When I was eighteen I watched a video of Zef from the ‘Bar-Barians’ do twenty muscle-ups on YouTube.
I was obsessed with what I was watching. I had never seen a person do that before. I immediately ran out in the snow and tried to do a muscle-up on a tree branch in the backyard. It turned out that I could barely do two pull-ups.
My ego was bruised, but I was determined.
That night was the beginning of a fifteen year journey. During those years I experienced a lot of failure and slow progress. Some months I didn’t train at all. At times it felt like I was moving backwards, but something in me wouldn’t let it go.
Training was the one thing that I had during difficult times. It is still the one thing that brings me joy one hundred percent of the time. I didn’t feel that way when I started, but as I became consistent, my desire grew. It took time to instill a drive in myself and I did. After all of those fickle years, I decided to get serious about calisthenics and make it an even bigger part of my life.
That decision brought me to where I am now, helping others to achieve the same level of ability that I was so blown away by many years ago.
The ACE Personal Trainer certification is issues by the American Council of Exercise after the completion of a comprehensive study program and exam. ACE certification ensures that your trainer knows how to design & implement effective training programs, track your progression and make modifications accordingly, and direct your workouts in a way that minimizes risk and prioritizes your safety.
I’ve been training clients and friends since I completed my ACE certification in 2014. After all these years of experience and continued education, including three years training Pak Mei under Sifu Riley, I’ve learned how to motivate my clients and help them reach their fitness goals with consistent success.
A picture’s worth a thousand words! Check out some of my clients’ progress here on the RedOak Training Instagram page.