If you are passionate about calisthenics, you probably already know Chris Heria.
But do you know that behind its dazzling success hides a history marked by obstacles and trials that almost called everything into question?
Discover the incredible journey of Chris Heria, the man who overcame the obstacles to become a true inspiration in the world of fitness.
His origins
It’s Chris Heria born December 21, 1991 in Miamiin Florida, in a family of diverse and interesting origins, her father is Cuban and her mother Chinese.
Together with her brother Stefan, they spend most of their time outdoors with friends listening to music. Miami’s mild and sunny climate fosters his love for outdoor activities.
From an early age, his parents enrolled him in martial arts, where he discovered much more than punching and kicking techniques.
Chris’ teachers use gymnastic exercises to strengthen their students’ bodiesemphasizing the abdominal belt, where, according to them, all the strength comes from.
Thus, from the age of seven, Chris and his buddies who train diligently already have well-defined abs.
Besides physical strength, martial arts instilled in Chris essential values such as discipline and perseverance.
He learns to set goals and work hard to achieve them.
After graduating from San Brendan High School at the age of 20, Chris discovered a video on YouTube that fascinated him: a man performing a muscle-up.
This movement impressed him enormously and he began to practice ball in mind to succeed in executing it.
He begins to train in a park near his home, far from suspecting that a few years later he would become one of the most famous calisthenics athletes in the world.
His beginnings in calisthenics
During his first year of training, Chris focuses on building a strong base of strength.
However, he is not content with just building muscle and is quickly looking to perform more advanced moves.
On the beach, sitting in the sand, Chris undertook L pull-ups, using an upper grip to raise himself as high as he could.
This bold approach allows him to perform the famous muscle-up.
What has always distinguished Chris Heria, it is his determination to go beyond conventions.
From the start of his career, he opted, for example, for the use of a weighted vest.
It was inspired by animated series like Dragon Ball Z, where the characters use weighted training outfits, that he decided to adopt this practice.
Following mastery of the muscle-up, Chris embarks on thelearning new advanced movements.
He manages to execute the plank with bent arms, the back lift and even the front lift.
To strengthen his core and feel more comfortable in the back lever, he even adds a unique twist to his training: he performs back kicks while maintaining the position.
Just that.
Bar Stars
In 2012, Chris Heria’s career took a decisive turn when he joined the emblematic group of the Bar Stars.
Sponsored, he flew to Riga, Latvia, to participate in his very first calisthenics competition.
Although it is not the strongest and he has not yet mastered spectacular figures such as front pull-ups or the plank, he knows how to stand out and wins several of the awards.
Its real strength lies in its staging and in its ability to captivate the crowd.
Before returning to Miami, Chris took part in several masterclasses, notably at the famous pull-up gym in Newark, where he had the opportunity to meet the légende Hannibal For King (see our article on where he’s become), and at the Fit Expo in Los Angeles, where he continues to make a name for himself and expand his network.
At this point, Chris isn’t sure where all these opportunities may lead him, but he loves what he does, and knows he’s in the right place.
He juggles his professional responsibilities, devoting time to his clients while training himself between each session.
He meets new people who share the same passion and publishes tutorials on the Bar Stars channelwhich is already beginning to attract attention.
Recognizing the potential of this visibility, Chris decides to start his own YouTube channelwhich he dubs “The Miami Trainer,” where he shares motivational videos featuring Bar Stars.
One of the most significant competitions of Chris’ career was the World Cup in Germany, where he won the honorable second place, qualifying him for the World Cup Super Finals which took place. held in Moscow at the end of 2013.
In parallel, the members of the Bar Stars organize numerous workshops across Europe, stopping over in Austria, Switzerland and Finland to pass on their expertise.
Chris’ life is in full swing and nothing can stop him.
He also participates in the world championship in Riga, where he once again represents the United States.
Although he did not win this competition, he knows full well that each participation is an opportunity to increase its notoriety.
As a true showman, he also offers a breathtaking performance that arouses a lot of admiration.
His evolution
Besides his sports career, Chris Heria has proven to be an accomplished entrepreneur.
In 2012, at the age of 23, he opens the very first indoor gym dedicated entirely to calisthenicsdubbed Gai Snake’s Evolution.
This audacious initiative is a real opportunity that he was able to seize.
Over the years, Chris continues to participate in competitions, lead workshops and travel to different countries.
Son coaching is highly valued by its clients and his reputation grew.
At the same time, he continues to train, and masters more and more advanced movements such as the full plank, the front lift and other dynamic figures.
In 2014, Chris met Oswaldo Lugones, who became one of his best friends and a regular collaborator in the production of videos.
At this time, he replaced his first gymnasium with a new gym called Calisthan’s Academy.
He is also continuing to develop his business, Thenx, a website offering training programs, tutorials and daily workouts.
In May 2016, Chris took another major step by opening the Thenx Fitness Studioan even larger and more impressive installation than the previous one.
His success was then at its peak..
The Youtube channel from Thenx is starting to offer highly sought-after tutorials, such as the best exercises to master the handstand, muscle-up and plank.
These videos stand out for their quality and are rapidly gaining popularity.
In addition to the Thenx channel, Chris and his team launch their own workout appwhich allows many people to get in shape.
They collaborate with the Miss or Bandit brand to create specialist gear, including wrist straps and a weighted vest called Harry Upper.
In just two years, the Thenx chain has over 2 million subscriberswhich is a testament to Chris Heria’s growing impact and influence in the field of calisthenics.
Despite this meteoric rise, Chris remains an accessible person.
He continues to regularly organize workshops around the world, in order to allow his fans to meet him in person.
Caught in an ambush
Despite all his conquests, the life of Chris Heria has also been marked by dramatic events.
When his son Zen was born in 2011, he faced a difficult situation with the child’s mother.
Chris revealed on Reddit that this relationship was toxic and that life had become a real hell for him before the birth of his son.
According to him, Zen’s rather indecisive mother gave him a heartbreaking ultimatum: marry her immediately or lose all contact with her and their child.
Chris refused to give in to the pressure and they broke up, which forced him to take legal action to protect his parental rights.
However, the problems did not end there.
After his breakup, Chris started dating another woman, but their romance took a dark turn one traumatic night.
While they were outside an establishment drinking, Chris was violently attacked by a man who pushed him from behind.
In a gesture of self-defense, Chris defended himself with his martial arts skills and managed to neutralize his attackers.
However, things took an even scarier turn when the same attackers, accompanied by reinforcements, chased Chris down an alley, completely encircling it.
In a desperate act to save his life, Chris was forced to use his strength, causing minor injuries to one of the offenders.
Chris’ life was turned upside down when he was arrested by the police a few months later.
He was wrongly taken to the police station, where he discovered thathe was the victim of a false story concocted by the attackers and Zen’s mother.
The charges against him were baseless, but he faced months of uncertainty and the threat of losing everything if found guilty.
Despite this difficult period, Chris continued to devote himself to his sporting career, drawing strength from his passion and love for his son.
Fortunately, the truth finally triumphed and Chris was found innocent by the court.
This legal victory marked a turning point in her life, allowing her to rebuild herself and continue to pursue her dreams.
Chris has become a symbol of resilience and successinspiring many through his tumultuous journey.
Currently
Today, Chris Heria continues to lead a vibrant and diverse life.
He became more active on his second personal channelwhere he shares funny videos involving YouTube stars and engages in playful challenges like trying to do a wheelie on his bike or trying “not to laugh”.
However, his passion for fitness still remains at the heart of his content.
In 2019, Chris was recognized for his influence in the field of fitness and wellness by winning the Fitness and Wellness Influence Awards in Monaco.
Apart from calisthenics and his travels, he has a passion for skateboarding.
He also has an affinity for music, having played electric guitar in a band in his youth. His musical passion even led him to record a few songs and meet the famous Tim Henson.
His relationship with his son Zen has remained strong, and he continues to train with the goal of reaching new heights.
He remains unconditionally one of the most famous and accomplished street workout athletes in the world.
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