metabolic project

Who:	Metabolic Project
	Todd Person & David Wexler
Where:	1401 Westwood Blvd
	Los Angeles, CA
	(310) 479-7778
What:	Strength Training, Conditioning, Weights, Nutrition
	& Basketball-Specific training and skills workouts (e.g., shooting, ball-handling, drills, etc).
SoCalHoops Rating

We've had a small little blurb posted about the "Metabolic Project" on our front page for the last two years. But not many people really know what this group is or what they do. We've also not made it a habit to "rate" services, but just so you'd know, we thought we'd do it this time (see the Five-Star rating), as well as tell you a little bit about the Metabolic Project, who they are and what they do, and why it may be worth your while to take advantage of what they have to offer, especially if you are a high school player looking to get stronger, bigger, better, faster. . . in short, a high school player looking to become the best you can be and move on to the next level.

So what's the Metabolic Project? It's really two different, very distinct and specific kinds of workout trainng services.

On the one hand, it's a private workout gym, where individual players receive one-on-one, individualized strength training and nutritional counseling from certified physical trainer Todd Person. On the other hand, it's a basketball-specific series of workouts, best held in group sessions of two, three, or more players, conducted by Todd's life-long friend and associate David Wexler, a former player who now also coaches with, among others, the Rockfish, and who professionally trains high school, college and pro basketball players.

Todd Person is well-known in the professional and college ranks among some of the best basketball players around (as well as some of the top football, baseball, soccer, and other pro athletes). For several years, Todd was the Staff Trainer for the Los Angeles Clippers, and for the past five or six years, he's been running a private gym located in Westwood, CA dedicated to all aspects of training athletes, from weight and strength training, to psycholigical and nutritional guidance, to plyometrics, to fung shue.

Todd's gym has been home to such players recently as Baron Davis (Charlotte Hornets/ UCLA), Jerome Moiso (76'er's--UCLA), Jelani McCoy (Seattle Supersonics), Toby Bailey (NBA, ABA, UCLA), Jarron & Jason Collins (Utah Jazz, New Jersey Nets), Carlos Boozer (Duke), Deshawn Stevenson (Jazz), Chris Jeffries (Fresno State), Earl Watson (UCLA, Seattle Supersonics), Brian Scalabrine (USC, New Jersey Nets), Eddie Griffin (Houston Rockets), Kenny Anderson (Boston Celtics), Antawn Jamison (Golden State), Trajon Langdon (Duke, Cleveland Cavs), Gary Grant (Portland Trailblazers), Charles Smith (NY Knicks), Ron Harper (LA Lakers), Ed & Charles O'Bannon (UCLA, NBA), and many others.

There is no "typical" workout with Todd. He combines weight training, resistance trainging (e.g., pushups, situps, pullups, dips), with cardiovascular workouts (running, bike, and some of the most advanced machines around) in a sort of circuit workout. Precise records are kept of each workout, the particular machines used, the types of exercises, in order to accurately chart progress. Some of his tougher workouts are affectionately referred to as "prison-style" workouts, and they've been known to make even grown men cry (or puke)....But most pros, including those he's helped get into shape for the NBA draft, like Baron Davis and Jerome Moiso, swear by his training.

As for the aspect of Metabolic Project handled by Dave Wexler, the workouts are usually run at locations on the Westside of Los Angeles, such as the UCLA men's gym, or a semi-private park in secluded Beverly Glen (no we're not going to reveal the location, because it's got a full size court that's always open, along with some other great attributes)....Dave is now specializing in working with high school teams, or groups of high school players, helping them with conditioning and specific basketball skills work.

Dave's workouts are geared towards increased cardiovascular endurance, and feature sand-pit work for developing leg strength and jumping ability (i.e., plyometrics), as well as extensive drills using a heavy ball combined with hill running and more sand-pit workouts. The availability of a fullcourt at the Beverly Glen or at UCLA also allows for some intensive fullcourt dribbling and ball-handling drills and skill work, as well as shooting drills and practice.

The other advantage to group workouts in this setting is that it also helps keep the cost down for each individual player, provides an opportunity for several members of the same team to work and train together, share the driving, etc.

Prices for both Todd's private gym workouts and Wexler's group court workouts are negotiable and the times and scheduling is also flexible, so give them a call to find out whether what they have to offer is something that you ought to be taking advantage of.

If you're a high school player looking to improve your game, or have a group from your high school (e.g., a group of four or more players) who could benefit from some more intensive workouts and strength and conditioning than you're now getting at your high school, give David or Todd a call to arrange for a workout. Most players will show some immediate benefit from the workouts, so give them a try.....You'll never know until you try it. And tell them you heard about them from SoCalHoops. You can reach them at (310) 479-7778.