An apparatus 10 and method for evaluating the power of a muscle group of auser by measuring velocities of an engagement assembly 40L, 40R coupled to aresistance element 82L, 82R and moved by the user at a highest achievablevelocity through a selected number of exercise strokes at each of tworesistance levels. A first velocity is determined at a first resistance level.A second velocity is determined at a second resistance level. The first andsecond velocities and the first and second resistance levels are used incombination with a predetermined relationship between resistance levels andvelocities to determine a relationship between the velocity and the resistancelevel for a particular user. The resistance level where the resistance leveland the velocity correspond to an overall maximum power is determined and isdisplayed for the user so that the user may use the optimum resistance levelfor training for maximum power generation.
