Without delving too far back, I think it’s worth a quick look at my journey, because it’s the foundation of who I am and why Grit Athletics exists today.
I wasn’t the typical “athlete.” Sure, I played baseball, football, basketball, tennis, and even took Tae Kwon Do. But to me, an athlete cares deeply about progress, nutrition, recovery—and that wasn’t me. Sports were my social outlet, and I did martial arts mainly because I thought it was cool. I had potential, but I squandered it, fueling up on soda and mac and cheese. By middle school, I was wearing husky jeans and oversized T-shirts and tipped over 200 pounds before Y2K.
Yet somehow, despite that, I earned my black belt early, and by 14, I had a second degree black belt. I started instructing kids as young as four, which gave me a crash course in responsibility and leadership. I spent six years teaching, speaking with parents, designing classes, and showing up—on time and ready to unlock the doors.
Then came college. Realizing that being overweight wasn’t winning me dates, I dove into learning about lifting and fitness, pouring over articles, videos, and magazines to understand it all. By my mid-20s, I had shed the extra weight and discovered I was pretty strong—and I fell in love with the process.
During that journey, I found something crucial: most of what’s out there in fitness is noise. I quickly saw through the gimmicks, finding that the basics—lifting heavy, bodybuilding, cardio, and athletic movements—were the truth. For 15 years now, I’ve trained this way, and it’s kept me strong, lean, and happy.
My goal became clear: I wanted to share this approach with others who’ve faced the same roadblocks. I became a coach and trainer, working with teens to teach them these principles, and for 10 years, I honed my skills under my first mentor.
One thing I learned through that experience is that small group training is ideal. A group setting pushes people to achieve more, while a smaller group allows for individualized coaching. I realized that most people had no clue what they were truly capable of; with the right environment, they could build the resilience to push themselves further. This strength gives you confidence, capability, and a better quality of life—it made me a better father and husband.
So, after years of planning, I opened Grit Athletics. Originally, it was called Bear Bones Strength Gym. I set out to create a place where people could focus on the basics: lifting heavy, flipping tires, dragging sleds, and grinding through workouts that build real strength. And it turned out people weren’t looking to crush themselves with punishing workouts—they were looking for an alternative. They didn’t want the big box gyms, machine circuits, or bootcamp classes. They weren’t interested in endless cardio or preparing for CrossFit Games. They wanted something real.
That’s why I started this gym—to give people a genuine option to learn how to move, get strong, and push their physical limits. Grit Athletics is a team environment, where we talk about longevity, food quality, movement, and mental health. We train not to compete but to make the most of the one life we have. If we want to maximize our time on this earth, we have to focus on reaching our full potential physically—and that pours into every other part of life.
I started Grit Athletics to be surrounded by good people with great intentions, all achieving amazing things—and that’s exactly what it has become.
So, here’s the question: Are you ready to stop putting off what you know you need? Ready to say yes? Ready to have that conversation?
Use this link to book a chat, and let’s decide together if this is the right place for you at this point in your life.
The truth is, the best time to start was last year, last month, or even yesterday. But the time we have is right now. Let’s get started.
