Steve Knight
TRAILBLAZER
The #1 Mental Toughness Books In Sports
The Trailblazer Who Made Mental Toughness Trainable
Steve Knight wasn’t born mentally tough. He earned it. A 2x national champion, startup visionary, and bestselling author, he built his grit and resilience over decades of performing under pressure.
These are the defining moments that shaped his game-changing approach to training mental toughness.
On the trail, Enterprise, OR
2x National Champion Powerlifter
Steve’s start with mental toughness came in 1974 at the University of Hawaii, when he met Bill Starr—the father of modern strength training. Under Starr’s mentorship, Steve learned how to grind in the weightroom, optimize recovery, and mentally prepare for competition.
He competed in powerlifting for over a decade—winning multiple state titles and two national championships.
Steve's first tournament in 1974 was a disaster. He grossly missed attempts and placed last, but was bitten by the performance bug.
Steve winning nationals in 1980, with a no-miss performance and four PRs. His breakthrough mental toughness tactics had him pushing the boundaries of mental performance.
At the 1982 U.S. National Powerlifting Championships Steve set an Oregon state record in the squat of 722 pounds that still stands today.
At his peak, Steve was ranked second in the world.
Cutting-Edge Mental Toughness Books
In 2002, Steve knew he had the secret sauce in his back pocket. He turned his elite-level experience into WINNING STATE Wrestling. The first book to deliver tactical, sport-specific mental toughness training for peak performance.
Steve went on to write mental toughness books for 16 different sports, putting mental toughness training on the map. There have been many imitators, but all stand on the foundation of Steve's pioneering books.
Over 325,000 copies of WINNING STATE have been sold.
Health Club Pioneer
In 1979, Steve opened his first health club—a bold, visionary facility that was a forerunner to today’s “CrossFit boxes.”
Built in the garage of a former auto dealership, Steve's raw, no-frills gym had one purpose—deliver results.
The club pioneered free-weight circuit training for average folks and offered world-class strength training amenities that attracted the region’s elite weightlifters and powerlifters.
Designer and Manufacturer of Game-Changing Strength Equipment
Recognizing a gap in the strength equipment industry, Steve founded IN-SHAPE International in 1983. The first supplier of premium free-weight equipment.
Before IN-SHAPE, free-weight equipment was primitive “black iron” with little attention to artistic design or premium craftsmanship. IN-SHAPE joined the ranks of industry giants like Lifecycle (now Life Fitness), Eagle (now Cybex), and Nautilus—who revolutionized gym equipment design.
The first of it's kind, a multi-station "jungle" system; now common in the commercial strength equipment industry.
IN-SHAPE’s innovations remain foundational across the strength training industry. The company installed equipment in over 3,500 facilities across seven countries, generating more than $15 million in total sales.
Next-Level One-on-One Instructor
Long before "personal trainer" was even a title, Steve was already in the trenches—helping people push limits and discover the grit and resilience they didn't know they had. Since 1975, Steve has worked one-on-one with thousands of competitive athletes—and non-athletes alike—guiding them to handle pressure and crush their performance goals.
Steve also trains strength athletes in the art of critical observation and precision technique. These elite-level skills not only elevate daily training they push performance to the next level.
Explore working with Steve on our Masterclass pages.
Chasing Academic Rigor, Not Credentials
In 2002, Steve made a bold move that most wouldn’t dare doing—he went back to school. At 48, he wasn’t chasing a degree; he was chasing rigor and growth. He wanted to experience the demands of higher education. He wanted to broaden his critical thinking skills to better communicate the difficult subjects of strength, health, and mental performance.
Steve majored in communication theory with a focus on media effects, propaganda, and persuasion. He graduated magna cum laude from Portland State University.
Steve describes his gutsy decision to go to college as an “old dude” as one of the best decisions he ever made.
A Simple Life in Wallowa County
Steve lives a low-key life in Enterprise, Oregon, a remote town in Wallowa County with just 7,000 residents and not a single stoplight. This rugged corner of eastern Oregon is home to one of the state’s “Seven Wonders”—the stunning Wallowa Mountains. With Hells Canyon (the deepest river gorge in North America), crystal-clear lakes, and snow-capped peaks, the area is a hiker’s paradise—and perfect backdrop of nature for someone dedicated to simple ways of living.
Captivating Joseph, Oregon at the foot of Wallowa Lake.
Steve stays out of the media. He only agreed to sharing the details on this “About” page to offer credibility for what he teaches—not as a means of self-promotion.
Out of the many advancements Steve has brought to the mental performance space, he is most proud of busting the ridiculous myth that “some have it, some don’t.” With fossil out of the way every athlete can build the tactics that will strengthen their mental game.
Crush the moment. Get the book.
For more information on training with Steve Knight go to our Masterclass pages.