Hey friend!
My name is John.
I’ve been a strength and conditioning coach for over 15 years, owned Burley Strength (a powerlifting & strength gym in Canberra) for 10 years, and I firmly believe you don’t need more information.
You need someone in your corner.
Someone who understands the reality of life outside the gym.
Someone who can help you navigate the process without shame or guilt.
Someone who wants you to succeed, no matter your goals.
I coach recreational athletes of all levels who want to train hard and get results without training consuming their life.
You've been around long enough to know what you should be doing.
You've read the articles, watched the videos, maybe even had a program or two written for you. And yet somewhere between the plan and the execution, things fall apart.
Life gets busy.
You miss a week, then another. Before you know it you're starting over and wondering why you can't just get it together.
That’s not a willpower nor a discipline problem.
It’s a capacity problem.
Most people know roughly what they should be doing. What’s missing is a coach who understands that the training program has to fit an actual life, not the idealised version of it.
The “perfect plan” is worthless if you lack the capacity to follow it.
You DON’t
NEED MORE INFORMATION
I coach humans, not machines
Sure you can get a program from AI but what then?
AI will never know what it feels like to roll out of bed after a rough night with the kids before heading to the gym for a squat session nor will it understand the struggle to find space for the bare minimum in the season of life where you’re being buried by responsibilities outside the gym.
I believe strength training should be a life-long journey.
If you’re looking for 12-week quick fixes and shortcuts you’ve come to the wrong place.
If, instead, you’re looking to find a balance between chasing your goals in the gym and saying yes to life outside the gym I’m your guy.
Your results in the gym don't happen in a vacuum.
Sleep, nutrition, stress, and your life outside the gym — all of it shapes what's possible in your training at any given time. Ignore it all and the best-written program in the world starts to fall apart.
My coaching philosophy is based on 15+ years of coaching real humans and helping them balance the demands of training with the demands of life without compromising on either.
In practice, that means:
A training plan written for you — not adapted from a template
Regular check-ins that look at the whole picture, not just what you lifted last week
Video technique feedback designed to help you understand your body and how you move
A program built on a minimum effective dose approach — the goal is what keeps you moving forward consistently, not what you can survive once
My goal is ultimately to make myself redundant. To get you to a point where you understand your own training well enough that you don’t need me any more.
This is your life and your body.
I’m just here to help you understand it better and to make the most of the time you have.
Training is more than just sets & reps
Coaching TIERS
Pick the tier that fits your life right now.
All ongoing coaching runs through an online app — your program is always in your pocket, and all communication, check-ins, and technique submissions happen in one place. You can message me directly and I aim to get back to you within 24-48 hours on weekdays.
The tiers differ in how closely we work together week to week.
Onboarding — Your first two weeks
$319 (paid up-front - compulsory for all new clients)
It starts with a video call for us to get to know each other. You tell me what you're trying to do and what's gotten in the way and we’ll workshop a realistic plan for achieving your goals without compromising your life outside the gym.
I’ll look at your current training videos and setup your first 2 week training block. At the end of each week I’ll review your training footage to sharpen your technical skills and ensure we’re on the right path moving forward.
At the end of the first 2 weeks we’ll have another video call to go over your results so far, refine the program setup, and lock-in for the next block of training.
Fortnightly coaching — $110/wk
Your program is updated every two weeks with weekly technique feedback (sent as a video recording). We have a 45-minute coaching call every fortnight to stay on top of life demands and ensure we’re adjusting accordingly.
For athletes who want consistent, hands-on support and regular direct contact. The closest thing to in-person coaching in an online setup.
Monthly coaching — $65/wk
Your program is updated every four weeks with fortnightly technique reviews. Monthly coaching call to talk about your progress, adjust the plan, and look ahead.
The best option for athletes who are self-sufficient between sessions but want regular eyes on their training and a coach to sense-check the direction.
Quarterly coaching — $29/wk
A 12-week training program in two six-week blocks. Monthly video check-ins. A coaching call at the end of each block to review and plan the next one.
Best for experienced athletes who know how to train hard and self-manage day to day — but want a well-structured plan and someone to keep them honest on the big picture.
All prices are listed in AUD. Memberships are billed fortnightly unless stated otherwise. All memberships have a 12-week minimum term.
CONSULTING
Not ready to commit to an ongoing coaching membership?
Consult call — $149
A 60-minute call covering your training history, current goals, a technique review, and your biggest issues in training. You'll leave with a written summary and a clear action plan. I'll follow up a fortnight later to see how things are landing.
Consult + Training Program — $349
Everything in the consult, plus a full 12-week training program built around your goals and schedule. Includes a first-month follow-up call.
ABOUT ME
I'm John Sheridan — Sherro to most people.
I've been training for over twenty years and coaching for over fifteen, and owned the gym, Burley Strength, for ten years.
I’ve been an athlete my whole life. I grew up playing soccer then rugby before discovering powerlifting, the sport that changed my life. I spent the better part of a decade as a competitive powerlifter before stepping back from the platform to focus on coaching.
In the 15+ years I’ve been coaching I've worked with elite powerlifters, first-time gym-goers, ultra-marathon runners, para-athletes, people training seriously for the first time in their 50s and 60s, and adventure athletes who just want to be capable wherever life takes them.
The thing I've learned more than anything in those fifteen years is that the program matters a lot less than most people think, and the relationship matters a lot more.
I’m a late diagnosed neurodivergent and, like a lot of people in a similar position, discovering my own neurodivergence explained a number of things about my life, including why I’ve spent my whole life being told I’m “not living up to my potential” despite working as hard as I possibly can.
If your brain works differently and you've spent years being told your training struggles are a motivation problem, I'd gently suggest that's probably not the whole story. You'd be in good company here.
I'm based in Canberra and available for online coaching where ever you are in the world. ✊