Our Trainers

Chris Lentino (Mr. New Jersey, 2011)    

Chris Lentino is a National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) Certified Personal Trainer (CPT) and Performance Enhancement Specialist (PES) and, with over twelve years experience in the fitness industry, has helped change numerous people’s lives for the better through health and fitness.  Chris studied at Widener University as well as other institutions to earn multiple certifications in health, fitness and nutrition and combined that education with his own experience and passion to develop his personal training company, Disciples of Iron (DO.IRON).  DO.IRON has helped people of all fitness levels from competitive athletes such as D’Brickashaw Ferguson of the NY Jets to people who are just in need of losing weight and getting in shape such as client, Terence Jones, who has lost over 180lbs.  Chris’ client’s success stories are numerous and span across a wide range, including MMA, Hockey, Football, Bodybuilding, youth, elderly and mentally handicapped. 

Chris is a multi-faceted athlete, having numerous Bodybuilding, Powerlifting and Strongman titles to his credit.  In 2011, Chris won the Light-Heavyweight and Overall Title of the New Jersey State Bodybuilding Championships earning him the title of Mr. New Jersey.  In addition he has straight First Place finishes in competitions that include the NPC Muscle Beach Championships, USAPL New Jersey State Powerlifting Championships, USAPL Heavy Metal Classic, Gold’s Strongest Man, and the INBF Warrior Challenge. Chris also competed in Triathlon, completing the Randolph Triathlon and Pantanalla’s Pancake Triathlon. Chris has appeared in Natural Bodybuilding and Fitness magazine as well numerous newspaper publications.  He can be contacted by email at DO.IRON@live.com

Max Ruiz

Max Ruiz is a local coach who possesses nearly two decades of hands-on experience in athletic training, competition, and coaching. Max is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) through the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA). He studied Health & Physical Education at Monmouth University, where he also played football. Max later received his master's degree in Sports Administration & Coaching from Montclair State University, and now works full time at Seton Hall Prep High School in West Orange. He teaches Physical Education and is the Head Strength & Conditioning Coach for the school's 16 athletic programs; he is also an assistant coach for both the football and track & field teams. Max works with hundreds of athletes per year and thus has experience training all types of athletes.

Max attributes most of his success to THE Ohio State University, where he interned as a strength & conditioning coach for the Buckeye football team in 2017. During his one-year tenure, he learned under some of the most prominent coaches in college football history. He also benefitted greatly from working with elite athletes on a daily basis. After spending a year discovering as much as possible about performance training, and the championship mindset in Columbus, Max brought this extensive knowledge and experience back to his hometown.

Max is more than capable of taking on any client - no matter how low the starting point is or how high the goal may be. Whether it is a younger athlete who wants to learn about training properly from an early age, an older general population client who wants to get into the gym to feel better and improve overall health, or a serious athlete who is trying to take their performance to the next level, Max can help.

Max can be contacted at mruiz@shp.org.

Carlos Brooks

Carlos Brooks started training in martial arts at the age of 11. Eventually he was forced to quit due to an injury which led him to increase his weight substantially. Upon his return to martial arts weighing 340 pounds, he decided to train in MIXED MARTIAL ARTS (MMA) because he was always interested in that hybrid style of martial arts and also wanted to have fun while losing weight. His appreciation of MMA has led him to competing and also to teaching, in order to help other people reach their own goals.

Carlos Brooks has competed in New York Golden Gloves, with a record of two wins and two losses.  He then turned pro as a member of the World Combat league, a kickboxing promotion owned by Chuck Norris where he was part of the NJ Tigers. He has also competed professionally in Bellator MMA and various organizations where he holds a record of 4-3. He presently fights with Glory Kickboxing, the number one kickboxing organization in the world, with which he has fought at Madison Square Garden. He looks forward to growing as an instructor and helping people to achieve their goals by teaching what he does best and loves.

Angelo Curro, Boxing Coach

Angelo started boxing at the age of 12 when an enthusiastic friend who had just come from a boxing gym in Paterson came to his house to tell him all about his experience.  Angelo joined the gym the next day and one month later fought his first boxing match.  He won the fight and was awarded the fighter of the evening award given to him by the  mayor of Paterson.

A few years later Angelo met Tony "Tex" Gonzalez at the NJ Diamond Gloves after entering himself into the tournament.  Tex watched his fight and knew that he could work with Angelo after what he called "an impressive display of heart followed by a vicious right hand."

Angelo spent 7 years with Tex winning the NJ State Junior Olympics and capturing a National title.  Angelo had 23 Open class fights, amassing a 22-1 record with a stunning 17 KO's, and became one of the most feared fighters in his weight class.

Angelo is a USA Boxing certified trainer and coach and has completed a boxing mitt-work course from The Fight Gym.  He is a tactical trainer as well as a technique specialist.  He trains those who want to compete as well as those who just want an exhilarating workout. His passion for the sport is contagious.