an early age promotes a structured lifestyle, as well as muscle growth and undoubtedly decreases the chances of sustaining an injury.”
Mike Neu
NFL Scout
Steve Cardillo, in addition to manufacturing the FINEST workout belt ever, has written a tremendous fitness book for today's youth: "How a Champion is made!" 2011. It shows his extensive 30+ years of experience in bodybuilding, it's a quick read but loaded with great information. It's also very well researched and motivational...which I LOVE! I highly recommend it as a guide to parents and student athletes alike!"
Mike Pierron,
Founder of dream BIG!
Author of FIT HAPPENS at any age!