Meet Our Founder

Donnie Thompson

MR. 3000

Donnie Thompson is a World Record setting Powerlifter who set 8-all time World Records and was the first human to ever total 3000lbs in a regulated meet! Donnie has 8 world record in Professional Powerlifting, including: 3 Bench Press records, 2 Squat records and 3 Total records! His 3000lb Powerlifting total Is currently shared only with David Hoff. Donnie is the original creator of the Body Tempering Technique. His inventions also include the famous Belt Squat Belt sold world wide through SpudInc. Three more products in production now include: The Thompson FatPad by Rogue, The Thompson FatBells Powered by Rogue, the BT roller (body tempering device) powered by Rogue, the Boom Stick by Kabuki Strength, and Donnie Thompson’s BOWTIE by Spud Inc. Visit BodyTempering.com to learn more about Donnie’s innovations Industry gurus like Pavel, David Weck Kelly Starrett, Dick Hartzell, and Louie Simmons have worked with Donnie personally over the past two decades. This led to his SHW victory during the 2005 WPO Powerlifting Championships at the Arnold Classic. He worked 6 years for Progressive Physical Therapy Sports in West Columbia, SC. He acted as the Strength and Mobility Director for 25 clinics statewide. In 1988, Donnie graduated from Shepherd College in Shepherdstown, WV. He earned 1st Team All-Conference Center his senior year. Donnie went on to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1987 and played Center in the Arena Football League from 1988-1993 for 6 years. His Arena career included the New England Steamrollers, Pittsburgh Gladiators, New Orleans Nights, and the Albany Firebirds. Donnie headed the International Powerlifting Association (IPA) for two years, helping lead to the Westside Pro Invitational Powered by Rogue! This was the first time Professional Powerlifting was center stage since 2007 of the WPO. Over $22,000.00 was awarded to the winners. He has been consulted by numerous NFL, NCAA, MLB, NBA, and Private Training facilities to share his vast knowledge, creativity, and experience in strength preparation and injury prevention techniques. He also acted in a feature film titled, ‘The Program’ as an offensive center on the ESU college football team. Donnie’s name on the back of the Jersey was ‘Latham’. The film featured James Caan as the head coach.

Meet the Body Tempering Certification Team

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Instructor

Josh Jeffery

PT, DPT, MS, CSCS, BT-C

Josh is a Doctor of Physical Therapy student at the University of South Carolina set to graduate in 2019 and the Owner and Head Coach of Vertex Performance Training, an individualized programming and sports performance facility in Columbia, SC.

He graduated from USC with a Masters in Exercise Science in 2015 and has worked as a strength conditioning coach in the Columbia area since 2013. Additionally, Josh is the Head of Programming and Training at Carolina CrossFit, the oldest and largest CrossFit gym in South Carolina.

Josh is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) through the NSCA, a USAW Level 1 Sports Performance Coach, an OPEX Level 1 Associate Coach, a CrossFit Level 2 trainer, a Clinical Athlete Weightlifting Coach and he holds certifications in the Functional Movement Screen (FMS) and Personalized Blood Flow Restriction (PBFR). As an athlete, Josh played 4 years of Division 1 baseball at the University of Dayton and has been to the CrossFit Games Regionals twice on teams. As a coach,

Josh has had the privilege of working with some of the top CrossFit athletes in the country and some of the SEC’s best athletes while working in the strength and conditioning department at the University of South Carolina with football, baseball, softball, men’s and women’s soccer, sand volleyball and track and field. Josh first met Donnie in 2015 and has been a part of every one of Donnie’s clinics since. Upon completion of his DPT, he hopes to continue to blend the worlds of strength and conditioning and physical therapy.

Instructor

Anthony T-$ Lavigne

PT, DPT, BT-C

Anthony is a Doctor of Physical Therapy and Regional Director with Progressive Physical Therapy in Charleston, SC. He is a graduate of Francis Marion University with a BS and has his Doctorate in Physical Therapy from the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, SC.

He specializes in the treatment of orthopedic and spine diagnoses. T$ and Donnie Thompson met in 2009 and have continuously been collaborating on the development of techniques utilized today in Super D’s clinics. He was one of the first Physical Therapists to collaborate with Donnie helping blend the worlds of rehab and strength & conditioning. These techniques have been field tested at nearly every level of human performance.

Most days of the week you can find T$ working with patients in the clinic, but on the weekends he spends his time helping elite athletes recover from injuries, working with the Warrior Surf Foundation, Coaching athletes on the Special Olympics Flatwater Paddleboarding team, or teaching his kids how to enjoy the great outdoors.

Instructor

Tim O’Neal

PT, DPT, OMT-C, Cert. DN, FMSC, BT-C

Tim O’Neal is a Doctor of Physical Therapy and Clinic Director of Rehab for Midlands Orthopedics at their office in Irmo, SC. Tim graduated from Clemson University in 2006 and later with his Doctorate in Physical Therapy in 2010 from USC-Columbia.

During his time at Clemson, he helped coach HS wrestling and worked with the Football program as a Chaplain’s Assistant. He is a Certified Clinical Instructor for Doctor of Physical Therapy Students, a Personal Trainer (TSAC-F) for tactical athletes, Certified in Dry Needling through the AAMT and Manual Therapy through MUSC.

He has been helping and teaching seminars with Donnie for almost a decade.

He has experience working with athletes from the NFL, NCAA, Arena, NBA, Olympics, SWAT/SLED, Highway Patrol, City, County Law Enforcement and First Responders and Nana from the local retirement home. Outside of work Tim enjoys fishing, hunting, and surfing.

Meet the Body Temper University Team

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Instructor

Matt Sillanpaa

CSCS, BT-C

Matt Sillanpaa has worked in the strength and conditioning industry for fifteen years. With experience in the collegiate, public, and private sectors, he has a diverse background in designing and teaching curriculums.

His body tempering venture began in February of 2019 at a workshop led by Donnie Thompson, the creator of body tempering. After the workshop, Matt and his wife, Julie, shared body tempering with clients and members at their gym.

The interest in body tempering grew rapidly, and in 2021 Matt and Julie launched Body Temper Iowa, the first ever body tempering specialization business.

With the fast growth of the body tempering industry, Body Temper Iowa naturally grew into an educational resource for tempering professionals looking to start up their own operation.

Now, Matt uses his background of designing and teaching to package the business of body tempering. He hopes Body Temper University makes the journey of Body Temper Iowa duplicatable for others in the tempering industry.

Instructor

Tabetha Gerdner

BT-C, Stretch Therapist

Tabetha Gerdner is a certified body temper practitioner and stretch therapist, and owner of The Body Spot and Body Temper by Tab. Her background includes over 15 years in public health programming, education and operating successful small businesses.

Her first body tempering experience began when she was tempered by Matt Sillanpaa with Body Temper Iowa. Suffering from limited range of motion and various injuries body tempering was the only modality that worked.

After becoming certified in body tempering she ventured on to open her own body tempering business. Recruiting four other body temper practitioners to hep operate a profitable, stand-alone body temper studio.

Tabetha is not only practicing body tempering but also creating new ways to incorporate stretch therapy into each session to provide a niche service to her clients. She is excited to share her knowledge and expertise to help others on their way to a successful adventure in body tempering.

Elite education for innovative, forward thinking clinicians, coaches & athletes

Meet Our Founder

Meet the Body Tempering Certification Team

Meet the Body Temper University Team