MY STORY

Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming “Wow! What a Ride!”

― Hunter S. Thompson

I grew up a fairly weak and skinny kid, and having asthma didn’t help - running out of breath trying to keep up with friends was discouraging. I didn’t feel strong, good at sports, or capable enough to defend myself (never mind others). I only played on a sports team once growing up, basketball in 3rd grade, and I only made the free throws.

Not being the active, sporty, fit kid growing up may make it seem unlikely that I'd become such an advocate for health & fitness... until you realize what health & fitness truly is (hint: it's not playing sports, going to the gym, or doing what mainstream doctors tell you to do).

Overtime, I overcame these struggles with physical competence and mental resilience training. My dad (with his background in weight lifting, carpentry, martial arts, and fun) was my original inspiration to becoming stronger & more skilled. He was my real life Bruce Lee. We lifted weights, hit the bag, played chess, got outside, and did a large variety of physical activities together.

Even before I could talk, he put me up to hang on the monkey bars, and said I would just hang, and hang… and hang. He had enough time to pull out an old camera and take a photo (probably took forever in those days...)

It was a natural, instinctual, universal strength that wasn’t taught, it was in my DNA. Just like how a baby can swim right out of the womb (as seen in water births). Of course, I couldn’t tell him to take me down, but it didn’t look like I wanted to get down either.

"It was a natural, instinctual, universal strength that wasn't taught, it was in my DNA."

It wasn't until my senior year in high school when I intently started pursuing new physical & mental challenges, starting out with high school wrestling. It was great, I won my first match or two, and got my ass handed to me for the rest of them. I loved it, and only wished I had started sooner.

After high school, the learning really began. I became hungry for more, physically and mentally. I started studying and learning about different things, from all walks of life, from all over the world. In hindsight, my Magician & Warrior archetypes were becoming fully expressed.

I jumped all in. I rode my bike to the library every day to study every subject that fascinated me, and learn more about life. I took up Boxing, MMA, Tai Chi, Qi Gong, Yoga, Meditation, Capoeira, Art Du Déplacement/Parkour, La Methode Naturelle, etc. etc. A path which led me right to MovNat.

When I discovered MovNat from the video "The Workout the World Forgot", I realized, 'THIS IS IT!' I felt that it was everything in one, the most complete system. I knew, right then and there, that this is what I wanted to do for the rest of my life.

"I knew, right then and there, that this is what I wanted to do for the rest of my life."

I absorbed everything I could on it, trained day-in and day-out, and it quickly became my lifestyle. I ended up winning a free workshop through the "MovNat 60/60 Challenge" on Facebook. Knowing that I wanted to not only learn everything about MovNat, but also teach, and share it with others — I decided to apply the credit towards a certification.

Within the next year I packed up my stuff and relocated from RI to TX to attend a MovNat Level 1 Certification. It was happening in Houston, November of 2014. So I went down a month or two earlier to stay with family in Dallas — not really realizing how far Houston was from Dallas (coming from a state where you can get from one side to the other in an hour!)

The certification ended up being a pivotal point in my life. The people were awesome, the movement was real, the event was massive. It was official. I knew this is what I wanted for myself, and I knew this is what I wanted to create in the world - strong, resilient, capable, happy, healthy, and free people.

Since then, I've been taking it one bare foot at a time - coaching people, in-person and online, through privates, group classes, workshops, and retreats - organically growing with a community of badass humans.

"Since then, I've been taking it one bare foot at a time [...] organically growing with a community of badass humans."

I went on to receive the MovNat Level 2 & Combatives Certifications (Mar & Jul 2016), The Human Path Scout Certification (Oct 2017), the Level 3 MovNat Certification (Oct 2017), a Purple Belt in BJJ (Dec 2017), the Primal Health Coaching Certification (Apr 2018), the MovNat Aquatics Certification (Sept 2018, officially earning all 5 MovNat certs and becoming a MovNat Master Trainer), the Gracie Combatives Belt Certification (twice - Jan & Jul 2020), and am currently on the path to becoming a certified Gracie Jiu Jitsu Instructor (July 2021), and a MeatRx Animal-Based Nutrition Coach (June 2021).

As a student of life with a love of exploration & learning, I've continued my education with many other practices and studies that I integrate into my coaching, including; Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (6+ years, purple belt & coach), Art Du Déplacement/Parkour (9+ years, various workshops & jams across the US, and several with the Founders in Dallas, Houston, and the birthplace - Evry, France), the Wim Hof Method (6+ years, multiple workshops & a daily practice), Nutritious Movement (the 52-Weeks EveryBody Biomechanics course, by Katy Bowman), Gracie Combatives (5+ years, by Rener & Ryron Gracie), Invisible Jiu Jitsu (Self.Defense.Unit course, by Rickson Gracie), Hidden Jiu Jitsu (online courses & workshops, by Henry Akins), various Martial Arts (2-3 years each, Boxing, Wrestling, Muay Thai, MMA), multiple Obstacle Course Races, a 10-Day Vipassana course, a daily meditation practice (10+ years), men's work (4+ years), and much more.