Today we’d like to introduce you to Eldrick Clapp.
Hi Eldrick, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I began my journey toward becoming a personal trainer back in May 2017 when I began my first internship at Fast Twitch Performance Training located in Miami, FL. This 3 month internship not only provided me with a lot of knowledge about the sports performance and training industry, but it also allowed me to connect with people in positions that could help me grow in my passion. Upon graduating from UCF with my Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology in 2019, I knew that I needed to get to a place where I enjoyed each moment of what I was doing. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit in spring 2020, I was forced to make a decision for my future. With gyms shutting down nationwide, I knew this was the perfect opportunity to provide the services that people were looking for. In June 2020, in the midst of very uncertain times, Gr8 Ape Performance was launched and I haven’t looked back since. Almost two years later I can definitely say that I’ve grown not only as a personal trainer, but as a man simply from understanding how to connect and motivate people each day. This career is everything to me, and I’m happy to say that I’m able to fully control my own future which is something not many people get to say.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
This road hasn’t been a smooth one at all. In December of 2015, I suffered a fractured left femur in a freak accident while playing football on UCF campus. I had hopes of walking onto the football team that following spring and earning a scholarship, but clearly there were greater plans for me. I was forced to forfeit my freshman year due to medical withdrawal and was out of school for an entire 9 months. Despite this setback, I wasn’t worried because I knew that it was only the beginning of a great story to come. I was lucky enough to meet Luke, my physical therapist at the time, who eventually turned out to be one of my biggest supporters and best friends. He and I worked for 8 months to get me back to full health and his passion for what he did made me even more motivated to pursue my own passions as well. Once I finally launched my business during 2020, I was still fighting battles that no one could see on the surface but I remained focused on my “why” more than my circumstances.
I am currently enrolled as a student at UCF in the Master’s of Science in Kinesiology program with plans to graduate in August 2022. Running my business as a full-time graduate student has been far from an easy task, but it’s been one that has taught me many lessons about myself along the way. Going from having a lot of personal battles physically and emotionally over the last few years, to seeing yourself finally knocking on the door of some huge accomplishments is a surreal feeling. These struggles have definitely added fuel and identity to my business, and my passion for it reaches everyone that I come in contact with.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Gr8 Ape Performance is a brand that operates on the mantra “PerformGr8”. We view this not only in the sense of physical fitness and health, but in all aspects of life. Whether it be in education, your career, family life, we aim to inspire you to be your best self and give 100% to anything that you do. We specialize in private personal training, online training, and bootcamps that are offered in-person and virtually. We have also added nutrition and wellness coaching to further support our clients along their journey toward sustained healthy lifestyles. What sets us apart from others is the level of passion and care that we have for each one of our clients. Here at Gr8 Ape Performance, once you decide to join the community of Gr8ness, you become a member of the PerformGr8 family. A lot of times, that sense of inclusion is all someone needs to reach new levels in life, and we make sure to cultivate success in all ways possible. I’m most proud of the way the members of my community have achieved success in their personal and professional lives. I’ve attended graduations, congratulated clients on job offers in their career fields, and seen confidence boosts in how they view themselves. All of these give me a great sense of satisfaction knowing that I’ve been grateful enough to play a role in their development. What I want readers to know is that my brand is as authentic as they come. I’m always going to stay true to myself and bring the Eldrick you all know and see on a daily basis to every part of my business endeavors. The most rewarding feeling is seeing success come while knowing that you did things your way.
What were you like growing up?
I’ve always been someone who cared about how people felt about themselves. All my life I’ve found myself motivating others to do better and be better, so it was only right that I found a career path where I was able to do this on a daily basis. On the surface I may look “intimidating”, but I’m actually a really funny and laid back guy once you interact with me. I love making people laugh by just being myself and I feel that I possess a lot of hidden talents that nobody knows about. I’ve always been an athlete since the age of 7 and I enjoy poetry and music. I’ve been writing poems since I’ve been about 13 years old, and now I have a book of over 50 poems that I’ve created over the years. I actually have aspirations of becoming a motivational speaker as well because I want to touch lives around the world. I always have envisioned myself speaking in front of hundreds of thousands of people in various cities just simply telling my life story and smiling at the fact that I’ve overcome so many obstacles that were thrown at me.
Pricing:
- Virtual Fit Camp – $5.00
Contact Info:
- Email: performgr8@gmail.com
- Website: https://linktr.ee/performgr8
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gr8apeperformance/
Image Credits
Powered VisionZ Photography
