My first job on Wall Street wreaked havoc on my health. Constant 12-hour days caused neck pain, tight hip flexors, and weight gain.

 

For over a decade, I relied on youth and grit instead of a smart workout program. Eventually my vanity-driven workouts, time consuming and lacking functionality, resulted in overuse injuries. 

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In 2015, I herniated the disc between my C3/C4 vertebrae at a jiu-jitsu tournament and spent months doing physical therapy.

 

Determined to prevent such injuries in the future, I dove into a self-study of kinesiology to make myself stronger and more resilient. I studied weightlifting and sports performance manuals from all eras. My weekends were spent attending strength training seminars and getting private coaching. My days started at 5:30am in the gym applying my knowledge and still made it to the office by 7am.

 

I adopted a functional training approach, replacing my "gym bro" routines with compound lifts, kettlebells, and body weight movements. Though my workouts were shorter, they delivered superior results. 

 

By 2017 I was injury free and stronger than ever. People in my gym and jiu-jitsu academy took notice, and eventually began asking me to train them. Their results became undeniable as well. I began training more people individually, developing my skills and program into what it has become today.