“The gym culture is still very immature in Malaysia.” This was what gym enthusiast Zhi Dong thought of the local scene upon returning from Japan after spending three years there.
Zhi Dong, who is currently pursuing his studies in Agricultural Management, was impressed by how established the gym industry was in Japan. Not only did the Japanese cultivate the habit of taking care of their health, they also hit the gym regularly with a professional trainer by their side.
Having immersed in such a well-developed gym culture, Zhidong aspired to do the same in Malaysia too.
With this idea in mind, Zhi Dong continued to observe on the gym culture in other countries such as Taiwan and the Philippines during his 2019 trip.
How it all started
Zhi Dong returned to Malaysia last February to acquire his ACE personal trainer certificate. His original plan was to go back to Japan after a two-week stay but he was forced to stay put due to the pandemic.
Despite the setback, Zhi Dong did not stay idle and began training others in order to gain experience as a gym instructor, giving out free courses to those who couldn’t afford a personal trainer. He also reached out to several friends who were involved in the business and slowly built a web of connections within the industry.
Knowing that he would need to go back to Japan to finish his studies, Zhi Dong did not want to waste the knowledge he had acquired and decided to start his own personal training business, Now Or Never Fitness.
Setting a vision
Zhi Dong’s vision for his team is to provide professional one-on-one personal training done by certified instructors. While the main target audience are affluent customers, Zhi Dong and his team wish to include the student without income too.
“We are currently planning on introducing courses that will help students understand the basics of working out. Instead of imposing a schedule on them, we will encourage them to devise their own training plan which they can do at their own pace,” he said.
He added that he and his team have been researching for the past three months in designing the courses with the goal of helping customers get fit, in contrast to spoon feeding them with fixed programs.
Thoughts on Fitness in Malaysia
“I believe that working out and being fit is not only beneficial for your body; it helps you be mentally strong too.” says Zhi Dong.
He also believes that keeping fit and working out regularly helps one in building self-discipline and self-confidence.
“You can acquire a strong body and a strong mind at the same time.”
One of Zhi Dong’s ultimate goal is to train Malaysia’s best athletes and catapult them to the international bodybuilding stage, a field that Malaysia’s falling behind due to the lack of professional training services.
Lastly, Zhi Dong said that he wishes everyone can discover their passion and work towards it, no matter whether it is a hobby or a dream.
“I think people need to work for the things they want. No matter whether it’s exercising or starting a business, you have to identify what makes you happy and act upon it!”
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Sources: (Foo Zhi Dong)
Editor: Raymond Chen
Proofreader: Sarah Yeoh