Testimonials from Around the World

"Brian has coached me both technically and mentally, (and emotionally!), through many years of my athletic endeavours. 

He’s extremely knowledgeable, proactive in problem solving, and compassionate. He’s an excellent communicator who understands his athletes / teams and their individual needs and challenges. He knows high level sports and what it takes to reach full potential. But, hands down, the greatest attribute to working with Brian, is his ability to listen. Listening is almost a lost skill in this fast paced world, but Brian is patient and he actually hears what you’re saying. 

If you are looking for a mental edge / advantage, Brian Risk knows his stuff!"

"In order to maximize full potential as a athlete, there are four ways an athlete can prepare. Physical, Tactical, Technical, and Mental all work together to influence performance. Mental preparation was an area in my preparation that needed refining. 

Being a professional athlete, there is a great deal of pressure to perform. This pressure would build up and get in the way of me achieving the results I desired. For the past 3 seasons, I have consulted with Brian to bulletproof my mindset. Brian has provided me with several mental skills that have supported my top performances. Importantly, these skills don’t only help my when it matters most (e.g., game point), but also in training, life, and business. Perhaps the most influential skill that I learned from Brian is something he calls “The Improvement Cycle”. This 5-stage cycle has provided structure to my weekly volleyball training, and has allowed me to feel more confident in my preparation as a professional athlete. Working with Brian on my mental preparation is one of the best things I did for my volleyball career. If you are an athlete looking to reach your full potential, make sure you are leaving no stone unturned and connect with Brian. Brian has the experience, tools, and resources to help you achieve your dreams."

"In the year 2000, only two years after converting to the sport of pole vault after gymnastics, I was invited to an elite training camp in Flagstaff, Arizona. It was here that I met pole vault coach/mental training coach, Brian Risk. After spending several mental training sessions with Coach Risk in Flagstaff, I ended up breaking the existing outdoor Canadian National Women’s Pole Vault record. Things just accelerated from there. While I was pole vaulting, I was also earning my bachelor of science degree in premed at the University of Waterloo. I had plans of entering medical school immediately after university. That all changed in 2001 at the World Francophone Games in Ottawa, Ontario. I again had the great opportunity to work with National Team Coach Risk, learning to integrate mental training concepts into my regular practice routine, in order to enhance performance and improve my mental skills. This was my first international pole vault meet. I placed a solid fourth. Higher than anticipated. It was then that I realized that I could really make something out of my pole vault career, and made the tough decision to postpone medical school for several years while I trained for the Olympic Games, ultimately placing 6th in the Women’s Pole Vault at the 2004 Olympics in Athens, Greece. I am truly grateful for the coaches like Brian, Keith Heard, and Brent McFarlane and ultimately my husband, Russ Buller, who helped me to achieve my goals, both mentally and physically at the very highest level."