“Yo bro, how long you been training?”
8 years.
“Yeah I can tell..wait, how old are you?”
20.
“The F*CK?!”
The story behind this baby face and grown man body.
[thread]
8 years.
“Yeah I can tell..wait, how old are you?”
20.

“The F*CK?!”

The story behind this baby face and grown man body.
[thread]
I write this in hopes of inspiring those who were set up to fail in life.
To champion your pain, and empower yourself.
Follow along & you will know me better than 99% of the people in my life.
Tldr; unorthodox upbringing, check out vid in end for high vibrations
To champion your pain, and empower yourself.
Follow along & you will know me better than 99% of the people in my life.
Tldr; unorthodox upbringing, check out vid in end for high vibrations
When I was born, my father was in prison for bookmaking.
He had a “nice white guy” cellmate named Paul, and mom being a Catholic, wanted to name me after St. Paul
Parents immigrated to America with no knowledge of English..the only way to survive was through entrepreneurship
He had a “nice white guy” cellmate named Paul, and mom being a Catholic, wanted to name me after St. Paul
Parents immigrated to America with no knowledge of English..the only way to survive was through entrepreneurship
Mom owned beauty salons (BOOMIN), and dad owned a produce company (honest living)
Little did I know, this new money and new life my family was manifesting, would destroy everything
At 5 years old, I couldn’t comprehend the concept of money
But...
Little did I know, this new money and new life my family was manifesting, would destroy everything
At 5 years old, I couldn’t comprehend the concept of money
But...
What I did know was what a happy family looks like
Fast fwd some years:
Breakdowns from gambling losses, verbal & physical abuse, cops regularly visiting home, and adultery were all regularly taking place around me, as a developing kid
Fast fwd some years:
Breakdowns from gambling losses, verbal & physical abuse, cops regularly visiting home, and adultery were all regularly taking place around me, as a developing kid
I vividly recall this one specific, dark night when I was 7
I was awakened by screaming and shouting, and saw that my mom led my dad into my bedroom
My mother gave me an ultimatum
“Me or your father?”
I said, “Both of you?”
“No. Choose one.”
I was awakened by screaming and shouting, and saw that my mom led my dad into my bedroom
My mother gave me an ultimatum
“Me or your father?”
I said, “Both of you?”
“No. Choose one.”
I knew their relationship was over for real this time and that my dad was long gone, given how intense it was
And knew that if I had betrayed my mother with the “wrong” answer, I would get dropped off in the streets & left in the pouring rain, like she did before with my sister
And knew that if I had betrayed my mother with the “wrong” answer, I would get dropped off in the streets & left in the pouring rain, like she did before with my sister
In response, I trembled “you?”, knowing I just got trapped in this toxic environment, for who knows how long
Even as a kid, I could feel how unfair this whole circumstance was
Like, just let me be a kid
Eventually, Dad was nowhere to be found
Even as a kid, I could feel how unfair this whole circumstance was
Like, just let me be a kid
Eventually, Dad was nowhere to be found
Older sister saw all of this go down and decided to take on the mother role
A strong trauma bond -- she became my sole connection in life
I was fucking wrecked
And without my sister stepping up to the plate, I wouldn’t be the man I am today
We did everything together
A strong trauma bond -- she became my sole connection in life
I was fucking wrecked
And without my sister stepping up to the plate, I wouldn’t be the man I am today
We did everything together
One day, she took me to a 24 hr fitness with a guest pass
I was around 11 years old
I remember a front desk employee asked her, “Are you his mother?”
She looked at me and said, “Yes I am”
And in that moment, I remember, for the first time, consciously feeling genuine love
I was around 11 years old
I remember a front desk employee asked her, “Are you his mother?”
She looked at me and said, “Yes I am”
And in that moment, I remember, for the first time, consciously feeling genuine love
My sister’s courage and unconditional love is what ultimately brought me a sense of belonging in this world
Later on, sis goes into her adult life
Leaving me “with” mom who was usually absent
Mom finds a well-off man
We end up moving to his place in suburbs
Later on, sis goes into her adult life
Leaving me “with” mom who was usually absent
Mom finds a well-off man
We end up moving to his place in suburbs
Introduced to new school, new friends
But, the home life remained the same toxic ways
I would think, “God, why are you doing this to me?”
“Why can’t I have a family like theirs?" I remember questioning, as I saw my friends joyfully and lovingly playing with their parents
But, the home life remained the same toxic ways
I would think, “God, why are you doing this to me?”
“Why can’t I have a family like theirs?" I remember questioning, as I saw my friends joyfully and lovingly playing with their parents
“Please. I promise not to be greedy. I just want mom and dad happy together.”
I had experienced such profound heartache for such a short life, that I was already so exhausted by the painful losses I’d experienced in my family
But you know what?
I had experienced such profound heartache for such a short life, that I was already so exhausted by the painful losses I’d experienced in my family
But you know what?
It built me into an usually observant kid, with tremendous self-awareness, through having to understand my pain, so as to understand my parents
To avoid home, I would stay at friends’ houses for days on end during school
I’m talking like, 12 days straight
To avoid home, I would stay at friends’ houses for days on end during school
I’m talking like, 12 days straight
Their parents knew something was up with my home life due to the fact they haven’t even met my mom or dad once
I would even ask to pay for their meals at 12 y/o with the bit of money saved from birthdays, as a way to express my gratitude for them taking me in
I would even ask to pay for their meals at 12 y/o with the bit of money saved from birthdays, as a way to express my gratitude for them taking me in
And every single time I talked to my friends’ parents over dinner, we would go on about life for hours as if it was an adult-to-adult discourse
They said I was going to make it some day with the resilience I demonstrated, and with the wisdom I’ve cultivated
They said I was going to make it some day with the resilience I demonstrated, and with the wisdom I’ve cultivated
Love is powerful
To learn objective truth about my strengths, from people feeling love and wanting me to really see where I shine
So valuable for me
Going into my teenage years, I knew I was destined to be different than most people
To learn objective truth about my strengths, from people feeling love and wanting me to really see where I shine
So valuable for me
Going into my teenage years, I knew I was destined to be different than most people
Jealous of others’ lives, being abandoned and misunderstood..
I simply reached a point where nothing externally fucking mattered anymore
Reflecting on life, I realized that this internalized pain derived from *other people* who hadn’t done the inner work that I had did
I simply reached a point where nothing externally fucking mattered anymore
Reflecting on life, I realized that this internalized pain derived from *other people* who hadn’t done the inner work that I had did
I accepted that it was time to become an individual, a strong man who lives on his own terms
This is where my sob story comes to an end, forever
I was going to eliminate the victim mindset
I didn’t want sympathy, I wanted my well-being back
This is where my sob story comes to an end, forever
I was going to eliminate the victim mindset
I didn’t want sympathy, I wanted my well-being back
I was out to become the coldest mfker in the world, similar to the origin of a villain’s story
“Fuck you God, fuck those kids, fuck my parents, fuck everything. I’m going to get what’s mine.”
Ran away from home
This attitude got me far, but not for long
“Fuck you God, fuck those kids, fuck my parents, fuck everything. I’m going to get what’s mine.”
Ran away from home
This attitude got me far, but not for long
Dad resurfaced but never told me he got remarried, or had another kid on the way
Devastated, but I was already so broken that it didn’t break me any further
In 2013, he was in poverty living in the slums (N Portland before gentrification)
Devastated, but I was already so broken that it didn’t break me any further
In 2013, he was in poverty living in the slums (N Portland before gentrification)
This meant I would attend an inner city school with mostly gang members as my peers, and shit education
No chance
At 14 y/o, I was paying a random family $500/month for rent, to let me live with them in the suburbs
How did I afford that?
No chance
At 14 y/o, I was paying a random family $500/month for rent, to let me live with them in the suburbs
How did I afford that?
I have a bro (4 yrs older) who sold weed in high school
This became me, but in middle school
Not your typical Asian sibling dynamic duo
Upsold to rich kids, hustled and saved
I was always ‘in’ the mainstream system, but never really felt like I was a part of it, you know?
This became me, but in middle school
Not your typical Asian sibling dynamic duo
Upsold to rich kids, hustled and saved
I was always ‘in’ the mainstream system, but never really felt like I was a part of it, you know?
I was a part of many kids’ first time experience with weed; sorry society, but it was bound to happen..
My fun in the ‘burbs was cut short when I got into an altercation with the family’s older son
Kicked out, and sent to live with my dad
My fun in the ‘burbs was cut short when I got into an altercation with the family’s older son
Kicked out, and sent to live with my dad
I remember my step-mom would cook a ton of soup at once, & we would eat it for every meal, 5 days straight
Scraping by
Good thing about the inner city school is that they would give free lunch (disgusting), school supplies, & even allow you to participate in sports for free
Scraping by
Good thing about the inner city school is that they would give free lunch (disgusting), school supplies, & even allow you to participate in sports for free
I stacked cash by selling my homemade edibles, and minimizing expenses by shoplifting (mostly protein bars) & exploiting the school’s chocolate milk.
You see - I was a hurt soul fueling off of angst, manifested in my immoral ways
You see - I was a hurt soul fueling off of angst, manifested in my immoral ways
I wore glasses, spending most of my anti-social upbringing gaming, admitting defeat in having a “normal” life.
After they got smashed in enough times during P.E. dodgeball, I said fuck that
Did cross country & track, then got contact lenses to enroll in football & wrestling
After they got smashed in enough times during P.E. dodgeball, I said fuck that
Did cross country & track, then got contact lenses to enroll in football & wrestling
Taking initiative to address my own turmoil was the best thing I ever did for myself
I truly believed I could do anything with the mental suffering I endured
If I want to be a:
Runner shredded to the bone? Easy.
Monstrously yolked linebacker? Sure.
Bench 3 plates? POSSIBLE.
I truly believed I could do anything with the mental suffering I endured
If I want to be a:
Runner shredded to the bone? Easy.
Monstrously yolked linebacker? Sure.
Bench 3 plates? POSSIBLE.
I was unstoppable in my executing, neurotic mindset
Gaining respect from everyone in my vicinity - teachers, coaches, gang members...
Would research tirelessly and ambitiously on all things related to health.
I trained at 5am w/ football coach before school started
Gaining respect from everyone in my vicinity - teachers, coaches, gang members...
Would research tirelessly and ambitiously on all things related to health.
I trained at 5am w/ football coach before school started
I persuaded campus security to sneak me into the weight room during lunch
I got it in during my actual weight training class
I showed up to every practice after school
Every. Day.
Physical pain was nothing compared to what had developed my mental calluses
I got it in during my actual weight training class
I showed up to every practice after school
Every. Day.
Physical pain was nothing compared to what had developed my mental calluses
After my time spent here in the inner city school, I developed insane discipline equipped with the ability to adapt to any environment
I moved again, to a school in the suburbs to finish off my last school year
More arduous despite the accolades it provided
I moved again, to a school in the suburbs to finish off my last school year
More arduous despite the accolades it provided
Kids here were pretentious, moved in cliques, and sheltered - oblivious to the real world I was exposed to
I remained focused on myself with 0 social life simply b/c they didn’t align with my values
Lunch spent reading in my car
Meal prepped while they partied
Worked 3 jobs
I remained focused on myself with 0 social life simply b/c they didn’t align with my values
Lunch spent reading in my car
Meal prepped while they partied
Worked 3 jobs
Coming out of high school - I got a full ride scholarship to university, bought my car, and sculpted a physique I am proud of
I joined a frat, met new people, and started to see the world through different perspectives
All the while, continuing to stay true to who I am
I joined a frat, met new people, and started to see the world through different perspectives
All the while, continuing to stay true to who I am
Previously: I was fragile, fearful, avoidant, and anxious
Now: I am thriving, healthy, pursuing what I truly love, and making unimaginably fulfilling connections
I found my lost soul, healed it, and now embrace it with wholehearted love
Now: I am thriving, healthy, pursuing what I truly love, and making unimaginably fulfilling connections
I found my lost soul, healed it, and now embrace it with wholehearted love
As I write this, I think of a former party mate who reached out for workout advice
I brushed him off
Later found out he committed suicide
I truly believe that if he had begun his new physical endeavors, it would’ve overpowered whatever was going on in his head
I brushed him off
Later found out he committed suicide
I truly believe that if he had begun his new physical endeavors, it would’ve overpowered whatever was going on in his head
Remorse from this incident gave me a clear vision on my ability to heal others
Now, I use my platform to support those in dire need, not only for aesthetics but to actually change lives
Now, I use my platform to support those in dire need, not only for aesthetics but to actually change lives
The key is to not only overcome obstacles, but use them to your unique advantage
Knowing what I know now, I do not wish for an easier path
We are blessed to be abnormal
The pain is what made me everything that I am
Knowing what I know now, I do not wish for an easier path
We are blessed to be abnormal
The pain is what made me everything that I am