Coach, Owner

In the Spring of 2015 I volunteered to help an event benefiting the Train 4 Autism Foundation, which gathers athletes and socially conscious people to raise funding for research and services for individuals living with Autism and their families. Little did I know when I volunteered for this charity fitness competition that it would reshape my beliefs on the fitness community as well as increase my belief in the capacity of people with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). At the time, I was already working as a Registered Behavioral Technician (RBT) out of Tustin, CA, providing Behavioral Therapy for children with autism and other related disorders specializing in Verbal Behavior. Fast forward a couple years, and I am now also one of the coaches for Train 4 Autism's Fitness for Special Needs Program.

B.F. Skinner, the father of Operant Conditioning, once said, ""The way positive reinforcement is carried out is more important than the amount."" Interventions and reinforcement strategies in Behavior Analysis including, but not limited to, Token Systems, Positive Practice, and Differential Reinforcement, are effective when applied to teaching fitness. I can establish what is motivating to the athlete, create contingencies of reinforcement, and, with time, shape fitness to be just as, if not more, motivating than what they were originally working towards. I want to create an environment where fitness is fun and show the potential of the amazing people in this community.

When I am not out there being inspired by children, I can be found at the gym giving my best impression of an athlete, taking advantage of California beaches, or trying to convince people that professional wrestling is the best form of entertainment.