Dominic Defiesta, FMS, USAW-L1
Director of Human Resources
Dom was born and raised in San Francisco, California. In 2017, he graduated from California State University, Los Angeles with a Bachelor’s Degree in Kinesiology with an emphasis in Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Exercise. At present, Dom is pursuing a Master’s Degree in Kinesiology with an emphasis in Exercise Science. He has worked in the CSULA Biomechanics Lab under the direction of Dr. Andrew Cornwell and with the Spinal Cord Injury Exercise Research Lab under the direction of Dr. Christine Dy. His research interests include the effects of stretching on subsequent performance, the kinematics of pitching as it pertains to injury risk and prevention, and the optimization of energy transfer through the kinetic chain in resistance training and strength sports. He is currently in the process of writing a systematic review detailing the effects of static stretching from morphological and neurological perspectives. Throughout his tenure as a grad student, Dom was awarded the opportunity to teach as adjunct faculty at his alma mater. Dom has taught coursework in Biomechanics, Neuromuscular Physiology, Exercise Physiology, and Motor Development. Currently, he is in the process of obtaining his NSCA-CSCS and NSCA-CPSS.
Growing up, his parents encouraged him to play a variety of sports. During high school, Dom started to shift his focus more towards baseball and strength and conditioning.
Upon a successful high school career, Dom was fortunate enough to play college baseball at Cal Poly Pomona, Orange Coast College, and Cañada College. During this time, he was plagued with a low back back injury that eventually required physical therapy. After working with a physical therapist that also played baseball, he learned the value of education and the lasting effect it had on him as a patient, a student, and an athlete.
In 2013, Dom’s strength coach encouraged him to try Weightlifting and he quickly fell in love with it. At present, Dom is training for USA Weightlifting’s American Open and National Championships. Between studying and training, he coaches a diverse range of athletes at levels ranging from youth to the professional and international level.
In his spare time, Dominic enjoys reading, watching anime, and spending time with his loved ones.