ESC Performance Training

By Derek Nelson DC, MS, CSCS, CF-L3

About ESC Performance Training

ESC Performance Training is built at the intersection of science, experience, and execution.

Founded by a clinician-coach with over a decade immersed in strength training, rehabilitation, and high-performance sport, ESC Performance Training blends evidence-based programming with real-world application forged through years of coaching athletes, treating musculoskeletal pain, and competing at an elite level.

Every program begins with understanding the individual—movement capacity, training history, injury profile, and life demands—before refining inputs and constructing a plan that drives measurable performance, resilience, and longevity.

Unlike generic templates, ESC integrates:

Current sports science and peer-reviewed research
Clinical reasoning from musculoskeletal rehabilitation
Proven strength and conditioning principles
Practical experience coaching competitive athletes and working professionals

The result is training that is intentional, adaptable, and sustainable—designed to improve performance without sacrificing health.

ESC Performance exists for athletes and high performers who value discipline over hype, process over shortcuts, and long-term progress over short-term wins. Whether the goal is strength, endurance, aesthetics, or pain-free movement, ESC applies the same standard: do the basics exceptionally well, guided by science and sharpened by experience.

Programs

3 active programs

Free

ESC: Strength

5 days / week

$200 /month

ESC: 1:1 Coaching

6 days / week

Free

ESC: Mixed Aerobic

6 days / week

Coaches

Derek Nelson

Derek Nelson has both the education and experience necessary to help you reach your goals. Derek has been in the fitness industry since 2008 when he began personal training. He has continued that ever since. Derek owned and ran a gym "CrossFit Watauga" from 2017-2024. He has worked with the everyday general population, all the way to professional athletes. Derek's unique background in Chiropractic/Rehabilitation allows him to not only ensure we are working on your personal performance, but also working towards keeping your body healthy so you can perform in your day to day, or in competition. Whatever your goals are, you will be able to achieve them with Derek. Education: -Doctor of Chiropractic -Masters of Science in Nutrition and Functional Medicine -Masters of Science in Sports Science and Rehabilitation -Bachelors of Science in Kinesiology -CCP Coach -CrossFit Level 3 Coach -USAW Level 2 Weightlifting Coach -Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist But most importantly the ability to blend the scientific sports science side with the experience of coaching both in person and remote for nearly 20 years.

Benefits

Specific Training Program

You pick the program you want, perfectly adapted to your needs.

Workouts on your phone

PDFs are dead, get access to your workouts quickly and easily on your phone everyday.

Community building

Connect and communicate with other athletes thanks to digital fistbumps and comments.

Real-time Leaderboards

Challenge other athletes in a fun way thanks to a leaderboard associated with each workout.

Progress tracking

Know your barbell maxes and percentages, and your scores on Benchmarks easily.

Add your own sessions

You are able to track your own sessions, even if they are not included in the program.

Testimonials

Tara Snyder

Just over a year and a half ago, I was stuck in a cycle of taking one step forward and two steps backward with my training due to an ongoing back injury. It took a conversation with a trusted friend, some tears and a decision to trust a process not if my own design, in order to try to rebuild stronger. That trusted friend was the one who said what you’re doing isn’t working but also offered me the solution. That trusted friend is my Coach! For the past 1.5 years we’ve worked together to rebuild from the ground up. It’s been a process full of discussions about strengths, weaknesses, and how things should/shouldn’t feel. It’s been a time of changes in mindset, how I approach training, and yes, even improvements in lifts. More than that it’s been a support system and the change I didn’t know I needed! I’m thankful for the tears in the beginning, the hard training sessions I’ve completed and the ones he hasn’t dreamed up yet! Most importantly, I’m thankful for a Coach/Friend who was and still remains willing to help build me back stronger!

Ana Alverez

Prior to working with Derek for my specific goals I was doing CrossFit classes for over 3 years. I made good progress, but I felt like I was stuck. My progression slowed and my goals weren't in sight. I kept going to class 5 days a week and started working with Derek doing 3 additional sessions a week. In 6 months time I went from doing 1 strict pull up to 5, learned how to do kipping pull ups, butterfly pull ups, chest bar pull ups, and I am really close to a bar muscle up! I also have put on over 25 LBS on my back squat and front squat! Spending time focusing on goals and weaknesses has substantially improved my fitness, confidence, and abilities. If anyone has specific goals they want to work towards, I would highly recommend working with Derek 1 on 1!

Yohana Morales

I did remote training with coach Derek during my pregnancy. He did a great job adjusting my workouts as my belly grew :). I knew I wanted to stay active during my pregnancy and having someone to guide made it easier on me. It made it super easy to be able to go to the gym and not have to worry about what to do, I opened up my training, and followed exactly what my coach prescribed for me that day! I could easily train at any gym and knew my coach had my back! I would highly recommend coach Derek 👍