About David · Stronghold Coaching
Built brick by brick.
David Stanton is an exercise scientist and clinical exercise physiologist, a national and international competitor across athletics, strongman and powerlifting, and the coach who ran Stronghold Gym in Underwood, Brisbane for over a decade.

Qualifications
Credentials
Exercise scientist
Training built on the science of how bodies adapt.
Clinical exercise physiologist
Exercise programming with a clinical lens.
Nutrition coaching
Qualified in nutrition coaching.
Competitive athlete
National and international competitor across athletics, strongman and powerlifting.
Over a decade at Stronghold Gym
Ran Stronghold Gym in Underwood, Brisbane, helping people reach their strength and fitness goals.
Dad to his boys
Knows what it takes to train around family and work.
The coach behind Stronghold
David’s background is in exercise science. He’s an exercise scientist and clinical exercise physiologist, and he’s qualified in nutrition coaching.
He’s also lived it under the bar. David has competed at national and international level across multiple sports, including athletics, strongman and powerlifting.
For over a decade he ran Stronghold Gym in Underwood, Brisbane, helping people achieve their strength and fitness goals. The motto was simple: Strength Training Specialists.
Then he became a dad to his boys, and what mattered shifted. He still wanted to be strong and healthy, for them, without the long sessions. Stronghold Coaching takes everything from the gym floor online, with three programs built for real lives: StrongCEO for executives, StrongDad for dads, and StrongPR for lifters chasing new numbers.
How David coaches
A degree in exercise science and training as a clinical exercise physiologist means David starts from the research: how muscles adapt, how much training is enough, how much protein supports it and how habits form. Then he tests it against real life, from over a decade on the Stronghold Gym floor to fitting training around being a dad.
His rule is simple: if he can’t explain why something is in your program, it doesn’t belong there. That’s why every Stronghold program comes with the reasoning, so you understand what you’re doing as well as doing it.
Social proof
From Stronghold Gym members
Reviews from members of Stronghold Gym, Underwood, the in-person gym David ran before Stronghold Coaching.
“This is the longest I have ever stuck to any fitness program … Having David as my Coach is great. I was amazed at just how much he knows and methods he applies to training …”
“Been working with Dave at Stronghold for 5 years. Im stronger and fitter than I’ve ever been. Love this family Gym …”
“Specialists in powerlifting with all the very best in technique training. All the support and encouragement you need. Genuine trainers who will be with you for the long haul to reach your goals. I would recommend training with these guys any day.”
