Matrix F.T.B LLC was founded in the spring of 2006 by Todd Gates. Mr. Gates was a strength and conditioning coach for eight years. He worked at UMass Boston, Rutgers University and Boston College. The idea for a Functional Training Bench arose from his own problem solving in the weight room while training athletes over the years. Mr. Gates would either stack plates on the ground or on the bench in order to adjust an athletes? height for certain exercises. This was the only way he could put them in proper body positions. This was not an ideal way of training because it was time consuming and not as effective as using proper equipment. Mr. Gates came up with the idea of a bench that not only adjusted horizontally but also vertically so he would no longer have to use plates to adjust a benches height. With his invention the bench adjusted to users instead of users adjusting to the bench. Mr. Gates applied the concept of ergonomics and functionality and created world?s first patent pending multi purpose Functional Training Bench.
Credentials look familiar?
Yes, you are a salesman because you are pimping your own product!!! Yes, you are biased due to your vested interest in the product!!! Yes, we don’t trust you because you haven’t been forthcoming!!! Yes, you have no idea why steel is expensive!!! Yes, you only joined so you could sell your equipment!!! Yes, you’re trying desperately to backpedal from your “meathead” comment because you got bitch-slapped!!! Yes, you keep trying to change the subject!!! Yes, you tried to borrow the phrase “think tank” in another weak-ass attempt to build rapport with those who saw you coming a mile away!!! Yes, your first post had 4.5 million exclamation points!!!
Yes! Yes! Yes!
Sorry chief, I just jizzed on your hobby horse. . .
Then again, maybe it is worth $500.
How about this: I am so and so. This is my background. I got tired of x so I came up with this product. It solves x problem and allows you to also do y. So far, the response has been positive. Could you guys take a look and tell me what you think about it?
It’s called honesty, humility, and class. It’s generally rewarded around here.
You should check out some of Christian Thibaudeau’s articles for some great discussions/arguments (for the lack of a better term) on Split training etc.
Enjoy…
BTW. Welcome…
[quote]PublickStews wrote:
Haha didn’t anyone read the ‘About Us’ page on that site?
Hmm the owner of this company had 8 years of Division I training experience. The author of this post had 8 years of Division I training experience. I’m going to go out on a long, shaky limb here and suggest that the owner of this company is the one making these posts. [/quote]
You should check out some of Christian Thibaudeau’s articles for some great discussions/arguments (for the lack of a better term) on Split training etc.
Enjoy…
BTW. Welcome…
[/quote]
Most definately. I have read some of his stuff. I need a refresher…
Matrix F.T.B LLC was founded in the spring of 2006 by Todd Gates. Mr. Gates was a strength and conditioning coach for eight years. He worked at UMass Boston, Rutgers University and Boston College. The idea for a Functional Training Bench arose from his own problem solving in the weight room while training athletes over the years. Mr. Gates would either stack plates on the ground or on the bench in order to adjust an athletes? height for certain exercises. This was the only way he could put them in proper body positions. This was not an ideal way of training because it was time consuming and not as effective as using proper equipment. Mr. Gates came up with the idea of a bench that not only adjusted horizontally but also vertically so he would no longer have to use plates to adjust a benches height. With his invention the bench adjusted to users instead of users adjusting to the bench. Mr. Gates applied the concept of ergonomics and functionality and created world?s first patent pending multi purpose Functional Training Bench.
Credentials look familiar?
Yes, you are a salesman because you are pimping your own product!!! Yes, you are biased due to your vested interest in the product!!! Yes, we don’t trust you because you haven’t been forthcoming!!! Yes, you have no idea why steel is expensive!!! Yes, you only joined so you could sell your equipment!!! Yes, you’re trying desperately to backpedal from your “meathead” comment because you got bitch-slapped!!! Yes, you keep trying to change the subject!!! Yes, you tried to borrow the phrase “think tank” in another weak-ass attempt to build rapport with those who saw you coming a mile away!!! Yes, your first post had 4.5 million exclamation points!!!
Yes! Yes! Yes!
Sorry chief, I just jizzed on your hobby horse. . .
Then again, maybe it is worth $500.
How about this: I am so and so. This is my background. I got tired of x so I came up with this product. It solves x problem and allows you to also do y. So far, the response has been positive. Could you guys take a look and tell me what you think about it?
It’s called honesty, humility, and class. It’s generally rewarded around here.[/quote]
Wrong McGruff…here a link to my gym in Huntington which I am not promoting. I wish I was as smart as you.
Yes, you are a salesman because you are pimping your own product!!! Yes, you are biased due to your vested interest in the product!!! Yes, we don’t trust you because you haven’t been forthcoming!!! Yes, you have no idea why steel is expensive!!! Yes, you only joined so you could sell your equipment!!! Yes, you’re trying desperately to backpedal from your “meathead” comment because you got bitch-slapped!!! Yes, you keep trying to change the subject!!! Yes, you tried to borrow the phrase “think tank” in another weak-ass attempt to build rapport with those who saw you coming a mile away!!! Yes, your first post had 4.5 million exclamation points!!!
Yes! Yes! Yes!
Sorry chief, I just jizzed on your hobby horse. . .
Then again, maybe it is worth $500.
How about this: I am so and so. This is my background. I got tired of x so I came up with this product. It solves x problem and allows you to also do y. So far, the response has been positive. Could you guys take a look and tell me what you think about it?
It’s called honesty, humility, and class. It’s generally rewarded around here.
Wrong McGruff…here a link to my gym in Huntington which I am not promoting. I wish I was as smart as you.
[/quote]
I almost forgot McGruff there is no backpedaling in my world if you want to post ignorant responses to a message you are going to get called a narrow minded meat head. If the shoe fits.
Those who reply with class and are not disrepectful have my utmost respect fom me. You figure out which category you fall into.
This is Todd?s fourth year at Rutgers. He came to Rutgers from Boston College where he was an assistant from 1998 to1999 and 2001 to 2002.While at BC Todd worked with football, track and women?s lacrosse.
He also assisted with men and women?s basketball. Todd was the Director of Strength and Conditioning at UMass Boston from 1999 to 2001 where he created and developed their entire strength program, as well as developed an internship program for students.
Todd has been in the strength and conditioning field for over eight years, and brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to Rutgers. He has helped train athletes such as William Green of the Cleveland Browns, Marc Colombo of the Chicago Bears, Vinny Circiu of the Carolina Panthers and Troy Bell an All-American basketball player at Boston College in 2002 and Big East Player of the year.
Todd has learned under the tutelage of Johnny Parker (San Francisco 49ers) who is known as one the best strength coaches in the country. Todd is a 1994 graduate of the University of Virginia where he played basketball. He also played baseball at Loyola Marymount University and was a 1991 17th round draft pick of the Texas Rangers.
Todd is originally from the Boston area and now lives in New York.
[quote]cain wrote:
uvat94 wrote:
Fulmen wrote:
What the fuck? I don’t want to use my abdominals and unrelated synergists on chest day. Give me a break.
That stool, ahem-bench, looks like it could lead to back problems, especially if you suggest using heavy ass dumbbells with it.
What the fuck?
Nobody is ahem is saying use heavy ass dumbells with it. And it won’t hurt your back.
People still train one body part a day in this day an age?
uvat94 dude, leave the “Split v’s Fullbody” argument bullshit out of it. It is getting very old…
[/quote]
it’s almost like he brought it up to divert our attention from the piece o’shiet machine…
I think this started out wrong,I recommend locking this thread because it’s dissolved into chaos.
If your going to discuss this do it objectively highlighting the pro’s and con’s and why it’s worth 500$
The end ~ Or advertise this as a product for gym owners and strength coaches as the average person probably wouldn’t want to shell out that amount for this product.
People still train one body part a day in this day an age?[/quote]
Yes!!! If they have reached that level of intensity in their training. Oh!! One more thing. Your bench is a piece of shit. I wouldn’t pay $50.00, let alone $500.00. What a joke. Why do people feel the need to re-invent the wheel? SHOW ME THE MONEY!!
This is some funny shit. On the one hand you want to tell Todd to go away and jerk off some more to this latest and greatest invention but to his credit, he is taking the replies fairly well and it makes for a great thread.
Todd-- be a man and admit you got found out, save the little bit of dignity you still have left…
Personally, I think UVAT94 is a highly qualified (or at least well-credentialed) individual. I just hated his choice of tactics. It’s pretty disrespectful to come into someone’s house under false pretenses and then blast people as “meatheads” because they’re using their ability to think critically to analyze your underlying motivation. It’s not a good way to build up the old trust bank account.
If I was in his shoes, I’d ship a couple units to coaches who are well-known on the boards. If they like it, instant cred - then you just talk price. Personally, I think that it could be useful, but I need some “action” pictures (no, not tantric sex pics) on the website showing me it’s versatility, scale, etc.
That being said, his market is probably trainers because most of the benefits have to do with efficiency. Plus, at $500, it’s out of the range of a lot of home trainers who would most likely save their money for a glute-ham, reverse hyper, power rack, front squat harness, cable system, bands and chains, dragging sled, or even protein powder.
If somebody is just starting out, maybe this bench and a rack is a good start given its versatility. But for many of us who have basic (but adequate) set-ups already, it’s a luxury item rather than a staple.
This is just basic business plan “know your market” stuff, nothing special. The guy looks great on paper and I wish him well, but seriously. . .
This was an entertaining thread to read through. I didn’t want to bump this for any reason, but I just had to point out that everytime someone responds to this guy he gets free advertising for his $500 gadget swirly bench…so sorry I had to bump this again, but I think it needed to be said. Let the thread die.
I am a lurker on T-Nation as I feel I really have nothing to contribute to this great site, I usually come on to read articles during school and skim the boards about interesting topics and personal experiences.
I have finally found a reason to post here after reading it for about a year and that is to say that