PerformanceRebuild & Restore Your Health
How powerful is Aruka Performance?
Words from Our Friends
Andy Reid
Head Coach for the Kansas City Chiefs, 3x Superbowl Champion
“Kent and I go way back; some 35 yrs in the NFL. Jerry Glanville once said the NFL stands “not for long”. He didn’t have Kent as his strength coach. Kent was able to add years to players careers using his programs and coaching technique. He reached players as well as I’ve seen. They worked for him because they trusted him, his knowledge and his program. Now Kent is sharing his genius with the world. Let Kent show you how to get stronger, prevent injuries, and if hurt recover from injury faster. No ones better than Kent Johnston!!!”
Dr. James Andrews
World Renown Orthopedic Surgeon – One of the Founding Members of Andrew Institute and Andrews Sports Medicine & Orthopedic Center
“I am proud to say I know and support Kent Johnston as he and his son Clay NFL DEFENSIVE BACK continue their ROAD TO HELP PREVENT ATHLETIC INJURIES AND ENHANCE PERFORMANCE! Their profile is personified by their ability to MOTIVATE THOSE ABOUT THEM! It is magnified by their humility, enthusiasm, dedication, and NEVER GIVE UP APPROACH TO THEIR PROFESSION AND LIFE! This testimony is an honest commitment to their CHARACTER and knowledge regarding STRENGTH AND CONDITION AND ENHANCEMENT OF PERFORMANCE FOR ATHLETES AT ALL LEVELS!”
Brett Favre
NFL Hall of Fame and Superbowl Winning Quarterback
“Kent Johnston is not only a dear friend but an expert in his field which is strength and conditioning, injury prevention, return to play rehabilitation and sport and or position specific training which basically means you wouldn’t train a lineman the same as a wide receiver. I can say this from experience as well as speaking for all my teammates that played under Kent….you will not find a more passionate, high character person who has a wealth of knowledge anywhere in the field than Kent. “
Christian McCaffrey
NFL Running Back for the San Francisco 49ers
“Coach K to me was way more than just a performance coach and return to play specialist. His resume speaks for itself as far as how well rounded he is when it comes to sports performance, but his ability to understand an athlete’s needs at all levels is what separates him from other people. He influenced my spirit just as much as he helped me get back on the field multiple times, and for that I’m forever thankful for him.”
Luke Kuechly
Future Hall of Fame Linebacker and 7x Pro Bowler
“Kent has had an amazing career in the strength and conditioning field spanning different generations, styles, techniques and changes in who the players are. He is consistently learning and improving how he does things and tailors it to who he is working with. With this being said his biggest strength his is ability to get the best out of who he is working with. He does this by genuinely taking an interest in who he is working with which allows him to connect and understand who they are, what they want and it ultimately allows both of them to succeed.”
Joe Thomas
NFL Hall of Fame Left Tackle
“Bud, as everybody knows him as, was not only one of the greatest strength coaches I’ve been around during my 25 years in football, but he’s also one of the greatest coaches I’ve ever seen. His ability to teach complex ideas in a way that’s easy to understand and remember is unparalleled. Bud has been a leader in innovation in the strength and conditioning field for almost as long as I’ve been alive!”
Dan Pfaff
Head Coach at Altis and ran the United States Olympic Training Center
“I am excited to peruse the upcoming website and programs offered by Aruka being released soon by my close friend and colleague Kent Johnston. Kent is a long time NFL strength coach with a constant footprint in youth development programming. The gaps and lack of integration in wellness and fitness design schemes are evident at all levels of sport and society. With these resources, heavy on application and developing assessment skills I think the gaps can be mitigated.”
Joey McGuire
Texas Tech Head Football Coach
“Coach Kent Johnston is one of the best strength and conditioning coaches, and specifically injury prevention and return to play care for players, that I have ever been around. He is a players coach and strives to do what is best for every kid he comes in contact with. His scientific knowledge and experience is something that has benefited athletes and teams at all levels, and will be guidelines to athlete care for decades to come.”
Chris DeLeenHeer
Father of 4, Husband, Entrepreneur, and Owner of Campus Realtors, Premier ER, and more.
“Kent Johnston’s personal training services have been a game-changer for my family. His genuine character shines through in every session, creating a comfortable and motivating environment for us all. Kent’s expertise is unparalleled – he tailors each workout to our individual needs and goals, pushing us to achieve more than we thought possible. His dedication to our health and fitness journey has not only improved our physical well-being but has also brought us closer as a family as we continue our fitness journey. Kent’s approach goes beyond just exercise; he’s become a trusted advisor in our pursuit of a healthier lifestyle. If you’re looking for a personal trainer who combines professional excellence with a truly caring attitude, Kent Johnston is the best choice you could make.”
Colt Kelly
Commercial Real Estate Agent, Kelly Realtor Commercials Waco, TX
“Kent has a unique blend of competency and character. While his resume speaks for itself and he has treated athletes at the highest level, Kent shows me genuine attention when working with me, as if I am his top priority.”
Patrick Cootware
Assistant Athletic Director West Hardin (TX) High School
“Kent Johnston is one of the best in the profession when it comes to Strength & Conditioning and Rehabilitation. His experience speaks for itself. He really focuses on clients as a whole person and gets to know them on a personal level. He is also an outstanding person that will never stop to ensure that you are taken care of both physically and emotionally.”
Christoph Henle
Baylor Tight End 2018-2021 and CEO Parsons Medical
“Coach Johnston might be the best performance coach I’ve ever met and worked with. I had the privilege of working with him and playing alongside Clay during my time at Baylor. His knowledge on movements, the human body and how both those tie together is what makes him so great. From simple maintenance to conditioning & performance training to actual rehab, Coach Johnston has done it all and knows it better with a more holistic approach than any other person you will work with. From exercises in the pool, to the weight room, to the turf, everything comes together to make you a better athlete. I can 10 out of 10 times recommend working with Coach Johnston!”
Lenoy Jones, Jr
Melissa High School Coach
“Mr. Kent Johnston is one of the best people in the world at his job. He not only just hall of fame strength coach he is an also a legendary Dad, Husband, grandfather. I am currently a coach and sometimes we get so caught up with the sport. If there is one thing that I learn from him is always put the athletes first. He is a god-fearing man and he puts the people first before anything else. He is such a loving person and all he cares about is putting you in the best position for life. It was such a blessing to get to work with him when I was an graduate assistant and seeing his work come to life and it change the landscape of Baylor football that 2019 year going 11-3 because you have the availability of players over the long season and that was a credit to Mr. Kent Johnston.”
Troy Pride, Jr
NFL Defensive Back
“I had the pleasure of working with Coach Johnston through multiple injuries and unequivocally I can say he is an expert in his field dealing with return to play, injury prevention, and also noticing irregularities in motion with the human body. The care and dedication to his craft is second to none and his recommendations should never be taken lightly.”
Sam Tecklenburg
NFL and XFL Offensive Linemen
“Coach Kent has implemented many foundational pieces into my training routine that I utilize religiously and will continue to use when my playing days are over. His attention to detail with injury prevention and recovery has kept me on the field and available for most of my career. Most importantly he is a great man who genuinely cares about the people he is working with.”
Blake Blackmar
Former Baylor Offensive Linemen and Barbeque Master
“Kent Johnston might be the most impressive strength coach I have ever been around. He has a vast and wholistic knowledge that will incorporate preventative measures and work on deficiencies in a specific athletes training. Playing D1 football, dipping my toe into the NFL and being an avid lifter, I have been fortunate to be around a lot of great minds in the strength and conditioning realm. I have also spent plenty of time in the training room with specialist in rehab and return to play. Kent is a humble combination of both. It’s telling when a bunch of well-respected and educated specialists all get quiet and want to learn when Kent walks into a room. He helped me identify several deficiencies in movement and flexibility that were not even related to my initial injury and helped me take some serious gains as an athlete that were all supplemental to the existing strength and conditioning program we did as a team. Kent is also an incredible confidant and a source of wisdom and stories that athletes from all backgrounds can take advantage of when going through rehab or return to play. Now that I’m done playing I am still working on growing my flexibility and body movements in an effort to reduce chance of injury. I’m going to make sure I incorporate some of his simple techniques and teachings into how I raise my kids to ensure they have the best base to do anything they want.”
Garret McGuire
Nebraska Assistant Coach – Wide Receiver Coach
“What I’d say about Coach, is there’s no one that cares more about people than Coach Johnston. That builds trust with his athletes that creates a relationship where they can get better. He is the best of the best when it comes to player recovery and RTP. That’s been displayed at every level of football.“
Colton Rousseau
Oral Robert Strength Coach
“Coach Johnston has been an invaluable mentor to me throughout my career. His wisdom and passion regarding health, movement, and high-performance training are second to none.”
Mike Siravo
Minnesota Vikings Inside Linebacker Coach
“If you can work With Kent Johnston at any cost, it is a must. I was fortunate to work in two programs with Kent and it is a blessing. We all seek expertise when athletic injuries occur. There is nobody who compares to Coach Johnston in terms of real battlefield knowledge, work-load management, return to play protocols and a detailed expert plan for any joint, bone, tendon or ligament rehabilitation. The experts call him, plain and simple. More important he is a true man of Faith. He can be trusted with the highest caliber athlete in any sport and places the longterm wellbeing of the athlete before any other agenda. Whether you’re training to build, to maintain, or to rehab, you should travel from anywhere on the globe to work with Kent.”
Barry Rubin
Former NFL Head Strength and Conditioning Coach for the Kansas City Chiefs
“Kent Johnston is one of the best strength coaches ever. I worked for Coach Johnston in Green Bay and learned so much from him. He has so much experience and knowledge with all aspects of the field. He is not only a great Coach but is even a better person!! His people skills are unmatched. He is a great resource for anyone trying to better themselves. Top Notch!!!”
Rick Lyle
10 year NFL Veteran, 13 year NFL S&C coach, 2 year D1 College S&C coach and current Westlake HS Dline and S&C coach Westlake, OH
“Kent Johnston is an absolute legend in the strength and conditioning community. He has spent his entire career learning from the top minds in all aspects of physical strength, nutrition, and return to play protocols and applying it to his athletes. The seven years I spent as a member of his staff was an absolute privilege that I would not trade for anything. And as great of a strength coach as he is…he’s an even better person! An absolute gem of a man that will do anything for you. Love you Bud!”
Jalen Pitre
NFL Safety for the Houston Texans
“Coach Johnston is a great coach and even better man ! Was with me for a while at Baylor while I played with his son and although he wasn’t on the staff full time he was always someone we could rely on for feedback in terms of performance, ways to keep our body in order, and also life. He was always supporting us at practice , games, and even had some position group dinners at his house during my time with his son Clay. He is very detail oriented and added a different layer of expertise to our development when we were at Baylor, always giving us a deeper different way to think about our body and ways to improve it. Coach Johnston is a man of great faith and I think that shows in his work, he was always there when we needed him and always honest with us. Coach Johnston is a great coach, father, and man in general and glad I got to spend some time with him and the fam during my time at Baylor.”
Dr. R. Martin Matiscik
Chiropractor
“I’ve had the pleasure of knowing Kent Johnston for approximately the past 10 years. As a chiropractic physician, past owner of 5 medical offices and employer of several physical therapists, neurologists, physiatrists, family physicians, pain management and sports injury specialist….Kent Johnston knows more than anyone I know. I have witnessed Kent tell a division one team physician he diagnosed a player incorrectly…and Kent ended up being right after additional diagnostic imaging was performed. Kent is a master in injury prevention, quick return to play and physical conditioning. Kent will never flaunt or brag about all the knowledge he has acquired over the years…. I have covertly asked him questions I assumed he did not have the answers to…. I was absolutely amazed by his correct answers, knowledge and experience.”
Chris Ruf
Director of Athletic Performance for Baylor
“Coach Johnston is a skilled coach, teacher, and leader in health, performance, and return to play programming. His ability to analyze, teach, and ultimately integrate foundational movement patterns into training and rehabilitation programming give him a large toolbox to use when helping a wide spectrum of people return to activity. Whether a competitive athlete, or someone who just wants to feel better doing daily activities, Coach Johnston’s skill, expertise, and information are invaluable in helping to achieve successful outcomes.”
Keith Caton
Former D1 Head Strength and Conditioning Coach
“I have had the pleasure of knowing Coach Johnston for about a decade. His knowledge and experience at the collegiate level, in the NFL, and in the private sector are second to none. He truly understands how to train an athlete by finding deficiencies, weak areas, and faulty movement patterns and make corrections to help them be the best athlete possible. He is not only a great Coach but a great man. I am thankful for the times that he has been able to mentor me.”
Dr. David Bowman
DC, CFMP, FIAMA, MBA
“Coach Kent and the Aruka RTP team bring to the table elite/cutting edge level knowledge and actionable items to move the needle not just toward achieving exceptional performance but improved overall health and wellness. They are an excellent resource for clinicians looking to enhance the well being of their patients and clients.” Dr. David Boman, DC, CFMP, FIAMA, MBA
Greg Jacobs
Crawford ISD Athletic Director
“In my 41 years of coaching, I have never met a man who is as knowledgeable in the field of strength training as well as injury prevention and return to play than Kent Johnston. A man of faith and character that has impacted the lives of many athletes…including myself!”
David Wetzel
Executive Director of the B Association for Baylor University
“I cannot think of a better man in the field of sport performance, injury prevention, and return to play. Kent Johnston has an incredible resume as a strength and conditioning coach! But his expertise runs much deeper. He is the kind of man that people of any age—and stage of life—will know they are being led in an extremely high level. Kent Johnston is one of the best men I have ever worked with. He cares about the overall makeup of the person—inside and out!!”
Terrel Bernard
NFL Linebacker for the Buffalo Bills
“Coach Johnston is the best I’ve been around. He’s helped me through many injuries and taught me different techniques to help me stay healthy and on the field. More than that, he was one of the first people in my life to help build my relationship with Christ. I owe a lot to coach Johnston and his family for the love and support they’ve shown me over the years.”
Darryn Willoughby
PhD, FACSM, CSCS, Exercise Physiologist and Strength and Conditioning Specialist
“Coach Johnston is not only a coach’s coach but more importantly, an athlete’s coach. He is caring but engaging. His knowledge and expertise in strength and conditioning and functional rehabilitation of athletes is, without a doubt, second to none!”
Harrison Hanna
Texas Tech Football Assistant Director of Operations and Recruiting
“Coach Kent Johnston is one of the nicest and most caring coaches I have ever been around. His care for people is evident in his work as he puts care of his athletes over everything else. His knowledge and science behind injury prevention and return to play care is something that has benefited players at all levels. His contributions to football and strength and conditioning will be seen for years to come.”
Jordan Williams
UFL San Antonia Brahams Linebacker and Tattoo Artist
“DorsiFlex that ankle Bud!!! I love coach johnston and the way he was able to break down recovery and injury prevention was top notch! We stretched muscles i never even knew existed and he conveyed it in a way everyone could understand! Coach is a legend and i know im not the only one to say it! I preciate everything coach!!”
Thomas Barbeau
Return to Play Coordinator/ Assistant Strength Coach for the Carolina Panthers
“Coach Kent Johnston is not only a phenomenal coach but also an extraordinary person. I am incredibly fortunate to call him a mentor. His vast experience and unparalleled knowledge in Strength & Conditioning, along with his expertise in Return to Play, set him apart as a true legend in the field. What truly distinguishes Coach Kent is his holistic approach to health and his deep understanding of the multidimensional demands of sport. His guidance has been invaluable, both professionally and personally.”
James Lockhart
Assistant Coach at UTRGV Football – Outside Linebackers
“The first time i ever heard about Coach Johnston was at baylor from our strength and conditioning staff at baylor. The staff talked about how much of a legend he truly was in the field and that he would be coming into the office from time to time to just check in. In 2019 he was actually hired on the staff and that was really the first time i got a chance to interact with him on a day to day. He is one of the most intelligent people in the strength and conditioning field. More importantly he is an awesome human being and is a true mentor to a lot of younger people. I was very blessed to be able to be coached by him my SR. year. Love you Rock”
James Heiss
Georgia Southern Head Strength and Conditioning Coach
“I was blessed to have come in contact with Coach Kent Johnston in 2018 at Baylor University. He had an immediate and lasting impact on my career. Before I met Coach, I had not met a sports performance professional who views training through the lens he views it. Among the many lessons he taught me, one of the most impactful was that the nature of most injuries is erosive. So while it may seem like a moment of injury, you must consider everything that led to that moment. This has allowed me to view the much greater picture of training or choosing modalities more appropriately, as to not cause more stress than necessary for adaptation, especially in sensitive areas. I am grateful for Coach Johnston as a coach and a man. I know no better practitioner.”
Robert Groppe
Sales Representative at SturdiSteel Company
“Whether you are a young athlete starting out at peewee level, high school athlete honing your skills, a college athlete taking it to the next level or a professional athlete staying at the top of your profession Kent Johnston is that Coach to keep you strong and healthy at all levels. Outstanding man and a God fearing human being.”
Vic Viloria
Head Strength and Conditioning Coach for Baylor University
“Coach Johnston is a pioneer in the industry of strength and conditioning and return to play!!! He developed the “Reverse Hyper Machine” along with Louie Simmons over at Westside Barbell, as well as one of the first “endless ropes” and the “power runner”. His work will be used for years to come in this industry, but he is not only a good coach, he is intentional to everyone he encounters and makes you feel part of the family. He is a man’s man. I highly recommend using him in any form or fashion if you can.”
Brian Ellis
Assistant Strength Coach for Baylor University
“I had the incredible fortune of being mentored by Coach Johnston, and I can’t speak highly enough about his transformative impact on both my personal and professional life. From the very beginning, Kent demonstrated his exceptional ability to blend cutting-edge rehabilitation techniques with a profound commitment to ethical standards and personal integrity.What truly sets Coach Johnston apart is his dedication to building genuine, trusting relationships with his athletes. He approaches each session with a blend of empathy and professionalism, creating an environment where you can feel both supported and challenged. Kent doesn’t just focus on the physical aspects of rehabilitation and performance; he also emphasizes the importance of strong moral principles and personal values. I have seen his holistic approach not only help athletes recover and enhance performance but also instill a greater sense of purpose and clarity to their overall athletic pursuits.Thanks to Kent, I’ve not only achieved my professional goals but have also developed a deeper understanding of myself and what I’m capable of. If you’re looking for a performance coach who excels in training both the person and the player, I wholeheartedly recommend Coach Johnston and his Aruka system.”