What to expect from this fitness column

Welcome dear reader to Yahoo! Philippines' fitness column. Before we begin, let me introduce myself. My name is Chappy Callanta, though most people know and call me simply as Coach Chappy. I've been in the fitness industry for 13 years, though I'm only 28. I started out as an apprentice to my father, Hercules Callanta, also a strength and conditioning coach and someone I fondly refer to as the father of Philippine fitness.

After a few years of helping my dad out with his personal clients and professional sports teams, I started getting clients of my own. I took my bachelor's degree in Sports Science in University of the Philippines College of Human Kinetics where I was under the tutelage of, again, my dad. You can say that it runs in the family. I graduated not with honors but with just enough knowledge and teaching experience to start taking in more personal clients and even handling a few basketball teams. I learned how to work with kids from my time in Coach Eric Altamirano's Coach E basketball school. I became a certified strength and conditioning specialist under the National Strength and Conditioning Association which really, is just cool because I can put the letters CSCS after my name whenever I give a talk.

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Then, about three years ago, I was approached by a group of friends who wanted to put up a fitness center that was unique and would cater to young busy individuals. As fate would have it, I started experimenting with a few workouts for my basketball team at that time which I found was being very effective (though not in the win-loss column, still the kids got stronger faster and leaner). To make an already long story short, this was the birth of our fitness center, 360 Fitness Club.

I would like to think that we changed the fitness world because at that time, functional fitness was just being practiced by sports coaches, physiotherapists and a select group of teachers and trainers. Nowadays, you see a lot of functional fitness centers going up and people are starting to get smarter when it comes to choosing the right ways to get fit. Whenever I talk to clients and give lectures, I always stress this: Functionality before Aesthetics. Trust me, when you train to improve your function (the way you move, work, play, and ultimately live), that dream body that you've always wanted, will come with it (given of course that your dream body is realistic and healthy. Remember, strong is the new sexy).

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So, now that we've been acquainted, let me tell you what you can expect in my column.

First, expect a lot of myth-busting and "corrective teaching" (really just a better way of saying "sermon"). I spend a lot of time with my clients correcting bad form and unlearning bad habits. This is why it's good to start young and start right. I learned how to snatch a barbell at age 12, and don't worry, I still grew 5 inches after that. See that? Myth Busted.

Second, expect a lot of instructional videos and pictures. I love technology and I love making videos ,in general. Actually, my first choice going into college was a film course, so I try to harness my inner Tarentino from time to time.

Third, you can ask me questions. I'll try to answer a couple every week. I'll be choosing of course questions that are interesting and will be very beneficial to the majority of readers. Also, I won't be entertaining medical or rehab questions. Prehab, sure, but if you're injured, get it treated by a specialist first.

And finally, expect up to date information on the latest fitness trends and practices. Even though I have my fitness regimen set, I try to experiment as much as I can to see which routines work and which will just give you a bad back ache the day after.

All in all, expect your beliefs to be challenged and yourself to improve. Because at the end of the day, that's what we coaches are here for.

In the meantime, for questions, you may reach me on Twitter: @chappycallanta.

For more fitness tips, visit Chappycallanta.wordpress.com

Editor's note: The blogger's views do not represent Yahoo! Southeast Asia's position on the topic or issue being discussed in this post.