EP 44 | Paul Christopher: "Good Energy Always Wins" | 10-year Pro Beach Volleyball Player and Founder of Gravity + Oxygen | Feb 17th South FL Dekafest Event Explained, Stepfather Experiences & Advice, Deka Training Race Tips

The Competitive Edge Podcast: Fatherhood | Fitness | Focus

Sign Up for Dekafest here in Sunny South FL (Outdoors event on turf field) DEKA FEST Summary In this episode, host Daniel Hickman interviews Paul Christopher, the founder of Gravity and Oxygen Fitness Gym and the organizer of DekaFest. They discuss the background of DekaFest and its purpose. They also talk about the experience of participating in DekaFest and the unique atmosphere of the event. The conversation covers event details, including the weather and the elite Deka fit. Overall, the episode highlights the energy and excitement of DekaFest. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Background 03:35 DekaFest Experience 06:18 Event Details and Weather 07:26 Elite DekaFit 08:37 The Energy and Atmosphere of DekaFest and more... Personal Bio: Paul Christopher has been an established fitness professional, operating in the Boca Raton area for over 20 years. A graduate of the University of Central Florida in 2000, Paul possesses credentials as a Certified Athletic Trainer (NATA-ATC), Certified Strength and Conditioning Coach (NSCA), and Certified Personal Trainer (NASM). His experience variety is a blend of orthopedic rehabilitation, sports performance, and personal training. Having gone well beyond his “10,000 hours” of practicing his passion and craft for exercise, he recognizes that your inner student never goes away, and the thirst for continual knowledge is a fundamental difference between Fitness Professionals and trainers. Paul is also intent on providing intelligent exercise by following movement science principles that cannot be ignored by any fitness enthusiast, and executed through artistic program design. In 2009 Paul founded the fitness brand/concept Gravity + Oxygen, as a grassroots off-season conditioning program for South Florida’s professional beach volleyball players, as well as a freelance FitPro locally. During these years, the trial and error of enhancing the group exercise experience was fostered. Fast forward to Feb 2015, to when Gravity + Oxygen Fitness opened its tangible doors for the first time. Located in East Boca Raton. The “GO House” aims to provide an experience that exceeds customer expectations. In over 9 years of existence, G + O has helped hundreds of clients reach their desired fitness goals. When not training or teaching mythical group classes at G + O, in his free time you can find Paul at the beach playing volleyball, planning his next world travel adventure, searching only the best music for class energy, and spending quality time with his wife Deanna and three sons. Favorite quote: “Man cannot endure without suffering, for he is both the marble and sculptor” GO-to healthy snack: Guacamole on Cucumber slices Best place ever traveled: It’s a tie! Iceland and Ibiza Full Name? *

Paul Christopher

Home City and State? *

Boca Raton, Florida.

Current Age? *

47.

Current Occupation/Employment? *

Founder / Owner Gravity + Oxygen Fitness.

How many kids do you have? Please include Gender ( No names needed) *

three sons: 20,18,7

What were your all-time biggest accomplishments as an athlete? *

Made all county in high school for indoor volleyball. Played open level (Semi professional) beach volleyball for 10 years. Finished third in Karch Kiraly’s professional Corona Light beach tournament in Fort Lauderdale Florida 2009. 2021 completed the Spartan Race and DEKAFIT trifectas

What are your biggest accomplishments in business or in your professional career? *

Single-handedly trained To indoor club volleyball organizations in the same year All levels. Opened the doors to Gravity + Oxygen Fitness in 2015, and have generated over $6 million in revenue in a space less than 3000 ft.².

What is your biggest accomplishment as a father (in regard to your family members)? *

My beautiful wife, Diana, who is a widow, honored me with the opportunity to raise her to young boys at an early age. I sincerely consider them my own sons now. Also blessed with a third biological 7-year old boy. As I’ve experienced all the traditional challenges of being a stepfather, I am embrace every day, trying to be a better person

How would you define "Competitive Edge"? *

I truly believe every human on earth is blessed with at least one superpower. The key is to recognizing what is yours, and using it to your advantage, in interpersonal relationships, career, and life overall

Optional: When did the competitive side of you begin? and please walk us through the sports you may have played as a kid into an adult

of course playing sports at an early age, caters already to a competitive dynamic. Training to play competitive volleyball while also maintaining a career was a unique dynamic now as a brick and mortar gym owner, in a very dense populated fitness area, thriving and surviving, has taken on an all new meaning of competition.

Optional: What was the dynamic with your parents? who brought you to sports and etc?

my mother raised me on her own, and was an athlete herself as a youth. She truly did her absolute best to play taxi driver, while played youth basketball baseball, and for that I am forever grateful. She was never that overbearing “soccer mom”. She allowed me to learn andplay and compete at my own well.

Optional: What is that quote or saying your parents always told you that sticks with you today?

My mom is always told me, “A ship in the harbor is safe, but that’s not what ships are meant for” immediately followed by “you can’t clap with one hand”. The idea that teamwork makes the dream work truly is how people can succeed. You can go alone, or far together.

Optional: What kind of competitive athletic events did you compete in before kids as an adult?

Of course, beach volleyball is a very unique sport, and an amazing environment. It truly is a lifestyle beyond competition.. As a recognized, I was hitting the sunset of my competitive arena in that, understanding I could separate myself in my age groups for competitive fitness became the new interest.

Optional: What did your training schedule look like before your kids?

Free, easy come by, allowing me to maintain a high-level of overall wellness. Now finding those gaps in life, schedule require efficiency of effort within those sessions. To truly help others, you must never forget to make time for yourself.

Optional: What kind of competitive events do you compete in now as a father?

DEKAFIT, HYROX, charity beach volleyball events + 5k’s. Spartan Races

Optional: What does your training schedule look like now as a father? (hours per week est)

Working Smarter not harder: The irony of being a gym owner yet training in my garage. We have a mini G + O in there: versa climbers, rack, echo bike, KBs. We live 200 yards from the ocean, so I do open swims once /week. Swimming is the greatest exercise of all time

Optional: How have you adapted/adjusted and what changes have you made competing and/or training as a father?

Now that my older sons are lifting, my focus is too still try to hang with them. Additionally, I intend to attempt the Crossfit open before I turn 50, maintaining base levels of strength are required. I see my swimming and mobility training as recovery maintenance.

Optional: What are some things or ways you stay present as a father balancing training and fatherhood?

As opposed to workouts without plan or structure, I try to focus on doing just one thing. That could be marble squats could be an 8 mile echo. Bike could be sled. Instead of having paralysis to over an analysis of a plan, better task, accomplishment. Bruce Lee famously said I fear not the man who learns 10,000 kicks one time, but yet the man who learns one kick 10,000 times.

Optional: Why do you train and/or compete? What drives that bug in you to compete?

To lead you must be willing to serve. As we are practitioners of fitness, and thus overall wellness, we must set the example.

Optional: What are the most notable improvements you’ve noticed from staying fit and/or competing in fitness events? What changes have you experienced that you would most likely brag about to a friend? What benefits do you get out of training and competing?

Betsy overall, my endurance has increased. The thought of running 5K, or doing four hour mud obstacle course races would not have been conceivable in my 20s when I focus on aerobic training for volleyball or aesthetics.

Optional: What kind of time management hacks have you conquered? Training in am or pm etc?

I found Training early morning in my garage works the best. Set the tone for the day, and will not be impacted by last minute needs or tasks at work

What advice would you have for those men out there that lost connection with their health when they finished competing as an athlete or as first-time dads that lost touch with their competitive edge and respect for the man in the mirror? *

Health is wealth, simple as that. Investing yourself, what better than paying yourself with the first hour of your day with Exercise. It has exponential beneficial tentacles throughout every sector of your life: emotional, social, psychological, professional.

Optional: If you were an animal, what animal represent your way of life or personality type the most?

Coincidentally, my spirit animal is a butterfly. Perhaps one of the most incredible creatures on earth. The fact they can transform from a worm into something that flies, is the epitome of evolution.

Optional: What big races, or events, coming up for you this year?

I plan on completing another DEKAFIT and Hyrox locally. On bigger level, my plan is before I turn 50 to have completed the New York City, Marathon, Crossfit open entry, with hopefully finishing top 25% of my age group, climb, Mount Kilimanjaro, perhaps a men’s physique competition, and then down the road a half or full Iron Man. My goal to not win any of them, but accomplished them all.

Optional: How can everyone find you and follow what you're doing (IG handle, website, etc)? any sponsors or upcoming items you want to share? You can find me or contact me @pcology or @gravityandoxygen_fitness or email [e-mail]