Strength & Conditioning

Strength You Can Use. Movement You Can Trust.

Strength & Conditioning coach for athletes and active adults. Based in Vilnius. Trusted by Lithuania's national basketball teams.

Trusted By

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Ernestas Barkus

About

Building resilient athletes, one programme at a time.

I hold a Master's degree in Sports Coaching from the Lithuanian Sports University and I'm currently studying Physiotherapy at Vilnius Kolegija. This dual perspective — performance and rehabilitation — shapes everything I do.

My philosophy is simple: train for the long term. I use evidence-based periodization, progressive overload, and pain-management strategies to help athletes build capacity sustainably — not just peak for a week and break down.

I work with professional and semi-professional athletes, active adults returning from injury, and youth athletes who need a foundation that lasts. Whether you're chasing a national title or trying to deadlift without back pain, the process is the same: assess, programme, execute, adapt.

Ernestas Barkus coaching in the gym

What I Do

Services

A complete athletic development toolkit — from in-season strength work to late-stage rehab and long-term planning.

Strength & Power Development

Systematic programmes built on progressive overload and sport-specific demands. From maximal strength to explosive power.

Return to Play & Late-Stage Rehab

Bridging the gap between physiotherapy and full performance. Structured progressions back to competition readiness.

Pain Management

Evidence-based load management and exercise prescription to reduce pain while maintaining and building capacity.

Long-Term Periodization

Macro, meso, and micro-cycle planning aligned with your competitive calendar. Peaking at the right time, every time.

Jusis Training facility

Team

Jusis Training

I'm currently part of the Jusis Training team in Vilnius, where I work as a full-time Strength & Conditioning Coach. It's a professional environment built around athletic preparation, physiotherapy, rehabilitation, testing, injury prevention, and long-term physical development.

I currently work under a live contract with Jusis Training, and all client work is carried out through Jusis Training.

Being part of Jusis Training allows me to work alongside specialists who share the same standard: helping people move better, train smarter, and build physical capacity that lasts. This fits directly with my own approach — combining performance coaching with rehabilitation principles, so every programme supports strength, movement quality, and sustainable progress.

Jusis Training team

Career

Experience

From national team camps to professional clubs and youth academies — a track record built season after season, athlete after athlete.

Ernestas Barkus coaching a national team athlete

Aug 2024 — Present · 1 yr 10 mos

Strength & Conditioning Coach

Jusis Training · Full-time

Vilnius, Lithuania

Strength and power development; return to play / late-stage rehab; pain management; long-term periodisation.

Jul 2025 — Aug 2025 · 2 mos

Strength & Conditioning Coach

Lietuva Basketball · Seasonal

S&C coach for Lithuania women's under-16 basketball team. Individualised warm-up and pre-game routines; load management and periodisation; return to play / late-stage rehab.

Sep 2023 — Sep 2024 · 1 yr 1 mo

Strength & Conditioning Coach

BC Aistės

Kaunas, Lithuania

In-season and off-season S&C support for professional basketball players.

Jan 2023 — Sep 2024 · 1 yr 9 mos

Physical Trainer

Gym Plius UAB

Kaunas, Lithuania

Delivering individualised training programmes for diverse client populations.

Jun 2024 — Aug 2024 · 3 mos

Strength & Conditioning Coach

LTU Basketball · Seasonal

S&C coach for Lithuania women's under-18 basketball team.

Jun 2023 — Jul 2023 · 2 mos

Strength & Conditioning Coach

"Kauno Žalgiris" Football Academy · Internship

Kaunas

Supported youth football athletic development programmes.

Jun 2022 — Jul 2022 · 2 mos

Assistant Strength & Conditioning Coach

FC Džiugas Telšiai · Internship

Assistant S&C coach in FC „Džiugas" system.

Feb 2022 — May 2022 · 4 mos

Assistant Strength & Conditioning Coach

BC Žalgiris Kaunas · Internship

Assistant S&C coach in BC „Žalgiris" Youth system.

Ernestas Barkus working with an athlete

Qualifications

Credentials

A foundation of academic study and continuous certification — ensuring every programme is grounded in current evidence and best practice.

Certified Functional Strength Coach

Mike Boyle Strength & Conditioning · Issued May 2024

Specialist in Strength & Conditioning

(ISSA) International Sports Sciences Association · Issued Apr 2023

Certificate in Strength Training: From Rehabilitation to Performance

Barça Innovation Hub · Issued Jun 2022

Fitness Instructor EQF Level 3

EuropeActive · Issued Jun 2020

Education

Bachelor of Physiotherapy, Rehabilitation

Vilniaus Kolegija / University of Applied Sciences

Sep 2025 – Jun 2028

Master of Sports, Sports Coaching

Lithuanian Sports University

Sep 2022 – Jun 2024

Bachelor of Sports, Exercise, Nutrition and Stress Management

Lithuanian Sports University

Sep 2019 – Jun 2022

Questions

Frequently Asked

I work with professional and semi-professional athletes, active adults, and youth athletes. Whether you compete at a national level or want to move pain-free in daily life, I can help.

Both. In-person sessions are available in Vilnius, Lithuania. Online coaching is available worldwide — I deliver full programming, video reviews, and regular check-ins.

Vilnius, Lithuania. In-person sessions take place at Jusis Training. Remote clients are welcome from anywhere.

Yes. I specialise in late-stage rehab and return-to-play. I work alongside your physiotherapy team to bridge the gap between rehab and full performance.

Most clients notice meaningful improvements within 4–6 weeks. Significant performance gains typically follow 12–16 weeks of consistent training. Real strength is built over months, not days.

Sessions begin with a movement assessment and warm-up, move into the main training block (strength, power, or conditioning), and finish with targeted accessory work and a cool-down. Every session is programmed — nothing is random.

Yes. I have experience with national youth basketball teams and football academies. Youth programmes focus on foundational movement quality, age-appropriate loading, and long-term athletic development.

Book a free consultation through the form below. We'll discuss your goals, current situation, and whether we're a good fit. No commitment required.

Ernestas Barkus

Get in Touch

Book a Free Consultation

Tell me about your goals and I'll get back to you within 24 hours.

I currently work under a live contract with Jusis Training, and all client work is carried out through Jusis Training.