Zero‘s Heroes l Kirk Lawrence #38

In today’s episode, we talk with Kirk Lawrence, the bestselling author of Zero’s Heroes, the 1981 true story of when personal trainer Kirk Lawrence was hired by San Francisco 49ers tight end, Charle Young. Their backgrounds were like night and day, but for six months their training became legendary in the Niners organization. Charle’s results included leading a Niners team that went from “Laughable Losers to Super Bowl XVI Champions.” Fresno, CA, then gave him The Key to the City.  Kirk’s own transformation fueled his fitness career success. His story takes you from when he ran away as a teenager in the dead of night to where he meets Joanie Greggains and makes an impact on morning television. Kirk continued as a consultant to San Quentin prison, coaching fitness students around the world with IDEA, leading the 10,000 person Dole Cup tournament in Japan, being hired by UCSF Medical School to lead a 2 year study on women, exercise and preventing osteoporosis, and training America’s public school students with Raisin Youth Fitness, endorsed by Arnold Schwarzenegger and the then 1991 President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports.  Everyone wants to feel like a hero. But grit, persistence and determination alone make the difference. No matter what the situation, Kirk went on a coaching quest to be his best. His enduring message is to stick to the fight when you’re the hardest hit, it’s when things seem the worst-  Rest, but Don’t Quit!   ------------------ Kirk grew up, like many children today, in a family that started out like a dream and ended in a divorce. His parent’s divorce took place in January of 1965. He was stuck in a toxic environment, and as he got older, the question he needed to answer was how anyone could rise above the constant, toxic, negative divorce stress. He learned from tremendous instructors in Kenpo, Yoga, Wing Chun, weight training with Vince Gironda and Frank Zane, as well from the dance, ballet, and movement instructors at the American Conservatory Theater. He was a graduate of the famous bodybuilding camp, Zane Haven, in Palm Springs, California. These coaches helped Kirk make an impact on physical education and fitness training for men, women, and children.    1975              Black Belt, Chinese Kenpo         1979              1st Personal Training Client 1980              Marine World Conditioning 1981                NFL Personal                           Trainer/Flexibility Coach 1983                Morning Stretch TV                          Show, Music Coordinator 1984                Personal Fitness                          Specialist, Cooper Institute 1984                Men’s National                           Aerobics Champion (FitAerobics) 1984                Group Exercise                           Leadership, Cooper Institute 1985                California Department of Corrections                         San Quentin Prison 1986-1990      Continuing Education                           Provider, ACE 1989                Osteoporosis Exercise                           Research, Fitness Director University of California, San Francisco (UCSF)     Co-developed with     Nancy Lawrence,     Fitness Coordinator 1990-1993      Physical Education                         San Mateo/Foster City                           School District 1991-1992      “Raisin Youth Fitness”                         Endorsed by Arnold Schwarzenegger,                                          Chairman                           PCPFS, Co-developed with Nancy Lawrence   Today Kirk lives happily in Indianapolis, Indiana with Dianna, their three kids, and dog, Roscoe. Their best days lie ahead. He works as a courier for FedEx Express in Indianapolis, enjoying the teamwork and dedication to the FedEx “Purple Promise.”   You can find more about Kirk on his website at:  zeroonceheroforever.com