We spoke to gym coach and trans powerlifter Tats the Strength Senpai about his training journey and advice for wanna-be gym gays.
Powerlifting: a strength-based sport that involves three main lifts: squat, bench press, and deadlift. The goal of powerlifting is to lift as much weight as possible in each of these three lifts.
Who are you?
My name is Tats (he/him), and I’m a coach at Alpha Athletes in Sydney. I am a transgender powerlifting athlete. I’m Chinese and 29.
@strengthsenpai Allow me to introduce myself properly. My name’s Tats. I was a overweight kid with a drug addiction who got clean and found themselves in training. But I got injured – a lot. Probably because I didn’t know anything and that got me curious about learning. I started doing courses, seminars, studying on anatomy and eventually became a coach. I know if I can turn my life around – I could help others who wanted to turn theirs too. As a coach I’m quite technical in my sessions, hands on and attentive to detail. I believe teaching my clients not only good technique but also understanding why they must do it, my reason behind my programming and exercises and how to troubleshoot lifts on their own. Because at the end of the day I’m not here to build a co-dependant relationship with my clients. I want to set them up for the long run where they know how to continue on if they ever left. I like my training sessions to be fun, full of banter and at the same time a safe space for people to be themselves. The gym is my sanctuary – all I want to do is pay it forward. #coach #personaltraining #personaltrainer #gym #fitness #health #strengthcoach #powerlifting #transgender #queer #lgbt
♬ original sound – Tatsuya Pun
How did you get started at the gym and with coaching?
I started almost seven years ago. I was around 108kg, which was very overweight. I started some conditioning work (a focus on cardio) with a Personal Trainer (PT). Over a year, I dropped to 56kg, but I was still very unhappy with how I looked.
I started to research strength training, techniques, and biomechanics and then decided to become a coach to be the change I wanted to see in the industry.
Then, I began powerlifting. Seven years later, here we are.
What motivates you, and how do you motivate your clients?
So, how I keep myself motivated or disciplined with all my clients is to remind them to stay in the present, celebrate the small wins and always look back to where you started.
Do you have any advice for people starting their gym journey?
- Put in some earphones. The music drowns out your inner demons. You need to keep your head down and keep working at it.
- Bring a friend. There’s strength in numbers. A friend will keep you accountable and entertained during a workout.
- Get a PT! If you feel silly and don’t know what to do, that’s what a coach is for. We can figure out the best program based on your goals.
What is your cultural background? Has this influenced your experience or journey?
Coming from a very traditional Chinese family, before I transitioned, they were happy that I had become skinnier. But then I started strength training, getting bigger and stronger. You can only imagine what they were going to say about it. Then, I came out as transgender, which was difficult in a very conservative Chinese family. But then it started to shift, and they were very happy that I was a big, strong boy. To this day, they’re still not too happy when I lift as heavy as I do ‘cause they worry my spine will snap in half.
What’s it like living in Western Sydney?
Living in Western Sydney as a transgender person does have its difficulties. I am very comfortable being openly trans; however, due to safety concerns, I do tend to keep a T-shirt on, and I don’t wear singlets outside.
We know that trans and gender-diverse people often use the gym as a way to validate their gender. Have you noticed this at your gym?
I definitely do! I have quite a few transgender clients at the moment and have had trans powerlifters approach me.
I find that with my transmasc clients, as they get stronger and attain the physiques they want, they start to come out of their shells and become more confident.
I wanted to create a safe space for people of any race, religion, gender, or sexuality to train. This is what an inclusive gym looks like to me.
Do you know any other inclusive gyms? Or resources to find them?
I do have someone I can recommend. His name’s Sammy D (@coach_daddy_), and you can find him in Naarm (Melbourne). He owns T Generation Gym (@tgengyms), a queer-friendly, safe training space.
So, you’re paving the way for these inclusive gym spaces?
I wouldn’t say I’m ‘paving the way’. But at the end of the day, if people come here and feel safe, that’s all I want. I hope that other gyms will follow suit.
Our common goal is to be respected as athletes and compete in the federation and the gender that we are without scrutiny. It is hurtful; we try to let it roll off our backs, but it does get to us. People have asked me if I would start my own federation for transgender athletes. It’s an amazing idea, but I think it’s still somewhat of a segregation. If one day, people can turn around and say, ‘You know what, you’re trans, that’s cool, let’s keep living our own lives, compete together and have a good time’, that would be fantastic. That’s one of the reasons why I am a transathlete and an advocate for trans communities.
Our community is one of the main things we are proud of and vouch for. I love my friends and co-workers here; they’re my chosen family. If you come at night, after work, we are usually there training for 3 hours, not necessarily ‘cause we’re working hard, but ‘cause we’re talking shit.
It’s a lovely community vibe, and these connections really push me forward.
Are there any other social benefits of going to the gym?
A lot of people get gym anxiety. They come in, and they think everyone’s judging them. This may be the case in some commercial gyms, but I have found that a lot of strength training communities are not like that. Everyone’s here to help out and root for you. I’ve had clients who deadlift 200kg, and everyone cheers them on, and others who lift 30kg but it’s a personal best, and they get the same encouragement.
Tell us about your Deadlift for Diversity event. How did it come about? What’s the goal?
I created Deadlifts for Diversity three years ago with Jaxson Wearing (@transhealthcoach), the former strongest trans powerlifter in the world. He is now retired and doing advocacy, so we created this fundraiser together to help our queer community.
We are completely non-profit, and all funds go towards one trans person’s gender-affirming surgery.
It’s always a great vibe; there’s always music pumping. Using a deadlift bar, everyone gets three attempts on any weight. It’s open to allies, queer and trans people; we’re all working toward one goal!
Thanks for chatting with us, Tats! Where can people follow you?
You can find me at @strengthsenpai_. I work with a range of athletes, including beginners. If you want an all-inclusive gym in Sydney, I can help you out; just slide into my DMs.
Editor’s note: This interview has been edited for length and clarity.