My Journey to Owning Validus Fitness: From Farm Life to Fitness Coaching

Growing Up Active: My Early Passion for Fitness

I grew up on a horse farm, where working hard from a young age was simply a way of life. Although my parents might say I wasn’t the hardest worker, their standard for hard work was a little different than most.

Throughout school, I played every sport I could—basketball, soccer, volleyball, and track. Being active was my passion. Many of my coaches and teachers told me I had a natural ability for coaching and believed I’d make a great gym teacher one day. However, my primary sport was Taekwondo.

My dad taught at a local Taekwondo club and eventually took over running it. Soon enough, I began coaching kids’ classes alongside him. Teaching and coaching became second nature—it was in my blood.

Losing My Fitness—and Rediscovering It

As life moved forward, fitness slowly took a back seat. After school, I landed a corporate job that involved long hours, frequent travel, and lots of client dinners. Eating out at restaurants, grabbing fast food on the road, and being sedentary became the norm.

One day, while driving, I glanced down and realized I couldn’t see my seatbelt—my belly was hanging over it. That was the wake-up call I needed. I knew it was time for a change.

A co-worker introduced me to CrossFit, showing me a few videos and bringing me to a class. I had no idea what I was doing—or even that I was doing “CrossFit things”—but it didn’t matter. It was the spark I needed to reignite my passion for fitness.

Discovering CrossFit Ark: Finding My Fitness Community

That introduction led me to join a gym called CrossFit Ark, which would later become Validus Fitness. For the first time in years, I felt the same sense of community and camaraderie I had growing up in my family’s Taekwondo club.

As I trained consistently, my passion for fitness deepened. I wanted to learn as much as possible about strength training and conditioning—not just to improve myself, but to build the knowledge and ability to stay fit no matter where life took me.

I decided to get my first personal training certification. Not long after, one of the coaches mentioned to the gym owners that I was certified. Soon, they approached me with an offer: Would I be interested in coaching?

That was my moment of clarity—I knew this was where I was meant to be. I left my corporate job behind and started coaching full-time.

From Coach to Gym Owner

After a few years of coaching and fully immersing myself in the gym environment, my wife and I bought our first house. The only problem? It was a much longer commute to the gym. That distance made me consider opening my own facility closer to home.

While I was weighing my options, the owners of CrossFit Ark asked if I would be interested in buying their gym. The timing was perfect. After a lengthy process, I said yes. The stars aligned, and I became the new owner of CrossFit Ark, which I later rebranded as Validus Fitness.

Why I Do This

I can’t imagine doing anything else. I love watching people grow stronger—not just physically, but mentally and emotionally. Seeing someone achieve their first pull-up, hit a new personal record, or simply stay committed is incredibly rewarding.

What I enjoy even more is witnessing the confidence that comes with it. When people step out of their comfort zones, face challenges head-on, and realize how strong they truly are, it transforms more than their bodies—it transforms their lives.

As a coach, I’ve learned that this is what I was always meant to do. But what I didn’t expect was how fulfilling it would be to see people evolve and thrive. That’s the real bonus—and it’s why I love what I do at Validus Fitness.