Exercise Solution – Collaborator
John Tatore began weight training at age 17 with the classic “3 sets of 10,” inspired by Muscle and Fitness. His understanding deepened in 1980 when he joined his first Nautilus facility. Although he did not fully grasp the protocol at the time, the experience established the foundation for everything that followed.
In 1983, after discovering The Nautilus Book, John joined a second facility equipped with a full line of Nautilus machines. That experience led to several years of studying training principles and refining how he approached controlled strength work. A major turning point came in 1988 when he first encountered SuperSlow. The emphasis on precision, control, and minimizing momentum reshaped his approach and changed how he evaluated equipment and technique. John continues to expand his perspective and knowledge on strength training by exploring additional material and methods.
In 2003, John opened Exercise Solution on a part time basis with four machines. Over the years it became his full time profession with thirteen machines operated under a Dynamic SuperSlow methodology. During this period he began collaborating with Gus Diamantopoulos at The Strength Room. Gus engineered important upgrades including replacing traditional bushings with linear bearings in the weight stacks, upgrading guide rods to hardened steel, introducing portable push static devices, and developing methods for attaching load cells through an adjustable weight stack stopper. These improvements marked significant progress at the time.
In 2022, a comment from John Parr at Overload Fitness of the Main Line about “going to 95” prompted John to examine Rep Builder more seriously. He had first seen an early version years earlier when a customer visited Overload Fitness in Cleveland and immediately recognized the potential of pairing precise pacing with objective data. This connection led to his collaboration with Whiterock Exercise and the integration of both Rep Builder and Set Builder into his studio. Set Builder had begun as a simple force over time display but grew into a considerably more capable platform, and John contributed meaningfully to that evolution.
John played an active role in moving the technology behind Rep Builder and Set Builder forward. His contributions included:
- Proposing and developing remote WiFi-controlled Set Builders for the portable push static devices
- Suggesting and testing programmable color customization in the software
- Providing extensive feedback that improved Set Builder stability and reliability
- Being relentless at debugging and identifying issues
- Assisting with quality control during all releases
- Offering design input and troubleshooting support for new load cell interface hardware
- Suggesting new features and concepts for prototyping and real-world evaluation
- Contributing refinements that strengthened Rep Builder and Set Builder in daily use
Exercise Solution was transformed by the addition of Rep Builder and Set Builder. Customer engagement increased dramatically once trainees could see in real time what they were doing in terms of force output, position control, pacing accuracy, and overall quality of effort. This level of feedback enabled clients to align intent with execution in a way traditional methods could never match.
John Tatore continues to work closely with Whiterock Exercise to advance and refine Set Builder and Rep Builder, improve usability, and strengthen reliability through ongoing real world experience. This period marks the most advanced and rewarding stage of his career, and in many ways it still feels like the beginning.