Meet Richard V. Tong | Fitness Coach

We had the good fortune of connecting with Richard V. Tong and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Richard V., we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
There came a point in my life when my past, present, and future all combined to create an optimal professional venue. I was fortunate to have the opportunity to optimize my years of experience working in various fields such as entertainment, fashion, health, and fitness with my four year Exercise Science degree and multiple accreditations (including ACSM) to create RichardSport.com, a multi-level management company to meet the demands of an ever-changing and evolving sports and fitness media industry. A major studio approached me to produce and direct their series of health and fitness pilots saying that, while they had a plethora of candidates with certifications, they had few who actually possessed the combination of degrees, accreditations, and experience in media. The next thing I knew several corporations were asking me to produce fitness segments, photo shoots, evaluate/critique content, and manage talent.

A conundrum of the Fitness Industry is that just about anyone can call themselves a “coach”, “trainer”, or “fitness specialist” with little or no actual relevant education, accreditation and many people succeed very well in the field with only esoteric qualifications. There’s only a small percentage of professionals who actually have 4 year Kinesiology/Exercise Science degrees while other possess credentials that were obtained in a few hours or at a weekend workshop.

The human body is an intricate and complex system and merits professionals with the highest knowledge, skills, and abilities to offer it programming that may have immediate and long lasting results. The field of Exercise Science is absolutely fascinating to me and is constantly evolving . It’s therefore very exciting to convey my passion to a broad population.

What should our readers know about your business?
A commitment to excellence can take you anywhere and everywhere in this world however dabbling will only delay your efforts. Being state of the art, cutting edge, and on top of our game is what attracts people to RichardSport.com. Honest critics appreciate hard work and quality and I learned at an early age that time is precious and to never do anything half-heartedly. I trained with a professional theatre company, attained a 4 year Exercise Science Degree from the University of San Francisco, and hold the highest credentials in my fields. The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) is considered the Gold Standard of the fitness industry and I was awarded a scholarship to study and sit for their Exercise Physiologist exam. Many of our clients are Fortune 500 companies, celebrities, and knowledgeable everyday people who want pure quality. I’ve been fortunate to develop and maintain lasting working relationships with a wide range of clients though my work in media, fashion, fitness, and television. Your professional reputation can and will follow you across different industries and, in order to be a respected professional, one has to be able to succeed in a broad range of venues. I have actually obtained several of my castings and bookings from gym members who were also producers, directors, and agents!

I’ve worked with billionaires, Fortune execs, Moms and Dads, and people who are homeless, and regardless of resources, most everyone wants and appreciates a service that is 100%. You never know who a person might be and what is their profession or business.

When it comes to fitness media content evaluation, we at RichardSport.com like to follow our “3-6-9 Rule” that addresses the taxonomy of human movement. A skilled trainer/instructor needs to modify/transition an exercise/training session/class to be suitable for a 30, 60, or 90 year old client/participant. Many of the movements presented in media, especially those that are pre-formatted/choreographed, are suitable for 18-28 year old individuals but overlook the needs of a wider audiences. For example consider a “push-up” exercise which some people may have difficulty executing. By following a “human movement taxonomy” it can be modified from a standard push-up to a standing push-up with your hands braced against a wall, or a push-up with both knees on the floor or a seated one with your hands braced against a table in order to appeal to many different fitness abilities. By presenting more options/modifications to an exercise, the movement thereby becomes more “inclusive” to different fitness abilities rather than “exclusive.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
North San Diego totally ROCKS my world!

I would definitely begin our tour with a visit to one of the most beautiful and ethereal places in Southern California, the Meditation Gardens at the Self Realization Fellowship in Encinitas. You truly can spend hours there, languishing in peaceful, silent bliss, and connecting with your higher self, amongst exquisite landscaping, koi gardens, and stunning views of the coast (you might even see me surfing in the ocean below). From the SRF, we would walk one block down and have a yummy brunch at my favorite eatery, Union Kitchen and Tap! Downtown Encinitas is also filled with so many fun, funky, and cool small businesses. We could probably spend way too much time, and money, shopping at Hansen’s Surfboards. They have the most amazing selection of surf gear and apparel. During the sunset I’d also recommend a beach walk, during the low tide, from Grandview Beach to Moonlight Beach and back and then driving to Del Mar for some brilliant Japanese food at Shimbashi Izakaya!

We’d also spend time exploring all the many hiking trails that San Diego has to offer! Elfin Forrest has several brilliant trails that are suitable for many fitness levels, especially if you love hills. The San Elijo Lagoon Ecological Reserve is great if you prefer a flat course and also if the weather is too hot inland. I’d highly recommend spending a few days at La Casa Del Zorro in Borrego Springs. It is a first rate resort that’s also dog friendly, and their Casitas are fantastic. The hiking in Anza Borrego is breathtaking and so is a visit to Salvation Mountain and the Salton Sea!

No visit to San Diego would be complete without spending time in La Jolla. I’d recommend waking up early, parking at La Jolla Cove, and scoring some fun freediving and snorkeling sessions during the mid to low tide, providing that the ocean is calm. There’s also some delicious eateries that are close by such a Cody’s (dog friendly and has killer Fish and Chips), Osteria Romantica for Italian, and Bubba’s Smokehouse for finger licking good BBQ!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I am eternally grateful to so many people in my life and strive to honor the blessings that I have received and continue to receive. I’ve never thought of myself as being a formidable person but early on many people saw the potential in me that I didn’t see in myself. There are many who worked behind the scenes on my success and loved ones who backed me, and who had faith in me, even when I lacked faith in myself, and even when I failed. My parents were always there for me and it was an honor to be there for both of them in their final moments. In my five decades of life one of the most important lessons I’ve learned is that “Karma IS Real”. A fundamental principle in physics states that “energy is neither created nor destroyed” and one seriously gets back what one puts out in the universe.

In my 30’s, when I returned to school to attain my Exercise Science degree, I had a meeting with my favorite agent. He asked why I was only attending classes half time and I told him that I was caring for both of my elderly parents who had health issues and also committing all of my spare time to go on tour to raise money and awareness for AIDS charities. He got a sort of soft look in his eyes and said, “Well, that’s brilliant.” He didn’t tell me that he was dying and a few months later he was gone. He also didn’t tell me that he had arranged several of my future bookings for commercials and to film a TV pilot and I am so thankful for his, and his associates, belief in me. I have a wide and diverse range of professional contacts and I continuously aim to cultivate positive, beneficial, and lasting relationships with all of them, including the ones who have been my clients for over two decades.

My beloved spouse has always been my “Rock of Gibraltar” and I love, honor, and cherish each and every moment that we have because nothing in life is guaranteed. All that you have can be taken away from you, in a nanosecond, which is why it’s so very important to never take those you love for granted and to always be appreciative of their gifts of hope, faith, and passion. Heck, I’m even grateful to my naysayers. Rather than dampening my spirit with their jealousy, doubts, and harsh, unfair criticisms, I’m actually uplifted because they inspire me with greater courage and resolve to believe in my work, my soul, and my journey and to be better because of it!

Website: www.RichardSport.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/richardsport/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-v-tong-6513735/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/RSportMedia

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rsportmedia/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCS47KFlpLFY97u_Llpoyifw

Image Credits
RichardSport.com Lisa Keisler Photography