Biography

Personal

In 1997, Manny began pursuing competitive men's fitness with no background in gymnastics, or any concrete information on what this event was all about. He then met with Tim Harris, a gymnastic coach, Angila Carnie, a pro fitness competitor and gymnast, and Erica, an Olympic gymnast, who taught him all the tricks that he knows today. After competing and making several guest appearances over the past three years, Manny now has more of an understanding with the help of Taj Jefferson (gymnast and choreographer), and Renzo and Kevin (both are National and World Aerobics Champions) on what judges and crowds want from men's fitness. Manny is looking forward to men's fitness becoming a pro-level competition and being as recognized as women's fitness.

Manny's training is still geared towards being as strong as possible while maintaining 210 lb. body weight without jeopardizing speed, flexibility and agility. While maintaining a year round competition physique, he focuses on eating low fat complex carbohydrates, vegetables and protein balanced meals, seven to nine times per day, and maintains a healthy active life style.

"My discipline as a child carried me through the Marine Corp Boot Camp where I was "Iron Man" of my company out of 600 Marines in Paris Island Training. Class leader of my MOS Training as well, I became a highly recognized Marine among my superiors. I attribute my successes today from being a hard working, goal oriented child for many years. At a young age, I realized my career would be focused around helping people.  My first aspiration was to be a fire-fighter or police officer, during which time I worked with a private investigator doing bodyguard work and some video and catalogue modeling.

I figured out my calling in life while preparing for the Physical Therapy Program. During my workout time, people would ask questions I could not answer. Following some research, I found The Fitness Institute International. After taking Dr. Abbott's courses, I acquired one of the most highly recognized personal training certifications in the nation. Within a two month period, I became so inundated with clients; I decided to take it a step further by becoming incorporated and opening my own private facility called One To One Fitness Inc. in Coral Springs, Florida."

Manny

Fitness Accomplishments

In 2004, Manny made many guest appearances with his men's fitness demonstration within the Florida NPC Bodybuilding and Fitness circuit. Manny also competed in the Keno Jewelers Duathalon series, a triathlon sprint, First Adventure Race and repeated his win in the 2004 Ultimate Athlete Competition. Driving forward, Manny would like to take the next step by putting together a video and writing a book on his accomplishments.

Manny, inspired to be the best, has pursued his education with additional certifications from the NSCA (National Strength & Conditioning Association) and the ACSM (American College of Sports Medicine). These are the two most prestigious qualifications that a personal fitness/athletic trainer can have.

Driven to create higher standards and to increase national awareness of Men's Fitness, Manny has become more involved in establishing the criteria of Men's Fitness Competitions throughout the Nation. He is an official promoter at the Southern States Men’s Bodybuilding, Figure, and Fitness Competition, and sanctioned as a judge with the National Physique committee (NPC).

In July 2006, at the Southern States Bodybuilding, Fitness and Figure competition held at the War Memorial Auditorium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Manny was the recipient of the Gene Massey award. The Gene Massey Award is presented to the person who best personifies Gene Massey’s accomplishments which included being Florida’s number one bodybuilder, being ranked top 10 in the country, running his own gym, promoting contests and being involved in the governing association of the sport.

Fitness Competition Awards:

1st Place 2006 Florida Ultimate Athlete Competition
1st Place 2004 Florida Ultimate Athlete Competition
1st Place 2003 Florida Ultimate Athlete Competition
1st Place 2002 Florida Gold's Gym Ultimate Athlete Competition
1st Place 2001 Florida Gold's Gym Ultimate Athlete Competition
1st Place 2001 Southern States Men's Fitness
1st Place 2000 Florida Gold's Gym Ultimate Athlete Competition
1st Place 1999 Southern States Men's Fitness
4th Place 1999 Florida Gold's Gym Ultimate Athlete Competition
2nd Place 1998 Southern States Men's Fitness
2nd Place 1997 Southern States Men's Fitness

Competition in several 5k's, Duathlons & Triathlons

One2One Fitness

Manny started One2One Fitness – a personal training fitness studio – 15 years ago in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Since then, his most important goal has been to maintain the highest standards a fitness training studio can have in the personal training industry, and his mission as a personal trainer is to motivate each client and make them accountable with knowledgeable training to achieve their health and fitness goals.

In 1992, Manny moved One2One Fitness to Coral Springs, Florida, and for the past two years has been located in the Coral Springs Professional Campus. Currently, Manny is working with many adults, middle school and high school athletes, and professional athletes such as Roberto Luango – the number one NHL goalie. Manny’s philosophy for every client is to “Have a vision, set your attainable goals, accept the challenge, and with effort, determination, and perseverance your achievement will be success.”

Charity

For many years, Manny has made contributions to helping out his favorite charity Kids in Distress that was introduced to him by Doris Porter, a client who has been working out with Manny for many years. In 2004, Doris Porter and Andy Roddick (and family) asked Manny to be the private security guard for Andy Roddick, Anna Kournikova, Ali Landry (Miss USA) for the 2004 Andy Roddick Foundation Annual Charity Weekend held in Boca Raton, Florida. In 2005, Manny was also the private security guard for Andy Roddick and Deidra Downs (Miss America).

During both annual charity weekends, Manny helped make the events run smoothly for both the celebrities and athletes by moving them from station to station with as less stress as possible.

Since 2004, Manny has held his own fundraising events for Kids in Distress such as field days and parties in his personal gym – One2One Fitness – and it is always a great time with lots of food, rock climbing, swimming, a bounce house, music, raffling, giving away t-shirts, face painting and much more. One2One Fitness has raised over $11,000.00 for Kids in Distress along with toys and other necessities. Coming up in September 2007, Manny and One2One Fitness staff will plan to have their best event so far.

Personal Training – Professional Athletes

Currently, Manny is looking forward to preparing Roberto Luongo for his second season with the Vancouver Canocks. They have been training together for over three years now, and are going on their fourth year of training after Manny met Roberto during the NHL lockout in 2004. Manny has never worked with such an amazing athlete like Roberto Luongo whose actions speak louder than words. Roberto’s training schedule is five days a week, and three hours each day of go, go, go training. For Manny, it is always a pleasure and an honor to take on the challenge of being apart of keeping the #1 goalie in the NHL on top of his game. In addition to this, Roberto has been a great sport by offering to take pictures and sign autographs for the other clients in the gym, and has helped with donating hockey memorabilia each year for One2One Fitness’ fundraisers.

Other professional, college, and high school athletes Manny has worked with include Robert Edwards (NFL), Terance Edwars (Atlanta Falcons), Alex Jackson & Kareem Marshal (Georgia State Football Bulldogs), Rodney Thomas & Ronnie Thomson (Clemson University Football), Nichole Hage (Auburn golf), and Daniel Elorriaga-Matra Jr. & Joe Hage Jr. (Douglas H.S. Baseball).