The Warrior Gym: Where Grit Was Forged

Many years ago, after I stepped away from coaching the Taekwondo state team and the university, I decided to build something of my own.

I called it The Warrior Gym.

It wasn’t a commercial gym with shiny machines or perfectly organized racks of weights. Quite the opposite.

Much of the equipment was built by yours truly.

I filled sandbags by hand. I filled an exercise ball with water and sand to create an awkward lifting tool. I cut PVC pipes for carrying drills. I collected tires of every size I could find. I built a pull-up and dip station using metal pipes at different widths. I trained with chains, resistance bands, TRX straps, kettlebells, bricks, and just about anything I could pick up, drag, carry, or throw.

The road in front of my house wasn’t even paved.

That became part of the gym.

Using old Taekwondo belts, we’d drag and push heavy tires up and down the uneven terrain. Nothing was polished. Nothing was comfortable.

And that was exactly the point.

Soon, many of my former Taekwondo athletes began asking if I was coaching anywhere. I told them they were welcome to train with me, for free, if they were willing to embrace the Warrior Training sessions.

They did.

Watching their transformation was incredible.

Training with odd objects, uneven loads, unstable surfaces, and imperfect conditions developed more than strength. It built agility, coordination, resilience, confidence, and creativity.

But if there was one exercise everyone remembers…

It was tug-of-war with my Doberman.

She weighed over ninety pounds and had no intention of letting anyone win easily.

One minute against her felt like an eternity.

Two minutes was exhausting.

Three minutes…

Well, very few people wanted to find out what that felt like.

It became one of the most demanding conditioning drills we ever did.

Looking back, I don’t think it was just their cardiovascular fitness that improved.

It was their grit.

They learned to keep pulling when every muscle wanted to quit.

They learned to stay calm under pressure.

They learned that fatigue is often a conversation, not a command.

That training carried over directly into competition.

Our fighters became more resilient, more determined, and mentally tougher.

Thinking about those days reminds me of the story I shared about the Indigenous children of Oaxaca who became basketball champions despite having very little.

Neither they nor we trained under perfect conditions.

But perhaps that’s exactly why those experiences were so powerful.

Sometimes, imperfect conditions produce extraordinary people.

When we remove comfort, we often discover capability.

When we embrace challenge, we uncover confidence we didn’t know we possessed.

Every workout is more than a physical challenge.

It’s an internal one.

There is always that moment before a difficult set, a hard run, or a demanding workout when you feel a little nervous.

A little uncertain.

A little uncomfortable.

That is the real battle.

Not against the weight.

Not against the workout.

But against the voice inside that asks you to stop before you’ve discovered what you’re truly capable of.

The beautiful thing is that this lesson doesn’t stay in the gym.

It follows you into your career.

Into your relationships.

Into difficult conversations.

Into moments when your family needs you to stay strong.

Every time you choose courage over comfort, you become a little more resilient.

Every challenge overcome reminds you that you are capable of more than you once believed.

That is why I love coaching.

Watching someone accept the challenge, discover their inner strength, and grow into the best version of themselves is one of life’s greatest privileges.

Because the power has always been there.

Sometimes, all we need is the courage to test it.

That is the essence of the Inner Force Method.

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A Thought on Resilience

Paulo Coelho on resilience:

“I ask myself, are defeats necessary? Well, necessary or not, they happen. When we first begin fighting for a dream, we have no experience and make mistakes. The secret of life, though, is to fall seven times and to get up eight times.”
— The Alchemist

I love this quote because it reminds us that setbacks are not the opposite of progress, they are part of it.

Every challenge teaches us something. Every mistake refines us. Every time we choose to stand back up, we become a little stronger, a little wiser, and a little more resilient.

Keep getting back up.

Your next step may be the one that changes everything.

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Changing the World Through Movement

As I continue studying and preparing for our upcoming Mobility & Flexibility Workshop, I came across a quote from Tim Anderson, co-creator of Original Strength, that deeply resonated with me:

“If you can change how a person moves, you can change how a person feels. If you can change how a person feels, you can change how a person thinks. When a person moves well, they feel good. When a person feels good, they express themselves in positive ways. And that is a way to make the world around them much better.”

I love these words because they remind us that movement is about so much more than exercise.

Movement changes us.

When we move better, we feel better. When we feel better, we think better. And when we think better, we show up differently for the people around us… with more energy, confidence, kindness, and purpose.

That is the vision behind this workshop.

Together, we’ll rediscover how simple, intentional movement can transform the way we feel.

I’ve always believed that the mind shapes the body.

But I also believe the body can shape the mind.

If one movement can change a person, then one person can change a family, a community, and perhaps even the world.

Let’s change the world—one movement at a time.

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