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Jesse Pichardo

Personal Trainer

Jesse Pichardo is a personal trainer and nutrition expert based in Fresno, California. He is a Certified Personal Trainer with the National Academy of Sports Medicine. He is also a Certified Nutrition Coach through Precision Nutrition’s Level 2 Master Health Coaching Certification. He is also a Personal Trainer on staff at Fresno Athletic Training Center, a state-of-the-art training center for personal training, boot camps, sports-specific coaching, and athletic event training. Jesse helps clients with motivation and accountability, providing each person with a structured and personalized fitness program. No matter where a customer is in their fitness journey, Jesse prioritizes moving them to the next level and helping them achieve their goals.

Professional Achievements

  • Obtained an Expert Field Medical Badge (EFMB) with the 1st Ranger Battalion while an active duty combat medic in the US Army, stationed at Hunter Army Airfield in Savannah, Georgia
  • Pursued a post-military career in Emergency Medical Services (EMS)
  • Served as a Paramedic, as a member of the STAR Rescue team, and as a flight paramedic on SkyLife Helicopter
  • Built a career around helping others, whether sick, injured, or motivated to become more healthy
  • Frequent competitor in Spartan races

Certifications & Organizations

  • Certified Personal Trainer (CPT), National Association of Sports Medicine (NASM)
  • Precision Nutrition Master Health Coach (Pn2)
  • Animal Flow Instructor, L1

Favorite Piece of Advice

Don’t rely on discipline. Discipline gets you started, but habits keep you coming back again and again, even when you don’t feel like it. I often say that consistency is more important than intensity.

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Q&A Comments (11)

What are the benefits of hanging from a pull-up bar?
One major benefit is enhanced grip strength. A stronger grip is actually linked to living longer—studies show that people with good grip strength tend to live healthier, longer lives. Think about it: as you get older, if you ever fall or need to grab something for support, having strong hands and forearms will make a big difference. Without it, you’re more likely to hurt yourself. Another big plus is shoulder health. When you hang from the bar, you want to make sure your shoulders aren’t creeping up by your ears, which can make the position very unstable. Instead, pull your shoulder blades down and back to keep your shoulders in a more stable, safe position. Hanging can also help with scapular strength, which supports your shoulder joints, and may even help with spinal decompression, though that's more of a bonus.
Can I improve my reach with pulley exercises?
First exrcise that you can do is a lat pulldown. This exercise is really helpful if pull-ups aren’t your thing, as they can be really challenging for most people. Lat pulldown gives you a way to work those same muscles without needing to pull your entire body weight. Another one is the tricep pushdown. This targets your triceps directly and helps with your arm extension and reach. The last one would be doing the Romanian deadlift. Do this by setting your pulley low, grabbing the bar, and keeping your back flat as you hinge at your hips. This works your hamstrings and glutes while also strengthening your lower back. It’s a great full-body move that helps support your overall posture and flexibility, both of which contribute to better reach. If I had to rank these, I’d say start with the lat pulldown, then try the Romanian deadlift, and finish with tricep pushdowns.
How do I increase my grip strength?
You'll need to focus on exercises for your hands, fingers, and forearms. Start with dead hangs—just hang from a pull-up bar and hold on as long as you can. This builds finger and forearm strength while improving your grip endurance. Next, try the crushing grip exercises. It's like squeezing a stress ball or tightly rolling up a towel. These help your grip and the force you’ll need to rip through paper. Finally, do some pinching exercises, where you lift weight plates or flat objects by pinching them.
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