Hi, I’m Samuel Cheong, I’m a jumprope enthusiast. Because of the love of sport, I got myself NROC Jumprope coaching qualification. I’m 41, married to my wife Kelly and father of 2 lovely kids, Harold and Horace.
What made you pursue the career path you are now on? What was the main catalyst?
I had a bone spur on my left ankle some 11 years ago and had it removed via surgery. After the operation, I needed a physiotherapist to get my ankle to normal walking condition. It was then I realized i need more than physio, I need to get my fitness back
Do you recommend getting a fitness qualification/certification over gaining actual experience first, and why?
It is like a driving test. You need to get the correct theory and concept to know what is it all about. From there, you can pursue your interest.
What does your typical day look like? Is it as fun and smooth as it often looks?
I would wake up early to start my day with 30 minutes of exercise, fasted. Either with jumprope or kettlebells, sometimes both. It is not always fun, but I needed to start my day right.
How did recent advances in tech & innovation helped you elevate your career, what are some examples? Is it always positive?
It allows me to look back where I should do my posture correctly. It is always on the good note.
How do you define success, and what are some of the challenges you had to overcome?
Success is never give up, just start and refine along the way. If you fail to start, you fail to see the potential in yourself.
What is your mission, and what are your values and aspirations?
My mission is to inspire my kids or young children to have fun and fitness while growing up. I want to introduce as many sports as possible to aspire them to have an athlete mindset and values which can be used in their daily life.
Who do you look up to in terms of learning from and who’s your ‘idol’?
I always look at Micheal Jordan and Kobe Bryant as their quotes and motivation speeches which they trained to dominate the game.
What are you biggest challenges to overcome with your client
Sometimes, clients might get defensive while trying to learn new things. Thus I had to be unusually more patient than dealing with my kids.
What do you enjoy most about your career?
The knowledge and techniques which I can coach and teach to clients and learners, making sure they are able to cope without me
What products and tools do you like to use in your practice?
Jumprope, kettlebells, and iphones for video postures.
What do you do on your spare time? How do you invest your time?
I love to read. I would set time and schedule on what tasks I should do and complete, if unable, I will try to squeeze.
What does your training regimen look like?
I always starts with 30 mins of jumprope. At least 3 times per week of resistance training.
Why did you get into the fitness industry?
After my operation, I needed to get my fitness back. Upon doing so, I realized the potential of coaching or teaching others the importance of fitness will enable longevity of their life. Thus I would want to be the one to lead these groups of people along.
What is your fitness specialty and why?
I use jumprope as my fitness tool. It is what I enjoy most.
How relevant are fitness qualifications/certifications today?
I think that certifications demonstrate a foundational understanding of anatomy, physiology, training principles, and safety guidelines, ensuring trainers provide evidence-based and safe fitness advice, reducing the risk of injury for clients.
What is your preferred style of encouragement towards clients?
Persuasive and demonstration before clients starts.
What are some of your top tips to pass to current and/or emerging Exercise Professionals?
I would say never give up and always pursue new knowledge to understand and learn about the current trend