May 8, 2017

Meet Tuan Tran of TI Health and Fitness

Local Stories

Today we’d like to introduce you to Tuan Tran.

Tuan, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
The middle son of immigrant parents that came from Vietnam after a painful war, life was tough. My parents taught me lessons that I didn’t appreciate when I was young but now realize how those same lessons have helped forged me into a successful business owner today. The success my 2 brothers and I have gain wouldn’t be possible without their tough love and strong will.

I was always moving when I was a child. From martial arts in the 2nd grade to football and track and field in middle school and high school, I always loved moving my body and pushing my physical limits. However, my parents pounded the idea that the only way I was going to be successful in life was if I became either a professional such as a doctor, a lawyer or an engineer and that athletics will never give me the financial security that was needed as I became an adult. With that, I spend 2 semesters as a student in the college for engineers at the University of Houston. I hated and dreaded every class related to that field and was losing motivation to keep up the studies needed to progress as an engineer.

I finally when to my consular and asked him what I needed to do. He offered advice about pursuing a career that I was passionate about. Also, he advised that if a person becomes the best in their field, regardless of what it is, they will gain financial success with it. During that time, I was working as a part time Personal Trainer at 24 Hour Fitness and also running my father’s convenience store from open to close on the weekend. Even while working 2 jobs and going to UofH full time as a student, I really enjoyed working as a Personal Trainer and decided that I would either pursue a career as a Physical Therapist or continue my growth as a Personal Training. I switch my major over to Nutrition Human Foods and minored in Exercise Science.

Once I finished college, I made the tough and risky decision to become an Independent Personal Training vs continuing as a Cooperate Personal Trainer at 24 Hour Fitness. TI Health and Fitness was born but it was a shaky start. The next few years were very difficult and I even had to get a second job as waiter to make ends meet. I realized without the backing of a major cooperation that I would have to do something that separated me from just your average trainer and increase my exposer. That is when I started my career as a Natural Drug free Bodybuilder began and also competed as an Elite, Nationally Ranked RAW Power lifter in the USAPL. While doing this, I used YouTube to help market myself and grow a small following of 30,000 subscribers over the next 11 years. Here is a summary of what I was able to accomplish during those years.

2005 WNSO FAME, Houston TX. 1st Place Fitness Model
2006 NPC Show, Houston TX, 2nd Place Bodybuilding Novice Light Weight
2006 NGA Show, Houston TX, 2nd Place Bodybuilding Novice Light Weight
2007 Musclemania Universe, Miami FL, 1st Place Bodybuilding Novice Light Weight
2007 Musclemania World Championships, LA CA, 6th Place Bodybuilding Open Division
2008 Msuclemania Southern Regional, Houston TX, 1st Place Bodybuilding Open Middle Weight
2008 Musclemania Universe , Miami FL, 2nd Place Bodybuilding Open Middle Weight
2009 Musclemaina Universe , Miami FL, 6th Place Bodybuilding Open Middle Weight
2009 USAPL Longhorn Championships, Austin TX, 1st Place 198 lbs RAW Open Division
2010 REAL Southern Regional, Houston, TX, 1st Place Heavy Weight, Earned Pro Card
2010 USAPL Longhorn Championships, Austin TX, 2nd Place 198 lbs RAW Open Division, Overall Best Lifter Award Among All Heavy Weight Lifters (lbs for lbs, the strongest lifter)
2011 REAL World Championships, Houston TX, 6th Placed Pro Division
2011 USAPL Southside Classic, San Antoine TX, 1st Place 181 RAW Open Division
2012 Musclemania Southern Regionals, Houston TX, 1st Place Middle Weight
2012 Musclemania International Championships, Las Vegas CA, 1st Place Open Light Weight, Earned Pro Card
2013 NASA Master/Sub Mater Nationals, Dallas TX, 1st Place 181 RAW Sub Master Division Powerlifting, 1st Place 181 RAW Sub Master Division Power Sport
2014 USAFIT Kickin Asphalt ½ Marathon, Sugarland TX, 2:24:24 seconds for 13.1 miles
2014 Musclemania Universe, Fort Lauderdale FL, 2nd Place Pro Short Division
2015 USAFIT Kickin Asphalt ½ Marathon, Sugarland TX, 2:28:10 seconds for 13.1 miles
2015 Musclemania Universe, Fort Lauderdale FL, 2nd Place Pro Short Division
2016 Tough Mudder, Pensacola FL, Finisher

Around 2013, I took another massive risk and opened up my own facility in the heart of Memorial. A few of my clients were also business mentors and told me if I build it, people will come. They too expressed the same words of wisdom my UofH guidance counselor gave me back in 2001 about following my passion and that success will follow if I put in the honest work and effort. I am happy to say that it has been 4 and 1/2 years and my business is doing well. During that time from 2011 till 2017, I got back into continuing my education and earned the following.

Master Certifications as a Corrective Exercise Specialist, Senior Fitness Specialist, Performance Enhancement Specialist and Behavior Change Specialist through National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM).

Post Rehab Certification as a Medical Exercise Specialist through American Academy of Health and Fitness Rehab Professionals (AAHFRP).

I want to take this time to thank all those who have supported me up to this point and in return, I will continue to grow as a Post Rehab Medical Exercise Professional, Personal Trainer and Gym Owner. I will continue to do everything I can to offer the best possible service to help any and all individuals improve their fitness and wellness.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
No, it has been very difficult.Here are some of the hardships that I had to overcome over the years.

My parents were very negative about me choosing to become a fitness professional vs an engineer. Making less than $25,000 from the years of 2004 to 2006 once I left 24 Hour Fitness in 2004. Having to get a second job to make ends meet. Trying to build my brand working as an independent trainer out of other’s facilities from 2004 till 2012. Getting married in 2011 and my wife and I paid 100% of for it. Taking the risk and starting my own business owning my own facility in 2013. Becoming a father in 2016.

We’d love to hear more about your business.
What do I do? I own and run the Post Rehab/Athletic Performance Facility TI Health and Fitness. I work as a Nutritionist, Strength and Conditioning Coach and a Medical Exercise Professional.

What do I specialized in? I help people manage their medical condition with exercise as a Post Rehab Medical/Corrective Exercise Specialist. Once the client overcomes their injury, I transition them to functional training that gets them back to doing normal activities of daily living. With other clients, I show them how to approach nutrition and training so that they can reach their genetic potential in their hobby/sport without the use of PEDs (performance enhancing drugs).

What are you most proud of as a company? Having one of the cleanest faculty in all of Houston and providing a service that bridges wellness and fitness through medical exercise training.

What sets you apart from others? My level of education and personal knowledge I have gain as a fitness professional and medical exercise professional. As I have been told before, many people “talk the talk” but those who truly are leaders must “walk the walk”. I hope my actions for the past 20 years is a good representation of that.

What were you like growing up?
I was pretty wild and I like taking a lot of risk. I was not very studious back them but love learning now (guess I finally matured). The more physical contact a sport had, the more I loved it. Football was my favorite. Things never came easy for me. To learn anything whether it be education based or sport based, I had to rely on putting in more effort vs the next person to do well. Natural talent may have its advantages in the beginning of life but work ethic because more important later in life. I have been involved in martial arts since I was 8 years old. I am not a master in any field and just a practitioner in the arts of Karate, Muay Thai, Kali Escrima, Jun Fan Jeet Kune Do and Wing Chun and Boxing. I was always big in support my local sports teams and still am today. Go Texans, Rockets, Astros and Coogs!!!

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