Published: June 10, 2010

Father & Son Personal Trainers Giving Clients A Second Chance

Tim Knox
Madison Magazine

How does the former leader of one of the toughest street gangs in Los Angeles become one of the top martial artists and personal trainers in the country? The road has been a long one, but those who know Phillip Johnson well, both as a friend and a trainer, are glad his journey has brought him to North Alabama.

Phillip, now 54, immigrated to the US from the Philippines when he was 8 years old and quickly learned that he would have to defend himself on a daily basis in the tough neighborhoods around Compton and Los Angeles, California. He took up martial arts (his father was a black belt) and became known as “someone you didn’t want to mess with” in the neighborhood. Before the Cripps and Bloods came to being Phillip formed and led a feared gang in L.A. called “The Unbeatables.”

For the next few years Phillip was in and out of trouble with the authorities before finally admitting to himself that the life he had chosen – a life of crime and violence - was no longer the life he wanted to live. He focused his energy on sports and became a standout athlete in basketball and track and field. He went on to win numerous awards in martial arts, often training with Chuck Norris and other celebrity martial artists.

Once he became one of the top competitors in martial arts he turned his attention to a new goal: becoming a professional body builder and power weightlifter.

“I was always highly motivated by new challenges,” Phillip said. “I went from 120 pounds to 190 pounds; gaining 70 pounds of muscle in one year.” Phillip won several local power lifting competitions between 1983 and 1987, and went on to win national and world championships from 1993 to 2002.

“I trained at the legendary Gold’s Gym in Venice, California. There were always celebrities around; Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jean Claude Van Dam, and Sylvester Stallone – the gyms were full of celebrities in the ‘80s and ‘90s, all pumping iron for their movies.” In what some would call an ironic twist of fate, Phillip became a Deputy Sheriff for the county of Riverside, California. He used his physical and mental talents to enforce the laws he once sought to break. Phillip formally retired in 2007, then began looking for his next mountain to conquer.

“I had started training other martial artists and body builders as far back as 1974 and loved the process of taking a student from one level to the next; transforming their body and strengthening their character. When I retired from the police force in 2007, becoming a professional personal trainer just seemed like the next logical thing for me to do. I ended up in Huntsville because my wife (who was from Alabama) and I were tired of the hustle and bustle of California, not to mention the crime and high cost of living.”

Since moving to Alabama Phillip has quickly made a name for himself as one of the top trainers in the area. “My philosophy on fitness is that everyone has a responsibility to their own body to take care of it. The Bible even says that the body is the Temple of God and we should glorify God in our bodies. Being a born again Christian I feel very strongly about taking care of your body. To do so, I believe, one has to follow a recipe to fitness. Just like baking a cake, physical fitness requires a recipe consisting of motivation, consistency, weight training, cardio, and a good diet. Your cake will not come out right if you are missing one or more of the ingredients in the recipe.”

Phillip believes that physical fitness is ultimately about how long you live and the quality of life you have. “Obesity is a big problem in this country. Alabama is #2 in obesity next to Mississippi. Obesity can lead to heart disease and other health related issues and unfortunately, is often passed down from parents to children. Parents who don't care about their own health and fitness normally don't care about their kids’ health and fitness! We have to change that trend. Parents have to start developing good eating and fitness habits right way, and teach their kids to do the same.”

Speaking of parents setting a good example, Phillip’s son, Michael, was so impressed by the work his dad was doing in the fitness field that he, too, became a personal trainer and weight lifter, starting at the age of 14. “Michael started lifting weights when he was a freshman in high school and started competing in bench press contests,” Phillip says proudly. “He held numerous state and national records for his age and weight group. He also began training in martial arts at the young age of 4 and continued building his skills through high school.”

Now at age 28, Michael works side by side with his dad, training men and women of all ages. “Our clients range from kids to senior citizens,” Michael said. “We have men and women who want to lose weight and others who want to gain muscle and strength. We also work with obese clients and people with physical limitations. We can tailor a program to fit anyone’s needs.”

Phillip and Michael advise that you consult your doctor before starting any physical fitness regime. “If you’re serious about getting fit you should see your doctor first to make sure you’re physically able to exercise,” Phillip said. “Go to a gym for advice or consult a qualified personal trainer. Start slowly in a fitness program. Put together a good diet plan with foods that are good for you and gradually stop eating the things that are bad for you.”

“To be a truly effective personal trainer requires that we know more than just what weights to lift and what foods to eat,” Michael said. “We focus on things like body fat reduction, toning, weight loss, body composition, and specific training for all types of athletes.

“Michael is also well versed in supplements, nutrition, and proper diet for weight loss and body fat reduction,” Phillip added. “He went to school for nutrition and knows about the proper vitamins and minerals that the body needs to be healthy and perform at its maximum ability.”

When asked if he’s happy with how his life has turned out Phillip Johnson just smiles. “You do a lot of crazy things when you’re a kid. Lucky for me I got a second chance. That’s what my son and I try to give our clients everyday; another chance to get healthy and fit.”

Editor’s note: Phillip and Michael Johnson will be submitting articles on health, fitness and nutrition in upcoming issues of Madison Magazine. To inquire about their services call Phillip at (951) 970-7635 and Michael at (951) 216-1687 or email info@madisonalmagazine.com .