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What is Beautiful Strength?

It all began in 2005 when I first entered the fitness industry at eighteen years of age. How time flies (now 37). For the past decade, Beautiful Strength as a brand has 100% specialized in one-to-one barbell strength training. Now, it has evolved into a more comprehensive service, offering a range of products, including online coaching, lifting camps held worldwide, high-quality content, and a smattering of one-to-one personal training.

The answer you're seeking in the weight room is strength. You just didn't know it and, more importantly, how to acquire it. If you have recurring injuries you can't seem to shake, or spinning your wheels in a perpetual rehab cycle, get stronger. If you want a better physique, get stronger. If you're a competitive athlete looking to improve your performance in your sport, get stronger. If you're an older person seeking better life independence, get stronger.

What to expect? 

The best tool at making people stronger is without question the barbell. It's our main weapon of choice at Beautiful Strength and has worked successfully for hundreds of years. Barbells develop human strength like no other tool ever created in the weight room.

Barbell exercises work the entire body by performing general natural human movement patterns—bend your knees, put something over your head, pick something off the floor, push something away from you, and catch something onto your shoulders. Their general and non specific nature makes them prime lifts to make the body as a whole system stronger. Squat, Press, Deadlift, Bench, and Power Clean with a barbell of steel construction are the cornerstone lifts that training is based on—and for the rest of your life, you can increase weight on the barbell as long as time and your human potential will allow. In my experience, most people are capable of much more than they think. The classic quote comes to mind, “you over-estimate what you can do in a year but under-estimate what you can achieve in a decade.”

Beautiful Strength has everything to offer you. Don’t procrastinate or delay: get in touch with Carl and see the difference strength training can make to your life.

 
 

Who is Carl Raghavan?

In 2014 Carl became the UK's first official Starting Strength coach. Born and bred in London, with nearly two decades of experience in the fitness industry. He frequently visits the United States to deepen his roots and understanding of the Starting Strength system, collaborating with fellow coaches, and refining his knowledge. Over the years, Carl has crafted his own unique approach to enhance his clients' natural strength and help them achieve their full potential.

But he is no stranger to other recognised methods of training: he was a certified RKC kettlebell instructor, for which he trained in Sweden in 2013, and has attended seminars hosted by multiple strength coaches and industry icons, such as Charles Poliquin, Ed Coan, Stan Efferding, Eric Cressey, Sebastian Oreb, Dan Green, Max Shank, Isabella von Weissenberg, and Dan John. Additionally, he earned his CrossFit Level 1 certification in Norway in 2012 and participated in nutrition seminars by Renaissance Periodization, featuring Dr. Mike Israetel. Carl recently in 2023 also visited and trained at the world renowned powerlifting gym in Columbus Ohio - EliteFTS. Meeting and learning at the SWISS event from many more big names, Dave Tate, Jim Wendler (top bloke btw), Chris Duffin, Matt Wenning, Jujimufu to name a few that were there.

Carl is dedicated to his profession and is continually developing his own methods & techniques. He is heavily committed to his training and firmly believes that the best way to teach, is to lead by example.  

Btw - this is me @ 70kg / 154lbs meeting Rip for the first time in Wichita Falls, TX in 2012. Also yes, this is also me with hair! (I know unrecognisable).

 

275kg Squat - Tallinn, Estonia. In 2024 Weighing 125kg.

 

Programs & Principles

Mark Rippetoe (Rip) is a renowned Strength coach, author, and gym owner in Witchita Falls, Texas. Born in 1956, Rip’s a former powerlifter with over forty years of experience and is the founder of the Starting Strength methodology. Simplicity and effectiveness in Strength training, is what attracted Carl to his teachings in the first place. Rip's straightforward and no-nonsense approach has made him a household name in the fitness industry. Beyond his writings, Rip conducts seminars, sharing his expertise to empower individuals in their pursuit of physical strength.

Carl has been studying under Rip since 2012 and has attended Starting Strength seminars and conferences every year since 2014 in Texas and Nebraska. Here Carl learnt the fundamentals of the Starting Strength system and has since used it for the basis of his own Beautiful Strength training ethos.