We’ve designed the Apprenticeship with a combination of study and practice to take you from the basics to mastery.
You’ll be confident to meet clients wherever they’re at and get them results they rave about.
Be Known as the Trainer Who Gets Such Good Results Your Clients Surprise Themselves
Your success depends on each client achieving what matters to them. The Apprenticeship trains you to apply our proven Method, so your clients get efficient, individualized results without spending all your time micromanaging. Here’s how we get you there…
Master the GMB Method
At the heart of our 106,341+ successful clients and global network of trainers is the GMB Method. You’ll learn to apply it for any goal.
- Use the AAA Framework for efficient results
- Write effective programming using the 5 Ps
- Ensure efficient progress with autoregulation
- Learn both the theory and the practice
Learn Great Coaching
Master proven coaching strategies for clearer communication, faster results, and happier clients that keep coming back (and inviting their friends).
- Accurately assess your clients’ biggest needs
- Learn technical cueing people actually understand
- Practice coaching your peers throughout the program
- Learn motivational coaching strategies for success without burnout
Build Your Physical Autonomy
You get access to our apprentice-only training program to get you more agile and resilient while also immersing you in the GMB Method.
- Practice hand balancing, locomotor movement patterns, and mobility exercises
- Get personalized coaching with video technique review
- Accelerate learning by being coach and client
- Virtual “office hours” with our founders and coaches
Unlike lots of certifications, this isn’t a weekend diploma mill that takes your money and sends you away with a piece of paper to hang on your gym wall.
Conor O'Shea
Owner of Conor O'Shea Fitness
Other Certifications Aren't Even Close
I went through the GMB apprenticeship in 2016. At the time it was a big investment and I wasnāt sure if it was a good idea or not. Within the first week I knew Iād found my people. There is a good balance of quality coaching with banter which is important! Over the course of the apprenticeship my body opened up and strengthened more than I could have imagined in such a short time.
Since graduating I have been teaching workshops and selling them out consistently. The thought of selling out workshops in a city as competitive as Melbourne seemed unfathomable before I certified with GMB Fitness. This has taken my career to the next level and I donāt feel like I am competing with the gym floor trainers any more.
I am also working full time as an online trainer and have clients contact me from all over the world who have found me through GMB. I even have a client from Saudi Arabia now! This would never have been possible if I wasnāt certified with GMB.
Iāve been a trainer for close to a decade and done a lot of different certifications. What sets GMB apart is the ongoing support. I qualified 4 years ago and Iām still being supported and backed by them. I haven't experienced anything close to this in any of the other certifications I've done.
Get complete development as a trainer without leaving your house.
Our structured, online training and coaching platforms let you go much deeper than a weekend workshop, without the cost and hassle of a long-term residency program.
All you need is space to train, a phone that can record and upload video, and time you can dedicate to training and learning.
Hereās a rough guide to how youāll move through the process:
- GMB Basics: You’ll learn the essential concepts of GMB training. As you practice these concepts you’ll build foundational strength, flexibility, and motor control. And you’ll begin peer coaching to apply essential coaching skills.
- Learning the GMB Method: This is where you’ll go deep into the study of the GMB Method and learn the central values that make this training effective and accessible. You’ll advance your teaching skills and learn to plan and run successful workshops and classes. Plus your daily training will help refine your strengths and shore up weaknesses.
- Coaching the GMB Method: In this module, you’ll learn how to apply this training and creatively adapt it for yourself and for teaching others. You’ll practice for the final physical exam. And you’ll demonstrate your teaching and business skills.
It’s an intensive learning experience but you’re not just tossed in and left to fend for yourself. One of our top trainers is right there with you at every step.
Meet your guide: Lead GMB Trainer Rose Calucchia
If you want to become a great trainer, you’ve gotta learn from one. Rose is one of the best all-around coaches out there. She’s a sought-after handstand coach with a background in acrobatics and circus skills.
And when you’re in the Apprenticeship, she’s your coach, too.
So whether you’re working on key movement details or effective coaching strategies, you can be confident you’re getting expert feedback and support throughout your training.
After You’re CertifiedGet the Support You Need to Grow
Where most certifications end and send you on your merry way, we’re just getting started. As soon as you graduate from the Apprenticeship you get 3 months of free access to our private social network for Trainers, which includes all of the following…
Class and workshop templates showing you exactly how to organize and run GMB events and training
Actually useful business and marketing advice on things like how to do online training and how to get more people in your workshops
Inclusion in our referral network that sends you clients who are specifically looking for GMB Trainers
Monthly office hours with Ryan, Andy, Jarlo, and Lead Trainers to get all your questions answered
Monthly continuing education workshops to expand your skillset (with more extensive CE courses available at an additional cost)
Admission to our annual Trainer-only seminar ($600 value)
Let’s be honest. This intensive approach isn’t for everyoneāsome people prefer the quick and easy way.
But if you’re willing to commit yourself to hard work and in-depth learning, then completing the Apprenticeship will develop skills you’ll use for the rest of your life.
If that sounds like your kind of thing, here’s how to get stared…
What to Know Before You Apply
Since supporting apprentices requires a lot of time and energy from our staff, we only want people who are going to invest themselves in the process.
But that doesn’t mean you have to be a gifted athlete to apply. We’re more interested in great people who want to learn and grow, and who love what GMB has to offer.
There is no cost to apply. Here’s how the application process works:
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Step 1:Fill Out the Application Form
By filling out the form below you officially start your application for the Apprenticeship.
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Step 2:Train with Elements
The Elements program is the core of our practice, so all candidates must complete at least 20 sessions of Elements prior to beginning their Apprenticeship.
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Step 3:Join the Program
Once you’ve completed 20 Elements sessions and basic screening, you’re invited to join one of the most transformative training experiences available.
Aspiring coaches, veteran trainers, group fitness instructors, yoga and pilates teachers, physical therapists, chiropractors, massage therapists, GMB clients who want to go deep in their training…
If you want a Method you can rely on to get proven, repeatable results for any client, the Apprenticeship will get you there.
Here’s what a couple alumni had to say…
Rebecca Rashkin
Owner, Flying Rabbit Movement
Prepared Me for Everything Involved in the Industry
The Apprenticeship enabled me to grow as a mover, an educator, and a human. It was a challenging three months, but my coach was supportive and gave me tools to manage the work of the Apprenticeship among my numerous other responsibilities.
I learned how autoregulation facilitates a sustainable movement practice, and how spending more energy on foundational work translates to a stronger skill set than only practicing the hardest thing all the time. I feel confident in my ability to teach the GMB philosophy now that I have deeply experienced the benefits of this method.
The business module was invaluable. The work that went into considering my marketing strategy for a mock workshop directly translated to my first real class as a GMB trainer.
From teaching movement, to organizing a class, and promoting myself as a fitness professional, the GMB Apprenticeship prepared me for everything involved in the industry.
Matlock Hargrove
Bodyweight Coach at JustLift.ca
The Apprenticeship Experience Was Phenomenal
I'd been considering becoming a coach for some time, but wasn't sure where to begin. Most certifications I'd found were weekend seminars, and felt like they were either a final exam for people who already had experience in the field, or were more of a money grab than an actual opportunity to learn.
I'd heard about GMB through some friends that I respect greatly. I was so impressed with the approach I found in Elements, Integral Strength, and Vitamin that I applied for the apprenticeship before I had even finished them.
The Apprenticeship experience was phenomenal. The lessons were short and to the point, while being deep enough to make going over them more than once worth the time. The work was always challenging, but not so much that it ever felt unachievable.
I thrive on schedules. The Apprenticeship made it easy to add to mine on top of whatever else was going on, while the coaches were exceptionally flexible when competing needs arose.
The coaching was excellent. I learned more than can be easily summed up. But the most important pieces are, first, a focused approach to training that's broadly applicable. I've applied it to the martial arts I practice outside of GMB to great effect. And second, the constant reminder that more isn't always better, something I've struggled with for most of my life.
The Apprenticeship will teach you powerful coaching from the inside out.
You’ll get stronger and move better as you learn how to take clients through that same process. And when you graduate you’ll join our global community of GMB Trainers and have access to exclusive resources to help make sure you succeed.
READY TO APPLY?Get started by filling out the form below
Dates: The next Apprenticeship begins April 3, 2023. Apply now to start then, or for future openings.
Training Cost: $250/month – Most Apprentices require 2ā4 months to complete the theory and practical tasks to certification standards, but you can train with us for as long as you need or quit anytime.
Certification Cost: $500 – Upon completing the requirements, you can test for certification any time. Your fee includes examination, licensing fees, and one retest within 30 days if necessary.
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š Frequently Asked Questions
We’ve also taken the liberty of including the answers here, since the questions aren’t very enlightening on their own š
What equipment will I need?
Probably nothing you don’t already have. All you need is:
- A high-speed internet connection that can stream video, and a computer or phone to access it
- Enough space to practice locomotor movements like the ones in Elements
- A wall to practice handstands against (no furniture nearby)
- A pull-up bar or rings
- A phone or camera to video some of your training
- A notebook to jot down what you learn and any questions you have while you’re training
If you’ve got all that or are willing to get it, you’re good to go.
How long does my certification last?
Once you’ve finished the requirements, passed the certification exam, and paid the $500 certification fee, you’re a GMB Trainer for life. Simple as that. There’s no renewal fee.
Can I get CEUs for this?
Nope. If picking up CEUs is the most important thing to you right now you’ll have to look elsewhere. But if you’re more concerned about becoming a great coach and having a community that’ll help you grow and succeed, then you’re in the right place.
Am I too experienced for this? Or too inexperienced?
No and no. We’ve trained veteran gym owners alongside total newbies who’ve never coached a person in their lives. The reason it works is we’re not teaching you a rigid system. It’s a Method you can apply at whatever level, and to whatever other practices, you’re working with.
I'm not a computer person. Can I still do this?
If you can post videos to social media and write updates on a blog or website, you can do this. But if that sounds overwhelming or you just hate spending time on a computer, then a 3-month online training program probably isn’t the right fit for you.
Are there certain times that I have to be somewhere?
Nope. All your training and learning happens on your own schedule.
You will be required to attend two real-time online events during the Apprenticeship, but you’ll get to choose from quite a few options to find a time that suits your timezone and schedule.
What if I don't like it? Can I get my money back?
No. The Apprenticeship is a big investment on both sides so there are no refunds. But you can cancel any time.
There’s no cost to apply so if you’re interested but not sure yet, use the application process to feel it out. If you get all the way through the process and you’re still not sure this is a great investment for you, go find something you’re really excited about. No hard feelings.
What happens if I get sick or life gets crazy?
Listen, life happens. If you need to take a week or two off, just pick up where you left off when you get back. You can also pause or cancel your Apprenticeship at any time, and rejoin later when things settle down.
Linda Winkel
Owner, handbalans.nl
I Get So Much Support
Three things were important to me in choosing the Apprenticeship: learning handstands and locomotion, the personal coaching, and the fact it was 100% online. My daughter was just 2 months and it was impossible for me to go outside.
The apprenticeship was great and I enjoyed every day. The fact that I got coaching every day was a great help. The coaching was so encouraging and the cues I got were fantastic.
The most important things I learned are:
- physical autonomy
- AAA framework
- The 5Ps
- using the concept of autoregulation
- using a timer instead of reps and sets
- focussing on one cue at a time
- reflecting on your workout with video and asking yourself what have you learned
It is quite a list, but I use it all the time.
But more important is life after the apprenticeshipāthe community. I get so much support. If I have questions about how to teach something or about marketing, I immediately get a response. It is great to be a part of it.
Peter Schultz
Trainer in Dortmund, Germany
One of the Most Profound Experiences I've Had
When I applied for the apprenticeship I wasnāt sure if I was suitable because I donāt have a personal training background. And although I loved playing sports I never was into fitness.
The apprenticeship was pretty intense! It was probably the most intense skills and strength training I ever did in my life!
I didnāt just learn the GMB method in detail. I also learned so many training tactics and teaching methods to help me when coaching others.
However, it was also one of the most profound experiences Iāve ever had. The biggest impact the apprenticeship had on me is the awareness and mindfulness I developed.
Now I focus on what lies directly ahead of me instead of having expectations towards an outcome. That makes me more patient, compassionate towards myself, and more motivated! Exercising is not a sprint nor a marathon I have to compete in. Itās a lifeās journey I love to take.
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