I’m turning 56 and it feels weird to even say. People still ask me how I stay fast, strong, explosive, and lean. The short answer? I still train like I’m preparing for the NFL Combine every single week. Some people call it dedication - others call it a mental illness. 🙂
I don’t chase marathons or endless volume. I chase fast-twitch fiber recruitment. Maximum intent on every rep, every sprint, every jump. That’s the fountain of youth in my opinion and science backs it up: explosive power, peak force production, and type II muscle fibers decline fastest with age unless you deliberately hammer them. So I do religiously.
It’s a sad truth: most adults never truly sprint again after age 30. For many, physical ability starts a rapid decline right alongside it - if you ask me, that’s no coincidence. Too often, people hide behind the excuse that “life gets in the way,” letting themselves go when the real issue is priority.
Over the years, I've had the privilege of advising professional athletes across multiple disciplines - NFL players, UFC fighters, and other high-level competitors who demand performance that doesn’t quit.
I have over 35 years training experience focused on dynamic athletic training. I'm not a personal trainer, but a true practitioner of my quantum athletics philosophy - living and applying my training principles to defy aging, optimize longevity, and elevate both my life and the lives of the few I mentor.
I’m tired of hearing age used as an excuse. “Slowing metabolism,” “it’s just getting older,” “life’s too busy”. These are the stories people tell themselves to stay comfortable and average. The truth is, lean muscle mass is one of the strongest predictors of longevity science has found. More muscle doesn’t just make you look better, it actively fights all-cause mortality, keeps your hormones optimized, strengthens bones, and sharpens your mind.
Explosive muscle isn’t just performance - it’s an insurance policy. Build and maintain it, and you stay healthy, capable, and dangerous at any age. More than that, it burns food as fuel far more efficiently, making it dramatically easier to stay lean as the years advance.
My Training Philosophy: Train Like a Pro Athlete, Recover Like a Scientist
I treat every session like NFL Combine day:
- Sprints – 10–40 yard with complete recovery between efforts. Speed is a skill you either maintain or lose - I refuse to let mine rust. I focus heavily on form, explosive drive phase, arm mechanics, and max velocity. Usually one to two sessions per week, and on some days I throw on the Centurion vest to make every stride even more powerful.
- Jumps & Plyometrics – Seiza pop-ups, Box jumps, broad jumps, backwards work, single-leg bounds. Pure explosiveness. Some performed in a weight vest.
- Heavy Compounds – Deadlifts, squats, presses, pulls. I borrow from the 2x2 philosophy (heavy doubles across multiple sets) and Mike Mentzer’s “less is more” approach: brief, brutal sets taken to true failure, then full recovery. Hypertrophy happens in the gym; growth happens outside it.
- Weighted Vest Work – My Centurion vest is rarely off. Rucking, vest-loaded jumps, pushes, and carries build work capacity without grinding joints. It started on long hours during my law enforcement career and accidentally turned into one of the best tools I’ve ever used.
One tool I’ve relied on for years to amplify fast-twitch recruitment, especially on days when heavy loads aren’t practical, is blood flow restriction (BFR) training. By using light weights or bodyweight with strategic occlusion bands, I create the metabolic stress and mechanical tension that tricks the body into firing type II fibers as if the load were much heavier. It’s efficient, joint-friendly, and a powerful way to build explosive strength and muscle even in a calorie deficit. I’ve used BFR for many years to stay lean and powerful without grinding my joints - another edge most people never tap.
I train 4–5 days a week, rarely more than 45–60 minutes. Intensity over volume. Recover hard, eat smart, repeat.
One of the biggest lessons from 35 years of high-intensity training is this: if you push hard - and I mean pro-athlete hard - your central nervous system has to recover fully or you’re just wasting time in the gym. Going through the motions with a fried CNS produces nothing. I’ve learned to prioritize real recovery - sleep, nutrition, deloads when needed, and listening to my body - so that every session is maximum effort and maximum return. That’s how you build explosive power without burning out, and it’s why my workouts stay short, brutal, and effective at 56.
Nutrition: Freedom Through Discipline
Most days I’m in a modest calorie deficit. That single habit gives me enormous freedom: I can enjoy myself with the occasional treat without guilt because the math is already handled. Protein stays high, carbs cycle around training, and I don’t obsess over perfection - consistency beats perfection every time.
And remember: the more lean muscle mass you carry, the more efficiently your body burns calories, even at rest. Explosive, fast-twitch muscle is metabolically expensive; it demands fuel and keeps your engine revved as you age. That’s why staying strong and powerful isn’t just about looking good or moving well - it’s one of the smartest ways to make fat loss and body composition easier over the long haul.
Morning Training: Eliminate Excuses Before They Form
I train first thing. No negotiation. Life throws curveballs all day - meetings, travel, emergencies (I spent years chasing fugitives; I know chaos). If I wait until afternoon, excuses creep in. Knock it out early and the rest of the day is yours. Discipline pays compound interest.
The Deeper Why: Fitness as Mental and Quantum Armor
Physical fitness is only half the equation.
Movement keeps anxiety at bay for me. It clears the static, sharpens focus, and creates space for clarity. But more than that, fitness readies my mind to manifest the best version of myself.
The universe is a mirror. It reflects back exactly what you put out. Good or bad, it responds with the precise mathematics of the quantum field. When I train with intent, when I push past comfort, when I clear my mind of “can’t,” I’m broadcasting a signal: I am strong, capable, unrelenting and demand the best. And the world mirrors it back.
That’s the real Force Multiplier.
The Next Level
I’m tired of hearing age used as an excuse - and I’m done watching good people settle for less than their best. That’s why, with this article, I’m opening a handful of exclusive mentoring spots for those who are truly ready to live the Culture of Perseverance and step into something bigger. These intensive 8-week Centurion Elite Mentoring spots are for the select few who refuse to quit, who want to train with pro-athlete intensity, and who are committed to mastering the Quantum Athletics mindset that turns “impossible” into inevitable.
If that’s you - if you’re ready to build explosive muscle, defy the calendar, and become the strongest version of yourself - head to the homepage at directionalforce.com right now. Follow the link, secure your application, and claim one of the limited spots before they’re gone.
Until then, train hard, train fast, and remember: You Can’t Fail if You Don’t Quit.
Chris Gowen Founder, Directional Force
Disclaimer: Consult a fitness professional before starting any new workout, especially if you have pre-existing injuries. Listen to your body and adjust weights or reps as needed. Always consult a healthcare provider before starting any workout program or physical activity to make sure that you're healthy enough.
The content contained in this article is for information purposes only, and is not meant to be a substitute or replacement for professional advice and medical consultation. It is just shared as information only, and with the understanding that Directional Force, LLC, (Directional Force) is not engaged in the provision or rendering of medical advice or services whatsoever. You unilaterally understand and agree that Directional Force shall not be liable for any claim, loss, or damage arising out of the use of, or reliance upon any content or information in this article or any article provided by Directional Force. Please seek professional medical advice prior to engaging in, or undertaking any of the content, exercises, advice, and workouts provided by Directional Force.
