The coach

About Ari Cohen

I'm Ari Cohen, founder of Bearded Performance and a competitive strongman. I was able to rebuild myself - from two knee surgeries and a broken shoulder to full function, setting new PBs and breaking the Israeli national record in the 60m sprint (6.72 seconds) - something that shaped the entire premise of how I coach.

I realized that even though I was in my mid-30s, got some lifting mileage behind me, and was feeling a bit worn out, my peak really wasn't behind me. Far from it.

I realized that unlike my previous belief, that injury equals a halting of strength development - you can get pretty damn strong and make legit progress, even if you're injured, while allowing your body to heal, if the system you use is intelligent enough to do both.

And that with a proper system behind you, not only will you be less likely to see injury, but you'll practically never plateau again because such a system accounts for proper recovery.

I don't work with beginners or general fitness clients. I work with intermediate-to-advanced lifters, 30-45, who've hit a structural ceiling - usually from accumulated injury, a knowledge gap, poor movement patterns, or programming that plateaued them - and I rebuild them into more resilient, more capable lifters through the Limit Breaker System: adaptive strength programming, individualized movement protocols, joint integrity work, nutrition and habit consultation, weekly 1:1 check-ins, and video technique breakdowns.

The mechanism is precision, professionalism, and adaptive coaching, not motivation - I assume drive is a given with all my athletes.

I don't only talk, I also walk. I've done this with my own training, not just other people's - the clients on the Results page are proof it works, not just a promise that it will.

Coaching is fully remote - clients worldwide, currently spanning the UK, US, and Europe.

Credentials & Background

• Wingate College graduate, specialty in personal training and training of minors (2010-2012)
• FRCms - Functional Range Systems Mobility Specialist (2018)
• EXOS-1 - Athletics and Speed Development (2019)
• PN-1 - Certified Nutrition Coach (2017)
• iPEC - 30 hours, Basics of Life Coaching (2023)
• MST Systems Certified Strength Coach (2024)
• 3 years Head Strength & Conditioning Coach, Berlin Kobras (American Football)
• 3 years Head Programmer of Strength, EVOPE (performance center for athletes and CrossFitters)
• Germany's 3rd Strongest Man (U90kg), 2023

Contact

This is a free call, about 15-20 minutes. We'll cover your training history, what seems to be holding you back, your goals, and whether this is a fit - for you as an athlete and me as a coach. I'll ask questions, and by the end I can tell you if I can help. If I can, you decide where to take it from there. If I can't, I'll point you to someone who can.

Either way, expect to walk away with clarity on what's holding you back, plus a few practical next steps. Come with your questions ready.

Let's get you sorted - looking forward.