My Story
Hi, my name is Brian, creator of White Tiger Personal Training.
Thanks for taking the time to read about how I became a PT.
You may be able relate to some parts, or at the very least enjoy hearing about my history.
School Days and Hating Sports Day
For many years at school I was the typical dorky, fat kid. Spending far too much time playing computer games and eating junk food.
Most of the sports at school didn't appeal to me - athletics, rugby, football, swimming - I just wasn't interested.
My first real taste of enjoyment from exercise came from taking up aggresive inline skating and roller-hockey when I reached thirteen.
I much prefered chucking myself off of ramps and smacking a hockey ball about than the sports in school.
Inevitably though, as with most teenage 'crazes' - I gave up on both and became interested in hanging about with the wrong people.
Muay Thai
I was 17 when I first discovered Muay Thai (Thai-Boxing) in small club tucked away in the side streets of Paignton.
That club is Sukhothai, run by Howard Hughes and Karen Ousey.
I intsantly grew an appetite for vigorus training and those fantastic moments where you push yourself past any mental barrier you ever thought existed.
I would leave each session feeling totally exhuasted but content that I had achieved something worthwhile.
The biggest enjoyment, however, came from being with like minded people. Each session would be pumped full of an intense atmosphere, a environment to really test and push yourself in.
I owe a lot to Thai-boxing. It sounds like a cliche, but it helped me through some very tough times and kept me from making some serious mistakes in my life.
Breakdancing
Eventually I had to have a break from the Thai - after getting a place at Bristol UWE university to study I.T. (Geek!)
I joined the university gym - but didn't really know what I was doing and the staff there at the time were pretty useless as trainers.
I spent a few weeks checking out the university clubs and assosiciations until I finally settled on the Breakdancing club.
It was great to be able to learn new skills, get a decent workout and surround myself with people who enjoyed being active once again.
And for anyone who doubts that breakdancing can give you a decent workout, I suggest you check out this video.
Winners 2000
After Uni I went back to Thai-boxing, but also started training at my local gym Winners 2000.
I can remember my first climb up those stairs, the sense of bewilderment and awkwardness; meeting the staff for the first time and knowing instantly that this would be the gym for me.
After wasting nearly two years 'doing my own thing' and generally not knowing what I was doing; I decided to take a leap of faith and contact Simon Jeffery, to get some advice about getting serious with my training.
After some in depth discussions and emails he pointed me in the direction of training with one of the in-house PTs - Hannah Bryant.
I will never forget my first training session with Hannah - it was a legs day, sunday morning.
It was my first introduction to the 'Power Room' and the leg-press machine that lives down there. Needless to say it was one of the most intense sessions of my life, a real challenge from start to finish.
I left barely able to climb down the stairs on the way out, but once again I felt exhausted but accomplished - the passion for intense training had been regained.
I continued training with Hannah for about six months, having a weekly kick-up-the-ass session to make sure I stayed on track.
New Days, New Ways and a Big Decision
It was about now that I began to realise just how much training and an active lifestyle ment to me.
At the time I was working at a local design and marketing company as a Web and IT manager.
I was getting increasingly more frustrated at work, no longer feeling the satisfaction of completing web site projects and dealing with clients. Something was wrong, I felt like I was missing out on something.
After some time of careful contemplation, I decided to jack the job in and begin on the path to the life I wanted - as a PT.
I wanted to live the strict lifestyle, further my knowledge on the human body and help people climb their own 'mountains' to the physiques, fitness and lifestyles they wanted.
I contacted Simon Jefferey and booked myself on my first Fitness Instructor course.
I have never looked back since.