SNI: What is the most idiotic thing you’ve heard in the world of personal training (i.e. training methods, theories, practices, etc)?
NT: Trainers who train their clients with the desired result of making them puke during or after the workout.
SNI: If one’s goal is to improve muscular power for a skill like swinging a baseball/softball bat, what are the fundamental resistance training exercises that you believe all/most athletes should perform?
NT: First off, there’s no better way to train for a specific thing then actually doing that specific thing and doing it often.
That said, my “go-to” exercise would be the kettle bell rotary swing, which I developed specifically for rotary athletes like baseball/softball players.
Here’s video of the Kettle bell Rotatry Swing – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KN-cZBkLf9M
SNI: Does long slow cardio training have a place in training strength-power athletes?
NT: If the athlete is in the off-season and their primary goal was fat loss. Then, I would say there could be a place, especially if their caloric intake was lowered to facilitate fat loss but aside from that, I don’t see how or why it would have a place.
SNI: What role does dietary supplementation play in your work with athletes?
NT: Since I’m not a dietician or nutritionist, I cannot prescribe supplements to my athletes. But, I do make suggestions and provide them information on proven supplements which I do believe in like creatine, fish oils, whey protein, beta-alanine, vitamin D, multi-vitamins, etc.
SNI: If there is a single individual who YOU would go to in seeking performance training advice, who would it be and why?
NT: There are lots of folks of whom I respect and feel I could learn a lot from. That said, I’d have to say the late, great Mel Siff who unfortunately passed away in March of 2003.
SNI: Last funny question: If you could be a superhero, who would it be? 
NT: Superman. Except, I wouldn’t wear those silly ass tights.
Nick Tumminello is the owner of Performance University – Strength & Conditioning in Baltimore MD where he trains Bodybuilders, Figure Models and athletes from the NFL, NBA and UFC. He’s a regular contributor to Men’s Health, Men’s Fitness, Maximum Fitness, Oxygen, Muscle Mag, and FIGHT! Magazine. He has authored 13 DVDs, has been featured in two NY Times best-selling books and writes a very popular fitness blog at www.NickTumminello.com
