The NeurotyPe Assessment

The Missing Layer in World-Class Strength Coaching

At JMSTRENGTH, every program we design is built around developing the specific qualities that serve your specific goal — whether that’s maximal strength, explosive power, structural balance, or muscle gain. But physical outputs are only half the picture. To truly individualise the coaching experience, we also have to understand how you’re wired neurologically.

That’s where Neurotyping comes in.

This system was originally introduced by legendary strength coach Charles Poliquin, who noticed that some athletes thrived under volume while others needed intensity. Some craved variation, while others preferred repetition. He traced these differences back to how the brain functions — and more specifically, to the athlete’s dominant neurotransmitter profile.

Poliquin used the Braverman Personality Type Assessment as a foundational tool. This assessment — developed by Dr. Eric Braverman — measures tendencies toward dominance or deficiency in key neurotransmitters like dopamine, acetylcholine, GABA, and serotonin. Poliquin correlated these neurological patterns with how an athlete responds to different training styles, intensities, and stress levels.

His student and collaborator, Christian Thibaudeau, later refined the concept into a practical framework for coaching: The 5 Neurotypes.

This is the model we use inside JMSTRENGTH today.

Neurotyping doesn’t change what you’re training for — it enhances how you get there. It helps us dial in:

  • Your preferred exercise selection

  • Optimal training intensity and volume tolerance

  • How often to change variables in your program

  • What type of coaching communication keeps you most engaged

  • How your nervous system handles load, fatigue, and stress

It’s a strategic layer that helps us deliver programming in a way that matches your brain, your recovery, and your psychology.

Neurotype Profiles

Let’s explore the 5 types:

Swords

Type 1A - The Titan

High dopamine & high noradrenaline

You’re wired for intensity and competition. You perform best under pressure, thrive in high-stakes environments, and are motivated by progressive overload and objective outcomes. You don’t need variety — you need results.

Best Used For: Maximal strength development and neural efficiency

You Thrive On: Heavy compound lifts, low reps, long rest, linear progression

Coaching Notes: Keep it simple and performance-focused. Short cueing. No fluff. No hand-holding.

“Train with force.”


Electric_bolt

Type 1B - the Surge

High dopamine & high acetylcholine

You’re explosive, reactive, and agile. You enjoy mastering movement. Your brain thrives on challenge and coordination, and you excel when training feels like a performance — fast, precise, and purposeful.

Best Used For: Explosive strength, dynamic effort, movement-based programming

You Thrive On: Olympic variations, jumps, throws, EMOMs, speed-strength methods

Coaching Notes: Provide novelty, but always with a performance lens. Rotate exercises regularly, but keep the intent sharp.

“Train with energy.”


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Type 2A - the performer

Moderate dopamine & sensitive noradrenaline

You’re emotionally adaptive and thrive when coached. You feed off your environment — coaches, teammates, and variety keep you engaged. You do well across multiple strength qualities as long as the program keeps you stimulated and supported.

Best Used For: Mixed-method training (e.g. conjugate-style or concurrent strength blocks)

You Thrive On: Variation in reps, movement patterns, intensities. Supersets and group coaching are often ideal.

Coaching Notes: Rotate programming more often (every 1–2 weeks). Keep engagement high with clear feedback and reactive structure.

“Train with flow.”

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Type 2B - the sentineL

Lower dopamine & sensitive serotonin

You train with emotion and connection. You're driven by the internal experience of lifting — the feel of the muscle, the control of tempo, and the intensity of the moment. You don’t just want to perform — you want to feel aligned with what you're doing.

Best Used For: Hypertrophy-focused phases, muscle control, and high-volume structural blocks

You Thrive On: MMC, slower tempo, isolation work, high density training

Coaching Notes: You need structure, but also internal purpose. Avoid overstimulation and chaotic programming. Everything needs to feel right.

“Train with passion.”


track_changes

Type 3 - the technician

Low dopamine, high serotonin & high GABA

You’re a calculated, structure-driven athlete. You thrive on clarity, repetition, and measurable progress. You prefer predictability and tend to be extremely coachable when the plan is laid out step-by-step.

Best Used For: Technical refinement, tempo-focused blocks, long-term strength progression

You Thrive On: Repeatable sessions, stable variables, and a clear weekly structure

Coaching Notes: Minimise unnecessary change. You’ll respond best to calm, precise instruction and steady progression.

“Train with strategy.”

Whether you’re chasing a world record or rebuilding from the ground up, knowing your neurotype helps us individualise your intensity, volume, structure, and feedback — and that’s what separates elite coaching from the rest.


Ready to see how your brain is wired — and how we can use that to build your best possible program?

Take the JMSTRENGTH Neurotype Test