The Training System That Builds Complete Athletes | Josh Settlage

Join the DDT Method community for exclusive deep dives on PEDs, peptides and biohacking protocols: https://www.skool.com/ddt-method

Josh Settlage is a strength and conditioning coach specializing in grappling and combat sports athletes. A protege of Mark Bell, Josh spent years learning at Super Training Gym before building The Strength Matrix -- his coaching practice dedicated to helping grapplers lift heavy and roll hard.

In this episode, Drew and Josh break down why being "jacked in all areas of conditioning" matters the most to being a well rounded athlete. They cover the three energy systems you MUST train, why the "no cardio" flex is actually holding back your gains, how to apply conjugate training methods for any goal (not just powerlifting), the truth about HIIT misconceptions, and performance-enhancing compounds like DADA, BAM-15, L-carnitine, ITPP, and injectable glutathione for conditioning and recovery.

Key Takeaways:

• Being conditioned across all energy systems (ATP-phosphocreatine, fast glycolysis, aerobic) is the mark of a complete athlete
• Building your aerobic base helps you recover faster between strength sessions and add more training volume
• True HIIT uses a 1:3 work-to-rest ratio at 15-30 seconds of real intensity -- not 40 minutes of moderate effort
• The VIP Method (Vision, Intention, Purpose) is the framework for breaking through training plateaus
• DADA increases ATP yield from glucose (more performance); BAM-15 decreases ATP efficiency (more fat burning) -- never combine on the same day
• Condensed conjugate (max effort + dynamic effort + repetition effort) in a 3-day split builds muscle without sacrificing explosiveness or conditioning
• Injectable L-carnitine is glycogen-sparing and helps sustain energy in long training sessions
• Injectable glutathione used every 2-3 weeks acts as a "fire extinguisher" for accumulated oxidative stress
• When people say they follow their diet 80/20, it's really more like 50/50 -- push to 90/10 for 12 weeks and see what happens

Connect with Josh Settlage:

YouTube: @JoshSettlage

Instagram: @JoshSettlage

Coaching: https://thestrengthmatrix.com

Connect with Drew Donaldson:

YouTube: @DDTMethod

Instagram: @DDTMethod