What You'll Learn From This Course

• The goal is to deepen your understanding of the scientific principles of effective resistance training and develop practical skills in exercise selection, technique analysis, and program design.
• You will learn to individualize training according to client needs and elevate your coaching competence to the IFBB professional level.
• The course extensively covers hypertrophy-related topics, including the science of muscle growth, optimizing training variables, and evidence-based program design.
• You will learn the fundamentals of biomechanics and its application to training, including movement technique analysis and adapting exercises to individual needs.
• The course delves into muscle anatomy and physiology, muscle contraction, force production, and the force-velocity relationship.
• You will learn to understand muscle attachment points, torque, and insertion angles to optimize training.
• The IFBB Nordic Academy Method: Strength Curve Optimized Hypertrophy (IFBB-SCOH), a biomechanically informed approach, is presented.
• You will learn to manipulate training variables (volume, intensity, frequency, rest) and understand the principle of progressive overload.
• Periodization for bodybuilding athletes is covered.
• You will learn to utilize advanced training techniques.
• The course emphasizes the importance of continuous learning and professional development.

Get a Glimpse Inside: Preview the Course Table of Contents

How the Course Works (October 2025 launch)

All live teaching is streamed via Zoom and recorded for on-demand replay, so you never miss a session 

1 | Orientation & Hypertrophy Mastery  (Kick-off weekend)

• Live labs + theory (20 h) – We open with the science that drives muscle growth: mechanical tension, metabolic stress and progressive overload. You will practise advanced set- and rep-manipulations, volume landmarking (MEV → MRV) and periodisation frameworks in real time .

• Outcome – Design evidence-based hypertrophy programmes that scale from novice to IFBB pro clients.

2 | Applied Biomechanics for Bodybuilding Coaches  (self-paced + live clinic)

• Pre-recorded lectures (≈ 8 h) + live technique clinic (Nov 2025) – Deep-dive into joint mechanics, torque, moment arms and the IFBB Strength-Curve-Optimised Hypertrophy (IFBB-SCOH) method. You will learn to adjust exercise selection and execution for every limb length and insertion angle .

• Outcome – Perform video-based technique analyses and build exercise libraries that truly fit individual athletes.

3 | Strategic Programming & Case Application  (Dec 2025 follow-up)

• Live programming workshop (6 h) + case-study pack – Translate biomechanics into periodised plans. We unpack block, linear and undulating models, intensity autoregulation (RIR/RPE) and advanced methods such as lengthened-partials, BFR and cluster sets .

• Outcome – Produce a season-long roadmap that integrates monitoring, recovery science and plateau management.

Key features

• Recordings & transcripts for every session – revisit complex topics anytime.

• 500 + page course reader in three volumes (Fundamentals, Biomechanics, Programming) .

• No formal exam – certification is earned through participation or replay completion.

• IFBB Certificate (internationally recognised) delivered digitally and in print.

• Lifetime community access – share videos for feedback and join quarterly research updates.

Take the step from informed coach to evidence-driven specialist this autumn. Secure your seat for the only 2025 intake of IFBB Advanced Resistance Training Course III.

Course Preview: Experience Our Premium Learning Resources

📹 Sample Lecture: Functional Muscle Anatomy

Get an exclusive glimpse into the comprehensive pre-recorded lessons available to IFBB Nordic Academy students. This sample lecture on Functional Muscle Anatomy demonstrates the exceptional quality and depth of instruction you'll receive throughout the Advanced Resistance Training Course.

What Makes Our Pre-Recorded Content Special:

• Science-Based Education: Each lecture delivers evidence-based content backed by current research and practical application
• Visual Learning Experience: Clear visual aids and expert demonstrations enhance understanding of complex concepts
• Structured Learning Path: Carefully sequenced content builds your knowledge systematically
• Learn at Your Pace: Access lectures anytime, review challenging concepts, and progress according to your schedule
• Professional Production: High-quality video and audio ensure an engaging learning experience

This sample lecture showcases how we transform complex anatomical concepts into practical training principles. As a student, you'll have access to dozens of similar in-depth lectures covering biomechanics, program design, special populations, advanced training methods, and more.

The full course includes hours of pre-recorded content, comprehensive study materials, assessment tools, and interactive elements to ensure mastery of all concepts.

Registration for our April 25th, 2025 cohort is now open. Secure your spot to gain access to our complete learning platform and join the ranks of elite fitness professionals.

What You'll Get With This Course

Live Virtual Masterclass 

Kick-Off Weekend 31 Oct – 2 Nov 2025 (three immersive Zoom days) + two focussed evening clinics later in the term. All teaching is streamed and uploaded within 24 h, so you can replay on your schedule 

• 110-Hour Blended Curriculum 
  • Interactive workshops, on-demand lectures and guided self-study add up to a true deep dive, not a highlight reel. 
• 3-Volume Digital Textbook (500 + pages) 
  • Part 1 lays the hypertrophy foundations, Part 2 unlocks applied biomechanics and the IFBB-SCOH method, Part 3 shows you how to program like an elite coach 
•  Lifetime Learning Platform Access 
  • stream every pre-recorded lesson, download slide decks and track progress whenever it suits you  
•  Technique Analysis Vault 
  • Video-based breakdowns that show cueing, strength-curve tweaks and common faults, built around the practical application toolkit in Part 3
•  Private Cohort Forum 
  • Ask questions, post form checks and share resources with an international network of like-minded coaches.
• IFBB Nordic Academy Certificate 
  • Earn an internationally recognised credential signed by Director Ville Isola; no written exam required—attendance live or via replay completes the course.
• Ongoing Alumni Perks 
  • Quarterly research-update webinars and member-only discounts keep your knowledge current and your network strong.

Step into autumn ready to master evidence-based hypertrophy coaching—and secure your place before the cohort fills.

Meet Your Instructor: Ville Isola

Ville Isola PhD (c)   

Ville Isola is a well-respected fitness and bodybuilding expert, trainer, coach, and military officer, with an impressive background in fitness education and research. He holds a Master's degree in Physical Education and a Master's degree in Military Science, and is currently pursuing his Ph.D. at the University of Jyväskylä, Finland. His research focuses on fitness athletes and bodybuilders, examining their unique physiological needs, and has led to several significant contributions in the field, including recent work on adaptive thermogenesis in physique athletes.

It often seems that we have forgotten how a fitness athlete or bodybuilder should train. When I created the IFBB Nordic Academy Advanced Nutrition course, it was clear to me that we needed the same evidence-based approach for strength training. Social media is flooded with different workouts, and new research constantly shifts our understanding — what really is the optimal training volume?

I was annoyed that there wasn't a strength training course specifically for fitness athletes and bodybuilders — so now there is! I hope you'll join us, whether you're a coach, fitness athlete, bodybuilder, or just an enthusiast, because I promise you'll learn on this course.

As an IFBB College Faculty Member and International Teacher of the IFBB Academy, Ville Isola has a distinguished role in the global fitness community. He also serves as the General Secretary of the IFBB Coaches Commission. Since 2016, Ville has been actively involved in training and educating Finnish fitness coaches, contributing to the growth and excellence of the fitness community.

In this course, Ville will share his extensive experience and research findings to help you optimize muscle growth, strength gains, and injury prevention. His teaching approach combines in-depth scientific knowledge with practical, real-world applications, ensuring you gain both theoretical understanding and actionable skills to excel in advanced resistance training. His teaching approach combines in-depth scientific knowledge with practical, real-world applications, ensuring you gain both theoretical understanding and actionable skills to excel in advanced resistance training.

Course Structure for IFBB Advanced Resistance Training Course (Starting April 25th)

🔢 Total Academic Hours: 110 Hours 

A fully immersive curriculum combining live expert sessions, on-demand video content, and independent study—all tailored to help you master advanced hypertrophy and physique programming.

📅 Intensive Live Weekend: October 31 – November 2, 2025 

Launch your learning journey with a high-impact weekend experience. Engage with advanced training principles through interactive lectures, applied biomechanics, and live coaching analysis.

🌙 Evening Masterclasses: November 25, 2025 & January 21, 2026 

Deepen your expertise with focused evening sessions that revisit key topics and expand on the application of advanced methods in real-world coaching scenarios.

📼 Watch Anytime – 100% Flexible Access 

All sessions are recorded and uploaded to the learning platform, ensuring you can review, rewatch, or catch up at your own pace—on your schedule.

IFBB Nordic Academy Advanced Resistance Training Course III

Elevate Your Coaching. Maximize Hypertrophy.

The IFBB Nordic Academy Advanced Resistance Training Course sets you apart by fusing peer-reviewed science with practical application and delivering an IFBB credential respected in over 200 countries. While other programs offer theory, we deliver transformation—equipping you with research-led training that translates immediately to results in the gym, whether you’re coaching clients or refining your own physique.

Key Learning Blocks

1. Precise Exercise Execution 

• Master resistance profiles and joint mechanics to optimize every rep.

• Coach clients to enhance muscle activation while minimizing performance leaks.

2. Muscle Function & Hypertrophy Science 

• Explore fiber-type recruitment, regional hypertrophy, and long-length tension strategies.

• Apply the latest lab data to your coaching with actionable, field-ready cues.

3. Evidence-Based Program Design 

• Construct mesocycles with targeted sets, reps, rest, and load progression.

• Use RPE/RIR and velocity metrics to autoregulate intensity across training blocks.

4. Injury Risk Management  

• Implement biomechanical screens to reduce common joint stressors.

• Progress axial loading safely—especially under high-volume conditions.

5. Advanced Periodization & Novel Methods 

• Rotate between accumulation, intensification, and tapering phases over 12–20 weeks.

• Integrate strategies like myo-reps, cluster sets, and accommodating resistance. 

How You Benefit 

• IFBB Recognition – The badge that commands trust from gyms, federations, and elite athletes.

• Ongoing Access – Stay current with lifetime course portal updates as new research emerges.

• Direct Mentorship – Small cohorts (max 20) mean you get live feedback on form and program design.

• Nordic Coaching Network – Connect with trainers across Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Iceland, and Estonia.

How the Course Works – Starts October 30, 2025

All live teaching is streamed via Zoom and recorded for replay on your schedule.

1 | Orientation & Hypertrophy Mastery

(Oct 31–Nov 2, 2025)

Live Intensive Weekend (20 hrs) 

Kick off with the core drivers of muscle growth: mechanical tension, progressive overload, and stimulus-fatigue balance.

Practice advanced set/rep manipulation, MEV–MRV planning, and periodization frameworks in real time.

Outcome: Build and coach programs that scale from novice lifters to elite IFBB athletes. 

2 | Applied Biomechanics for Bodybuilding Coaches

(Nov 2025)

Self-paced lectures (8 hrs) + Live Technique Clinic 

Deep dive into moment arms, torque, and the IFBB Strength-Curve-Optimized Hypertrophy (SCOH) model.

Adapt exercise execution to match any athlete’s structure and limb length.

Outcome: Deliver video-based movement analysis and create individualized hypertrophy libraries.

3 | Strategic Programming & Case Application

(Jan 21, 2026)

Live Workshop (6 hrs) + Case Study Pack 

Bridge biomechanics and programming. Learn linear, block, and undulating periodization, recovery strategies, and advanced techniques like blood flow restriction and lengthened-partials.

Outcome: Produce a 12–20 week roadmap with integrated monitoring, progression, and plateau-busting tactics.

Key Features 

• ✅ Recordings + full transcripts of every session

• 📘 500+ page course reader (3 volumes: Foundations, Biomechanics, Programming)

• 📝 No exams — certification is granted via participation or replay completion

• 📜 IFBB Certificate (digital + print, internationally recognized)

• 🌐 Lifetime access to private community & quarterly research briefs

👉 Step into elite coaching territory. 

Secure your seat for the only 2025 intake of the IFBB Advanced Resistance Training Course III.

Limited cohort. High impact. Real results.

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