Starting from a young age, Derek has always had a fascination with physical fitness and strength. At the age of 15, having trained for two months in the gym, he was able to set a state record at his first powerlifting meet. Since then, Derek has tried out numerous styles of training and has worked as a physical therapy aide. Nowadays, he is a USA Weightlifting certified coach, competitive arm wrestler, and is currently working towards a Bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology with plans for graduate school.