interview – Home of the Art and Science of Calisthenics

Interview Special with Pro D YouTube Star

Ryan Young — Fri, 26 Feb 2016 12:59:58 +0000

You may all be familiar with Pro D also known as ChickenBreastTV. His videos are awe-some! And over the last 18 months in following him I have learned a ton.

His real name is, Alex Dieck and he is by and far one of my favorite YouTubers when it comes to health and fitness.

Alex aka Pro D is a pretty well-rounded person. He is a competitive bodybuilder, street workout athlete, and calisthenics expert. He is also the owner of his own fitness gym called, Trux Gym in Miami, Florida.

When I recently was given the enormous opportunity of interviewing him and I was super-excited.

I wanted to learn what makes this guy tick, what is behind all the hard work and freaking hilarious videos..A good portion of his videos are not all funny, many of them are incredibly useful packed with pearls of wisdom.

What I most appreciate about his channel is that he gives a no-nonsense no @#$&^%$ (an 8 letter word for excrement) perspective. He is one of the few that calls it like he sees it and is not afraid to tell the truth.

In the times that we are all living today, it’s quite refreshing to meet someone who tell it like it is.

So, it is my complete and utter privilege to welcome Alex aka Pro D from ChickenBreastTV….(He’s Pro D and your watching, well reading, ChickenBreastTV)….Thanks Pro D, to begin…

Could you tell us a little bit about how you got into Calisthenics?

Well, basically I got into calisthenics when I moved to Miami. I never really did calisthenics when I lived in Illinois, I trained a 100% bodybuilding style of training. But when I moved to Miami I lived by this beautiful park and I noticed they had these pull up and dip bars.

So I figured I’d switch up my training for a month and do calisthenics only, then go back to weights after that month.

I loved it, but fell even more in love with it the first time I saw someone do a bar hop in South Beach. I was like WTF! After that I was hooked.

You have inspired people all around the world, who has inspired you in your life?

With Calisthenics… at this point all my friends pretty much do calisthenics so I’m surrounded by inspiration. But who has inspired me in my life? My father. If it wasn’t for him I’d be nothing and no where. In general my family.

I try not to idolize people, because that puts someone on a pedestal and makes reaching their level less likely than if you were to see them as an equal or a future reflection of oneself. I’m inspired by doers, loners, rebels, people who aren’t afraid to roll the dice.

If you could thank three people in your life who would they be and what would you say to each of them?

That’s a tough one, but I’d thank my father, Id tell him, “Dad without you I doubt I’d even be alive still, you never gave up on me and because of that I’m still here. I promise I’m here for a reason and I’m gonna make you proud. I just hope you’re around to see it.”

I’d thank my old trainer Brooks of B Fitness, Id say, “I don’t know if you even realize how much life guidance you’ve given me but thank you for being a mentor and giving me direction in life, training, and business”

And last but not least, at the risk of sounding like a cliché rap video, “I’d like to thank all the haters and people who have hurt me because my negative experiences in life have fueled my fire a lot more than my positive ones at times”

What’s the most important lesson you have learned in life either personally or professionally?

Oh wow, there are so many life lessons but maybe… You can be anything you want to be, you create your reality. Literally everything that happens is somehow a result of a decision you’ve made at some point.

It’s cliché but really REALLY actually think about it hard, you can literally be anything, everybody that’s at the top of anything; business, bodybuilding, whatever was once not there and made a decision to be there and just started working.

In one sentence or phrase how would you define success?

Money doesn’t make you rich… having balance, life experiences, strong relationships, and inner peace makes you rich.

What was the best decision you have made?

Every decision I’ve ever made has brought me to where I am today, even the bad ones, but I guess I’d have to say picking up a weight for the first time or that first bodybuilding magazine I bought because I didn’t know it at the time but It pretty much shaped my character and made me the person I am today.

What was the most challenging or difficult decision you had to make?

The most challenging and difficult decision I’ve ever made was quitting drugs, I was a terrible person and I knew I needed to change to be happy, but it took a long time before I was able to find the courage to do that. It’s wasn’t easy but it was worth it.

As an inspirational and motivational fitness star, what pearls of wisdom or words of advice would you have for those chasing their dreams?

OMG I don’t know if I’d consider myself inspirational, motivational, or a fitness star LOL but I do appreciate the kind words, my advice would be: the more you’re willing to sacrifice the further you’ll be and when you reach a sticking point give it more, give your dreams more, sacrifice more.

There is literally a “you” on another plane of existence that has everything you dream of, EVERYTHING, and you deserve that experience, allow it be you.

You’re gonna question yourself along the way like, “Why am I doing this?” or “Is it even worth it?” its worth it, its gonna hurt, but its worth it trust me.

Looking over your accomplishments thus far, is there anything you would have done differently or that you possibly regret?

There are things that I say I would change if I could, but honestly I don’t know if I regret anything because I don’t know what my future looks like, so If I end up where I believe I will then I will have everything right to get there.

If I don’t end up where I believe I will then I will probably say that I should have worked harder, started younger, and sacrificed more because sometimes I feel as though I may have started too late in life.

There are 18 year olds who run successful businesses and some that are champions at their craft at young ages. Don’t worry about trivial things likes the social life and the dramas, girls and being cool, you can do fun stuff once you’re successful.

What question should I have asked you that I didn’t ask? Why is that question important and what is the answer?

These questions were great, I loved all of them, they brought out very thoughtful answers from me, and I appreciate you asking them.

On a less profound note a good question could be, “Why did I became a YouTuber?”

This way the readers can have a better understanding of what my channel is really all about.

My goal was never to inspire and motivate, but rather to teach and entertain. I always wanted to be heard by the world and I thought it would be amazing that at the click of a button the whole world could hear me.

Also we live in an incredible time where you don’t need to be on TV or in movies to reach people, you can make yourself somebody using free media like YouTube, you don’t need to sell out, you can be raw and real and people dig that.

Thank you so much for the interview.

Thank you Pro D….great interview.

Words to live by….You can be anything you want to be, you create your reality. Literally everything that happens is somehow a result of a decision you’ve made at some point.

To check out Pro D you can visit his YouTube Channel at: https://www.youtube.com/user/ChickenBreastTV/

You can also visit his Facebook site at: https://www.facebook.com/alexakaprod

Here are some of the great videos that I originally watched:

Calisthenics Leg Workout – (Time 2:52 Minutes)

Bodyweight Leg Workout – (Time 2:36 Minutes)

And if you are in Miami, Florida check him at his gym Trux Gym, Miami
(Time 1:00 Minute)

Special Interview: Adrian Woods Calisthenics vs Age YouTube Athlete

Ryan Young — Fri, 12 Feb 2016 10:31:58 +0000

Every now and then I come across a great YouTube channel that is sort of like that diamond in the rough. The content of the videos was just straight up fantastic and the presenter was offering advice and suggestions that I had not really found on the more popular calisthenics channels.

The YouTube channel is appropriately entitled, Calisthenics vs Age, as the host of the channel Adrian Woods, is an amazing 47 years young.

I probably gravitated to his channel because as a 40 something myself with a son I found some similarities.

What you will find on Adrian’s channel regardless of your age, is a treasure trove with pearls of wisdom and nuggets of just overall great and practical advice, such as correct form and the reasons why its important, and awesome beginner and intermediate training videos.

I was super excited for the opportunity to interview Adrian to learn more about him and his philosophy and mentality.

What you will find in this interview, like all interviews is a common theme, to be the best version of you and to follow your own path. In essence, to march to the beat of a different drummer.

It is my honor and priviledge to welcome, Adrian…

Thanks for being here….to begin…

Could you tell us a little bit about yourself and how you go into calisthenics?

My name is Adrian I am 47 years old and father to an adult son, about 3-4 years ago I saw Hannibal for King on youtube doing a front lever and was stunned that anyone could do this. I found a chin up bar and thought I’d test myself and quickly realised this was a massive challenge and then I was hooked.

You have inspired people all around the world, who has inspired you in your life?

There are many who have inspired me in all areas of life, but in terms of physicality Bruce Lee stands out across generations as a trailblazer, and more recently CT Fletcher for sheer mental toughness and a never quit attitude ( and coming back from near death!) and Ido Portal for opening up a wider appreciation of the human body and it’s capabilities and dissolving barriers between what were recently considered ‘seperate’ disciplines.

In calisthenics I have been inspired by anyone who can pull the big moves off but a few stand out for me such as Adam Raw, lachlan Walker, all the calisthenics crews from the U.S. and just about anyone from the east of europe and Russia.

In my personal life I have been lucky to find a mentor who I and those who train with him consider to be a ‘master’ (not a term that sits comfortably with him ) in combat and he is very much a warrior in his outlook on life.

What’s the most important lesson you have learned in life thus far?

As you get older you start conectng more dots due to the amount of life experiences you have accumulated so there are daily life lessons and you just have to look out for them and frame them in the right way so you learn and improve from them.

But if I had to distill this down to one or two it would be: DO NOT give a F#*K what anyone one else says or thinks about what you want to do, ultimately the only opinion that counts is YOURS. And just keep putting one foot in front of the other and keep moving forward.

As we get older, what pearls of wisdom would you have for someone wanting to start out in calisthenics?

Firstly I believe 100% that aging ( ie: losing abilities etc, you will obviously get older) is a CHOICE !

Just tell yourself and your body that you are going to get better at everything and ignore what the rest of the planet says.

In terms of calisthenics, I would say that this is a marathon not a sprint. You want to avoid debilitating injuries, so go slow and steady and with intelligence and you will get you there.

If you are young, think of it like investing financially for the long term . Yeah you want to win the lottery right now, but it aint gonna happen, but if you sow the seeds correctly now, you WILL get the results – guaranteed.

Lastly, don’t take yourself too seriously, just enjoy the process.

In one sentence or phrase how would you define success?

The ability to look yourself in the mirror and not feel like shit, if you like who you are, then external success is much easier.

What was the best decision you have made?

Actually I made it around 5 weeks ago, I quit my job and have made the decision to make my life about calisthenics and movement training, I have started teaching classes in movement and strength and I am going to start putting a lot of content out through my youtube channel – and see where this all takes me.

What was the most challenging or difficult decision you had to make?

A number of years ago I was forced to make a choice between two lifestyles :a) keep partying hard and end up dead in a park somewhere or b) completely change EVERYTHING in my life and start from scratch and live a healthy and productive life – reckon I made the right decision.

8 What question should I have asked you that I didn’t ask? Why is that question important and what is the answer?

Q: What is necessary to succeed in calisthenics aside from the physical training?

You’ve all heard it before but DIET AND SLEEP, if you’re 21 you can pretty much get away with sloppy diet, late nights and booze etc. But it will catch up with you and then you will be facing a steep uphill battle.

Start educating yourself about the body and mind and how it works, then you will be a rounded and knowledgeable athlete.

To learn more about Adrian and his channel click on this link:
http://bit.ly/20s8tsg

Here is a nice video about No Excuse (Time 2:27 minutes):

Here is a fantastic Beginner push up video, and for those more intermediate
and advanced athletes some good advice. (Time: 3:30 minutes)