Hieu Mai
Hieu specialises in building foundations while correcting technique and movement patterns. With Nutrition, he helps you create and sustain new habits, so you’ll be equipped with principles and foundations to accommodate your lifestyle. Whether it’s to move free of injury, staying healthy and active, to become a bodybuilder, compete in powerlifting, improve your sport, building this overall solid foundation will hold you in good stead to specialise in whatever area you may please.
Certifications
- Cert 3 & 4 in Fitness @ Wyn Training
- Bachelor in Health Science – Nutrition Major / Sports Science Minor
- Australia Strength and Conditioning Association ASCA 1
- Nutrition Society Australia Registration – Associate Nutritionist (ANutr)
Hieu’s Journey
To read more about how it all started, where it all began and how ON21 came about, please take a few moments and read my timeline. It will hopefully give you perspective on your own journey and give you all a deeper understanding on really why I do what I do.
For some reason, this is the year I remember growing up. I was 7 years old. In grade 2, playing cricket everyday and sometimes footy. Before school started, i remember playing in the courtyard, during lunch time, they were the only sports i played, and after school, i remember setting up bins, wickets, bats to practise in my front yard.
Looking back, it was crazy how obsessed I was. I loved both sports, there would always be a ball in my hand. I’m still not sure why I chose both these sports. No one in my family played. I just absolutely enjoyed playing both. They both required speed, which is what I’m truly fascinated about to this day.
The year where I entered high school. I remember crying on my first day. I didn’t know anyone from my primary school, except for one friend who I played cricket and football with. I was so skinny, I remember looking like a kid that was constantly being underfed. Thinking about it, genetics aside, I would say my output was definitely outweighing my input. My activity levels were through the roof and I didn’t eat enough to compensate.
I continued to mostly play cricket. I remember playing in the nets with the year 12’s. I joined the school cricket team and wanted to be a fast bowler like Brett Lee. He was my idol growing up. I remember watching the 2003 world cup. He was simply amazing. Bowling consistently in the 150km/h mark reaching 160km/h and dominating every single game he played. For anyone that doesn’t really understand cricket, reaching these speeds is rare. He did this for 10+ years in his career, and it’s a testament to his love and passion for speed over a great career. I loved how he played on the field. He had aggression and pace like fire. More importantly, off the field he was a gentleman. It wasn’t just about cricket for him. It was being multi faceted. Not one dimensional.
Coming from an Asian background, sport isn’t a big thing for us. I knew my parents weren’t big on me pursuing cricket or footy. So naturally I picked up a new obsession. Computers. I bought computer parts and built computers. I played games like Warcraft, Dota and Counter Strike. I still continued to play cricket and football, but computers were something that grew on me and was now something I considered to study furthermore in school.
I continued to play cricket and football almost every single day. It was something that i heavily considered taking on more seriously as it was something I thoroughly enjoyed outside of school. I loved both sports. I would always have a ball in my hand. Before school started, I would practice, after school I would practice. I would play and practice because I loved it and I wanted that continual progression. It felt like it was more than just a hobby. Until at the age of 17 i was diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis. I remember waking up and not being able to walk. Strangest feeling ever. My mum rushed me to the ER and after hours and hours of testing and scans no one could figure out what was wrong. That was until I was referred to a knee and hip specialist and a Rheumatologist. It was then through various MRI?s and blood tests that I was HLA-B27 positive.
I remember having a severe stiff back, swollen ankles, stomach upsets, sore joints to the point I couldn’t play cricket or footy any more. That was probably one of my biggest down points in my life. It felt like something that i was so connected to so badly was taken away from me just like that.
I knew I couldn’t just sit there and sulk, cry and feel sorry for myself. I needed some progression in my life. I needed to find what my body was able to do in terms of mobility and strength while keeping my joints strong and happy. That’s where weight training came into play. I sought out my first Strength Coach, Markos at PTC. Someone who I highly respect and have so much to thank for. I wouldn?t be the person I am today without this man.
Not only did he teach me how to start lifting correctly, but he taught me what hard work is. What effort is. I signed up for his newsletters, I did 4 hour round trips to go see him via public transport. I just wanted to consume as much knowledge as I could and I couldn’t be more grateful. Thats where my journey truly begins for me after cricket and footy. That?s where I think I’ve found my new passion.
At this time, I was also at a very confusing crossroad. I was studying computer systems engineering at university and I was just going with the flow with no sense of direction. I can honestly say I did it for my parents. I didn?t do it for me. When I truly came to terms with this, this is where my life began to change.
I made the decision to instantly withdraw from university. Not defer like you can go back, but withdraw. No turning back. I know people at the time we?re telling me I should have deferred. But that?s doing 50%. I remember my uncle specifically telling me something that I will never forget. ?Whatever you do in life, do it 100%. Never 50, 60, 70, 90. Only 100%?. There was no plan B. There was only plan PASSION. I took a year off of studying, and I just focussed on myself and lifting. This is how my personal development journey started.
During this time, I was still struggling with my ankylosing spondylitis. It didn?t allow me to train to my full potential but it still allowed me to progress. Sitting for prolonged periods was painful. My back would get so stiff doing squats and deadlifts which limited my volume capabilities.
I always knew I wanted to study again, but it had to be something I was truly interested in.?That’s where I figured I wanted to study something with sport, training and nutrition. I enjoyed reading about these topics and I thought if I could learn and apply it, I would be able to help others who are battling their own struggles. I started by doing the general cert 3 and 4 in fitness, then once I completed that I enrolled into a Bachelor’s Degree majoring in Nutrition with a Sports Science minor. I then completed my ASCA lvl 1 S&C and did my registration with Nutrition Society of Australia. Throughout this time, I also continued to see and do some work experience with dietitians and high level S&C coaches and to this day i am still learning.
Now that?s my story, and with my story I wanted to create an impact. An impact that would help others create their own story of courage, love, passion with your own definition of success. This is where ON21 comes about. I found that how you develop your habits over time is the biggest driver for your growth. This is why there are 2 meanings. First, ON TWENTY ONE. We all know that saying, ?it takes 21 days to change a habit?. What i?ve learnt from disciplined training is that habits over a prolonged period of time is where your results eventuate. It’s not the amount of work you do on that single day, it’s the amount of work you accumulate over 1 week, 2 weeks, 1 month, 2 months, 1 year is where you will see results. That is what I want to help people with. Putting in the work over a prolonged period of time. Letting delayed gratification do all the talking.
The second meaning is ON TWO ONE. Combining my story and my on going journey with my training discipline to create purpose. Because I believe disciplined training relates to everything in life. If you can apply discipline in one aspect of your life, ?the way you do one thing is the way you do everything else?. You need disciplined nutrition with disciplined training to achieve the body of your dreams. It?s realising that no single action is good enough. It?s habits stacked over time that will ultimately support your growth along with your actions.
#ON21