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66 MUSCLE & FITNESS JUNE 2016

they become mentors for junior
players. In encouraging a communal
environment and by giving each
client an appropriate workload,
greater trust among his training
team is established and effective
learning takes place.
“At Conquest, at any given time
you could be training next to an elite
athlete and you are encouraged to
ask these athletes questions,” says
Tuinauvai, who this year assisted
two Aussies, Eneasi Kavapalu and
Daniel Fa’alele, to secure full US
scholarships to play Gridiron.
“My athletes are encouraged
to monitor how they feel and how
well they are responding to a
training stimulus. I teach each of
them not only what to do but why
they are doing it. That is crucial
for their career. They may feel
they need to work on their glutes
because their left side is weak. Or
work on the lower back because the
hamstrings are weak. I give them
ownership of their program
and this is empowering.”

LEADING THE WAY

Of the many high-performance

gyms across Australia, Conquest

Fitness is among those leading

the way for seasoned professional

athletes and athletes chasing elite-

level sporting success. Aside from

the fundamental biomechanical and

physiological considerations central

to program planning, Tuinauvai

believes that interpersonal

communication and respect are key

coaching ingredients.

“When you come into Conquest

you don’t have to be shy,” he says.

“Everyone’s open and honest. If

you’re not training right or cutting

corners you will be found out

“A lot of trainers

reinvent the wheel.

I keep it simple

and basic.”

because one of the older boys

will put you into line.”

Setting the tone for a great

workout is one of Tuinauvai’s key

strategies for “bringing out the

best” in his athletes. “I believe in

humour and high energy,” he says.

“We have the music pumping and

as soon as you walk in you feel that

energy. I tell my athletes that as

soon as they arrive, whatever is

happening in their lives can be left

at the door because we are there to

do a job. I will change the way they

train if it means winning the session

psychologically, in which case they

will have fun and forget their stress.

I like to work on a person’s mindset

before we even begin lifting.”

A PERSONAL APPROACH

The best trainers know that

great training insights and

perfectly periodised strength and

conditioning programs will not

compensate for poor communication

and bad working relationships.

Indeed, perhaps the real secret to

Tuinauvai’s success is the genuine

interest he takes in his athletes.

“People are building new gadgets

these days that rate players and

show how they’re training, but I

think the easiest way to determine

how your athlete is going is to

sit down and talk with them,” he

says. “I’ll find out what is going

on in their day, get them to rate

how they feel emotionally and

physically – the personal approach.

They are athletes but they’re also

human and have feelings. If an

athlete is not feeling right there

are days when I’ll tell them, ‘okay,

just go and stretch’. But they’ll call

me that night and thank me for

understanding.”

BUILDING CHAMPS

Tuinauvai knows

how to bring out the

best in his athletes.