Coach Spotlight: Saksham Tripathi — Assistant Coach at Grind Karo

Every lifter walking through the doors of powerlifting — or scrolling through Instagram reels about it — has the same starting point: a barbell that feels heavier than expected, a form video that doesn't quite look like the pros, and a question that goes, "Can I actually do this?"

I had that same question two years ago. Today, I'm Assistant Coach at Grind Karo — a state-level competitor who earned a place on the coaching team by living the process first, then helping other lifters run it.

This is my story.

Before Grind Karo: The Typical Confused Beginner

When I first messaged Coach Deva, I was doing what most Indian lifters do in their first six months of training — a random mix of bro-split bodybuilding, ego lifting, and YouTube programs that had no connection to each other.

I'd been making progress, sure. But the kind of progress that breaks down the second you try to take it seriously. My squat was uneven. My bench setup changed every week. I had no idea what my training max actually was.

The First Decision: Pick a Goal

The very first thing Coach Deva asked me wasn't about my squat, my bench, or my deadlift. It was: "What do you want this to be?"

That's the question most lifters skip. They want results, but they haven't defined what "results" actually means. A bigger squat? Looking better shirtless? Competing at a state meet? Hitting a 500kg total?

I picked the answer that changes everything: compete. I wanted to step on a sanctioned platform, under lights, in front of judges, and see what my body could actually do.

Building the Roadmap: A Block-Periodized Plan

From there, we reverse-engineered. We picked a target meet roughly 24 weeks out, then built a periodized plan around it — exactly the kind of programming in our periodization guide.

• Weeks 1–4: Hypertrophy / Base block — high-volume accessories to fix structural weaknesses (my posterior chain and upper back were lagging).
• Weeks 5–12: Strength block — heavy competition lifts, 3–5 rep work, intensity creeping toward 85%.
• Weeks 13–20: Intensification block — heavier singles and doubles, technique refinement on the competition squat, bench, and deadlift.
• Weeks 21–23: Realization / Peak block — ultra-low volume, heavy singles, accessories cut to almost zero.
• Week 24: Deload, then meet day.

That was the calendar. No more switching programs every month. No more guessing what to do in week 9. Just a clear roadmap, with a finish line on it.

What Actually Changed Inside the First 3 Months

It's not the numbers that changed first — it's the mindset. My relationship with the barbell completely shifted.

• I stopped training to failure on every set and started respecting RPE.
• I learned to walk away from a session when the work was done, instead of grinding for the sake of "more volume".
• I slept 7–8 hours consistently. Hydration went up. Junk meals around training went down.
• I started sending form videos for technique feedback — not chasing a number, but chasing a cleaner rep.

By the end of month three, my working weights in the main lifts had jumped noticeably — but more importantly, I understood why they were jumping. That self-awareness is what later made me a stronger coach: I know what it feels like from the other side of the camera.

The Hard Part: When Progress Stalls

Around week 14 — peak strength block, the hardest part of the cycle — I hit a wall. My bench press stalled for almost three weeks. I started doubting the plan.

Two weeks later, the bench came back stronger than before. The stall wasn't a programming failure — it was a recovery failure, and it taught me something no YouTube video could: progress is not linear, and the plan is supposed to be adjusted, not abandoned. That lesson is now something I coach into every athlete I support.

Meet Day: Where the Real Growth Happens

I stepped on the platform at my first sanctioned state-level meet and hit a total I didn't know was in me. The numbers aren't what I want to highlight here — the process is.

I warmed up like I'd been taught. I called my own attempts. I didn't chase a number Coach Deva hadn't signed off on. I trusted the peaking block, trusted the taper, trusted the food I'd put in my body for 24 weeks.

And I walked away with a state-level total — and a clear sense that coaching others would be the next chapter, not just chasing my own PRs.

From Athlete Path to Assistant Coach

After proving the process on myself — form reviews, weekly adjustments, meet prep, and the patience to stick with a block when numbers stall — I stepped into the coaching side of Grind Karo.

As Assistant Coach, I work alongside Coach Deva on athlete programming support, technique feedback, and keeping lifters accountable to the plan. I'm not an "athlete spotlight" story anymore — I'm part of the coaching team, helping the next wave of Grind Karo lifters run the same roadmap I once followed.

What My Path Tells You About Your Own

If you read this and thought, "that's basically me, six months ago" — you're right. I'm not special because of some genetic gift. I picked a goal, found a plan, executed it for 24 weeks without quitting — and then turned that experience into coaching others.

If you want a starting roadmap like the one I ran (and now help deliver), our self-paced powerlifting programs give you the same periodization logic — block by block, week by week — without you having to guess the percentages.

And if you'd rather have Coach Deva and our coaching team — including me as Assistant Coach — building your roadmap and adjusting it weekly, our 1:1 online coaching plans are exactly that. Form reviews, weekly adjustments, and a plan that bends to your recovery instead of breaking under it.

Coaching isn't about telling someone what to lift. It's about helping them stop lying to themselves about how hard they're actually training.