The Trainer

John Gunn is the founder of Forward Strength & Fitness, where he helps clients build strength and resilience through thoughtful and consistent training. What began in San Diego with a few kettlebells and early morning park sessions is now rooted at home in Wisconsin, with training available at home, online, or one of our fully equipped gyms in Walkers Point or the East Side of Milwaukee.

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With a lifelong background in athletics, including football, baseball, track, college rugby, cycling, ultra-running, and amateur MMA, John brings to the table a well-rounded understanding of performance, recovery, and longevity. His coaching philosophy is shaped not only by years of training,  but also the plateaus, feelings of burnout, and the mental demands that come with pushing previous physical limits. He emphasizes sustainable progress, helping clients know when to step it up, when to slow down, and how to stay consistent over the long term.

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John studied Kinesiology and Human Performance at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater and Psychology at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. He has completed kettlebell training with StrongFirst and has been certified as a Personal Trainer through ACE (American Council on Exercise), NASM (National Academy of Sports Medicine), and currently ACSM (American College of Sports Medicine).

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John lives on the East Side of Milwaukee with his wife and two dogs. When he's not in the gym you can usually find him on a trail near the lake or a beer garden.