Adam Jones - Strength Coach

I turned 39 yesterday.

Last year of my 30s.
Which feels a bit weird to say out loud.

I’ve been reflecting a lot lately — where I’m at, who I want to be, and what actually matters now.

As a lifter, it used to be mostly about numbers.
More weight on the bar.
Bigger totals.
Chasing the next comp.
Grabbing records and championships wherever I could.

That stuff still matters…
but it’s not the main thing anymore.

Now it’s more about continuing to be a good example for my kids.
And improving in ways beyond just adding weight to the bar.

I want them to grow up seeing a dad who takes care of himself.
Physically. Mentally. All of it.

Not just
“Dad is strong but can’t chase us around.”

I still want to be strong.
But also a bit more athletic.
Able to run around with them at the park without feeling heavy or sore.

Being one of the strongest in my weight class in Australia is cool.

But being able to chase your kids down the street without blowing up or pulling a hammy…
that’s probably more important.

So this year the goal is pretty simple but no doubt challenging:

Get back into good shape.
Feel lighter. Move well. Train hard.

I might take another crack at the 83s too.
If it works, great.
If it doesn’t, that’s fine.
I just want to give it a go and see what happens — out of curiosity.

I’m also being stricter with my time and energy.
Who I spend it with.
What I say yes to.

I found getting older makes you realise not everything deserves your attention.

Family first.
Training.
Work I enjoy.
Good people.

That’s about it.

Nothing crazy.
Just trying to keep improving.

Not perfect.
Just a little better each time.

If I can hit 40 feeling strong, healthy, and still doing all of this with my boys — with a bit more running around…

I’ll be pretty happy with that.

Completed the IPF Level 2 course last weekend. It was awesome learning from and .wolf.777 and hearing their decades of experience and knowledge, especially around game day tactics, exercise selection, and programming. What I really appreciate about both of them is that they’re still tinkering, still learning, and still genuinely love the game.

Also really enjoyed catching up and hanging out with coaches from around Australia. I personally feel like our Australian IPF affiliate is in a really good spot right now, the future and growth of the sport here is looking bright with the crew we have.

📸 from Oceania’s 2025

Proud of this one. I struggled with sleep when I got in — barely 4 hours of broken sleep the night before comp. Ended up doing a light 400g sauna which actually woke me up a bit.

Weigh-in was 6:30am CC time… 1:30am back home in Perth. It was a long session and staying focused wasn’t easy, but I kept pushing back the tired, negative thoughts. That mental wrestle is what I’m most proud of. You can push your body further than your mind allows.

Big thank you to everyone who helped me on the day — coaches, the boys loading bars out the back, everyone who had my back. .ross__ .vinh

Huge thanks to for the nutrition and weight-cut support leading in. “I’m a bit fat at times, I love a beer — Mitch Marsh.”

Shoutout to the crew for the support, the spots, the yapping, the laughs. Love you guys.

Cheers to the other competitors, organisers, refs, volunteers and everyone else involved for making it happen.

Shout out to .co for the 📸

That’s it for the heavy work this prep. A couple of lighter-ish sessions left. Not the best, not the worst, but I’m content. Looking forward to having a crack in a week’s time at Oceania’s in Christchurch, NZ, then backing it up later that week at GP in SC.

3 weeks out from Oceania’s.

Top set from this week
Squat 287.5kg x1, 270kg x3
Bench 155kg, 150kg x2
Deadlift 315kg x1, 305kg x2
Bench w/Ram 155kg x5

A little better each week.

NoC III 📸 by

Incredibly grateful for the support network I have around me - you know who you are. I appreciate you and love you 🫶

Time to focus on the next one. 8 weeks out.

IPF Open Classic Worlds 2025 🇩🇪

Not the outcome I worked for.
I prepared with intent, made sacrifices, did everything in my control — but the platform owes you nothing. That’s the nature of sport.

You can have the best prep and still fall short on the day.
You can make or miss lifts that define the outcome.
None of it changes the work that got you there.

This isn’t about perfection — it’s about showing up fully, knowing failure is possible, and doing it anyway.

The highs and lows both have value. Numb one, and you lose them both. Feel it. Accept it. Move forward.

This journey is far from over. It may shift, evolve, or look different — but I’ll continue to show up. To keep improving myself, and to help lift those around me.

Time to turn the page. 🖤

Grateful to , .physio, and — for the tune-ups and helping manage a grumpy quad and ITB.
To .leppala — for your steady guidance over the past 7+ years.
To — for making weight and fuelling simple.
And to .uplift and — for keeping me grounded and helping turn the day around.

Reflecting back to 2022, when we had our second child – Training through the chaos of a newborn wasn’t easy, but I made it work. Between late-night feeds, broken sleep, and coaching responsibilities, I found ways to keep showing up for myself and my family. Whether it was using an eye mask with built-in headphones for short naps or maintaining a flexible training schedule, I focused on what I could control. Training wasn’t always perfect, but it paid off, winning an Open National Championship and competing at a World Championship. I thought it might be worth sharing, in case it helps someone facing similar challenges. Sometimes, it’s not about perfect conditions, but about showing up and doing your best. You might surprise yourself.

Some pics from 2025 Open Nats

📷 .co