Why and What is “Pragmatic Fitness”
Before I dive into these questions it is worth mentioning my background in both sport and fitness which goes back a couple decades. Every time I talk about my sport and fitness trajectory I cannot seem to cut it short but I will do my best to be brief and detailed where it matters.
My involvement in sport and fitness began when I was about 6 or 7 years old. According to my parents, family, and relatives I was always very active and athletic at a young age. I played many sports and just wanted to have fun. I even remember joining my sister in the evenings as she did TAEBO (a popular high intensity home workout in the 90’s). I took advantage of the daylight as much as possible to be outside and play sports. It wasn’t until I was 10 years old, I remember being fully convinced about pursuing a professional career in football (soccer). Around that age I stopped playing for local leagues and began playing in more competitive teams and in leagues where it was no longer ”everyone’s a winner” or ”last place is first place”. I began playing more competitively in teams where competition was not only against opposing teams but in the team itself. I devoted years to training and countless hours of personal training with my dad and brother. I took training seriously but still had fun while doing it. At age 13 going on 14, my brother and I took an opportunity to travel to Mexico and try out for Club Deportivo Toluca. Why we left to Mexico to pursue our dream and not it in the US is something very complex, long to explain, and better to leave for another time. Fortunately after several weeks of try outs both my brother and I were chosen amongst several hundred athletes also pursuing the same goal. I played for the youth divisions of Toluca for 3 years until I was 16 going on 17. The 3-4 years I spent with Toluca left me incalculable life lessons, achievements and many profound disappointments. In hindsight, the failures, disappointments, and short-comings taught me that true success in life is only achievable once you have had a generous taste of failure. At age 17 I signed my first professional contract with professional side Club Estudiantes Tecos UAG. I spent 3 years with the club where I experienced what a professional career in sport truly is. It is not what we see on social media. It is a beautiful career but very ugly at the same time. Many factors are involved in becoming a professional and some have nothing to do with how good you are. I suffered a 10-12 month injury during my 2nd year with the club which was definitely a turning point in my career and how things played out later.
Estudiantes Tecos was sold shortly after my injury to the state of Zacatecas and transformed itself to Mineros de Zacatecas. The reasons for this event were due to many factors but amongst them was the fact Estudiantes Tecos had the worst season in their history and was therefore demoted from the top tier of Mexican football. I later returned to Los Angeles and played for Chivas USA where I never officially debuted before the team vanished from the league in 2014. I observed my situation carefully and came to the conclusion that I had given my all in the pursuit of my childhood dream. I accomplished my dream but I didn’t consolidate it the way I had wished. I played 3 years professionally but due to events out of my control, my career halted at the age of 21. The decision to cease playing professionally came to me at it’s right time. At God’s time. I knew no matter what I did, where I went, professional soccer was something I was not meant to do. I was grateful for the 3 years and had no regrets on the decision I had made. My passion for soccer remains to this date but my career now lies with training which I love. Shortly after ending my professional career in sport I applied for a job at The Camp Transformation Center in the city of Pico Rivera as a boot camp instructor. Though I had stopped playing sport, my love for fitness remained and led me to continue in the same field. I was hired and spent 4-5 years as a lead trainer with The Camp Transformation La Mirada and Downey. During these years I studied, observed, and dedicated myself almost entirely to the art of training and focused on being the best trainer I could be. I was promoted to Master Trainer before deciding to part ways and pursue my current goal of starting my own business in fitness. On May 3, 2020 Pragmatic Fitness was established.
Why Pragmatic Fitness?
It’s not a typical gym name or even a sexy/attractive one. A business’s name is crucial but what’s even more important is what you offer. I offer a practical approach to fitness. My objective is to deliver accurate and practical fitness information and training in order to successfully reach one’s goals. I don’t have any interest in the bullshit currently surrounding the fitness industry. People need practical information because practical is long term. Fitness is not seasonal. It is lifelong. And lifelong fitness is more attainable if it makes sense logically and physically.
What is Pragmatic Fitness?
It is currently a humble hole in the wall, in the garage of a yellow home in Whittier, California with the hunger of becoming a recognized and legitimate gym in the near future. It is a gym where your fitness is taken seriously and honest training is provided. It is a gym where quality is emphasized over quantity and we do things the right way. It’s a gym where you are not only allowed but encouraged to grunt, deadlift, and drop weight overhead. We celebrate 100 lb. squats the same way we do 500 lbs. We celebrate small victories, leave egos at the door, and train to achieve our goals.
