Coach Paul Atienza was born in the Philippines and moved to the Bay Area at age 6. He got into fitness through wrestling. Paul’s experience with the sport’s physical and mental demands, along with his kinesiology education, helped shape him into the coach he is today.
His interest in wrestling was sparked by watching the WWE (the largest professional wrestling and sports entertainment company). One of his idols you may know is Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. He wrestled all throughout high school.
In the gym, Coach Paul’s favorite exercises are the barbell back squat and pull-ups because they are his strongest lifts.
Outside of holding down the gym, you’ll find him hanging out with his cats, exploring new restaurants around the Bay Area, or at church.
Fun fact: His secret talent is being an exceptionally talented drummer. Give him almost any song, and he can pick it out by ear. Jazz is the one exception, and he’ll be the first to admit it.
One of Paul’s favorite quotes is “Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop.”
In the near future, Coach Paul has some big goals. He’ll be the first to say that his goal is to ensure his parents are well taken care of. Having grown up as the youngest in his family and been well cared for, he believes in giving back and caring for his loved ones. He also would like to explore more of the world, visiting countries such as Italy, Greece, and Japan.
If you happen to come across Coach Paul in or outside the gym, don’t be afraid to say hi. (He’ll probably beat you to it!)
– Written by Coach Vincent Nguyen
