The Griffins sought out Matrisciano last spring for his survival-of-the-fittest training. Matrisciano doesn't advertise his services, but those who are serious about fitness training hear about him through the grapevine. His client list includes military personnel, martial arts aficionados, members of California's upscale crowd and professional athletes. He has carved a niche with basketball players.

He doesn't put athletes on treadmills or in weight rooms. Rope climbs are more his thing, but the climbers can't use their feet, and they wear weighted vests. It's also common for athletes to run in ankle-deep sand while dragging weighted harnesses.

Yeah, that's probably not for everyone.