#430 Clifton Harski - What’s Right (and Wrong) With Functional Training?

Clifton Harski is the COO of The PPSC, a veteran of group exercise and traveling seminar education, and a much-needed jester pushing back against an increasingly ultra-serious fitness media landscape.In this episode, Clifton joins Andrew Coates for a fun, thoughtful, and refreshingly honest deconstruction of functional training—how it earned its reputation, where it went off the rails, and what’s still genuinely useful if we strip away the dogma.Rather than defending a single methodology, Clifton takes aim at all fitness tribes (including his own), poking holes in sacred cows while making a strong case for curiosity, humility, and cross-pollination between disciplines.In this episode, Clifton shares insight on:• How “functional training” became a punchline• A clearer, more practical definition of what functional training actually is• The good ideas that still exist within functional training• Whether kettlebells can be used effectively for hypertrophy• Why fitness tribalism holds everyone back• Where kettlebell culture gets stuffy (according to a kettlebell guy)• Powerlifting’s strengths—and blind spots• CrossFit’s rise, fall, evolution, and cultural impact• The appeal of hybrid training approaches• Where group fitness programming succeeds and fails• Pilates and yoga—what they do well and where they’re misunderstood• Bodybuilding’s relationship with “function”• Why no single modality deserves total loyalty• And why everyone—including Clifton—is fair gameInstagram: @cliftonharskiCHAPTERS01:08 The Evolution and Missteps of Functional Training02:00 The Role of Physical Therapy in Fitness04:02 Critiquing Functional Patterns05:39 Reframing Functional Training as Athleticism06:10 Sponsor Break – TrainHeroic07:29 Personal Training and Functional Training Revisited12:06 Fitness Industry Tribalism12:42 Kettlebell Training: The Good and the Bad18:13 Powerlifting: Strengths and Weaknesses22:30 CrossFit: Rise, Fall, and Impact27:53 CrossFit’s Reputation and Evolution28:55 Criticisms of CrossFit Programming29:48 The Appeal of Hybrid Training31:25 CrossFit’s Community and Influence32:32 Challenges in Group Fitness Programming33:37 The Role of Nutrition Tracking34:41 Pilates and Yoga: Benefits and Criticisms42:08 Bodybuilding and Functional Training43:29 The Value of Diverse Training Modalities45:04 Kettlebells and Hypertrophy50:28 Group Fitness: Pros and Cons53:52 Final Thoughts and TakeawaysSUPPORT THE SHOWIf this episode made you think—or laugh—you can help the show by:• Subscribing and checking out more episodes• Sharing it on social media (tag me — I’ll respond)• Sending it to a coach or client who’s stuck in one training “camp”FOLLOW ANDREW COATESInstagram: @andrewcoatesfitnesshttps://www.andrewcoatesfitness.comPARTNERS AND RESOURCESRP Strength App (use code COATESRP)https://www.rpstrength.com/coatesJust Bite Me Meals (use code ANDREWCOATESFITNESS for 10% off)https://justbitememeals.com/MacrosFirst – FREE Premium TrialDownload MacrosFirst → During setup, answer “How did you hear about us?”Type: ANDREWKNKG Bags (15% off)https://www.knkg.com/Andrew59676Versa Gripps (discount link)https://www.versagripps.com/andrewcoatesTRAINHEROIC – FREE 90-Day Trial (2 steps)Go to: https://www.trainheroic.com/liftfreeReply to the email you receive (or email [email protected]) and let them know Andrew sent you