My Story

 

 

 

 

 

 

My Story: From Foam Pits to Front Levers

I didn’t grow up as “the sporty one.”
In fact, I spent most of my weekends partying — not training. I dipped into football and basketball in my early teens, but nothing stuck. I couldn’t find something I genuinely connected with.

But in the background, something was brewing.
My brother was a competitive gymnast from the age of 6. I’d watch him train, win medals, and throw himself around the gym with strength and control I couldn’t understand at the time. I used to mess about on the mats, play in the foam pit with my little sister — but deep down, I think that exposure planted a seed.

The Wake-Up Call

When I was 17, my best friend’s older brother had just qualified as a strength and conditioning coach. He saw the direction we were heading — and it wasn’t good.
He stepped in and offered to guide us.
He gave us structure, wrote our first training programmes, and introduced us to real strength work.

In just 14 weeks, I went from a skinny lad with zero confidence to stacking on 10kg of muscle. I was deadlifting twice my bodyweight, learning about the body, and for the first time — feeling strong mentally and physically.

Then Something Shifted

For a while, I was hooked on weight training. I thought getting bigger was the goal.
But then I reconnected with someone I knew from years before — a guy called Odhran White. One day, he coached me through my first proper handstand attempt.

That one handstand changed everything.

I realised how stiff and restricted I was. My wrists, shoulders, and spine just didn’t move well. I could lift heavy — but I couldn’t control my own body. That’s when the curiosity kicked in.

I fell head-first into calisthenics and movement.
And I quickly realised that mobility wasn’t optional — it was the foundation.

The Obsession Took Over

Training had always been a serious hobby. But calisthenics became an obsession.
Even while working full-time in hospitality and later in sales, I spent all my spare time practicing skills — handstands, muscle-ups, L-sits, back levers — anything that challenged me.

Eventually, I sat down with Odhran and another friend, James. We talked about creating a space where people could explore movement, get strong, and learn freedom through their own body.

There was one problem:
I wasn’t a coach. Not yet.

Becoming a Coach

At that point, I’d been training calisthenics for about 3 years. I knew the skills. I lived the lifestyle.
But I wanted to teach it properly.

So I enrolled with ECA and committed to learning the art of coaching — not just moving. That’s where I really learned how to translate my own understanding into something that could change other people’s lives too.

Fast forward to now, and I’m coaching full-time at Cali-X, a private calisthenics studio.

What I Do Now

I coach calisthenics strength and mobility training — often combined in the same session. Every client starts with at least 15 minutes of targeted mobility before moving into strength and skill work.

Whether we’re working towards a muscle-up, back lever, or just getting someone to move pain-free — the goal is always the same:

Build strength, skill, and body awareness using nothing but your own bodyweight.

Why I Do It

Because I know how overlooked mobility is.
I know what it feels like to be strong but stiff.
And I know how rewarding and freeing it is to train in a way that builds not just strength — but control, connection, and confidence.

Calisthenics changed my life. And I coach because I know it can do the same for others.

You don’t need a fancy gym. You don’t need machines.
Just space, intention, and the right guidance.