Mohd Hafizzat just got certified as a Personal Trainer through the American Council on Exercise (ACE). Hafizzat will be graduating from Bachelor’s Degree in Sports Science Program from UiTM soon. He keeps himself updated on the sports and exercise science field with the latest research materials and enjoys reading articles, books and videos to help improve himself in order to help others. He also enjoys networking with other fitness professionals, playing flag football, doing outdoor activities and of course doing personal training.

Congratulations on recently being an ACE- Certified Trainer. How do you feel? And how was the exam?

Jatt: I always wanted to become an ACE-Certified Trainer and now that I am I feel so surreal.  The exam was surprisingly okay. Well, provided that you study for the exam. *wink*

 Good to know that! So, tell us about yourself, your background, just to let us know you more in person.

Jatt: So, I have been active in sports and athletic since I was in school. Playing football, softball, handball and long jump. Representing school, state for some of them and also playing for local football clubs. I started going to the gym when I finished school. Then, I realized that I love doing this and I want to learn more about my body and what can I do with it. So I took up Diploma in Sports Studies in UiTM. Passion does pay as I excelled in my first year of diploma and because of that I was offered to skip a year of diploma and go straight to degree. I took the offer and continue my journey in Degree of Sports Science still in UiTM. Upon starting my degree, I know I need to have a hands-on experience as well so I did part time work after classes. I worked in a gym for a few months. Then I got offered to work in Original Bootcamp and I said yes straight away of course. There, I learned a lot of stuff from Simran Latif, CSCS,Program Director and also Faizal Ariff, CSCS, Program Coordinator and of course the rest of the team. So, yeah that’s about it I guess.

That’s quite impressive I must say. How does studying sports science and learning the ACE-personal trainer course helped you?

Jatt: It made all the learning more smooth and easier. Because thanks to my sports science education background I actually already know and understand 50% of the course. So, it’s more like a relearn and revision to me. In fact, I really like the course, as I learned the proper way to program a training session for clients and what a trainer can and cannot do in the real world.

So, what are your plans after this?

Jatt: Taking on the fitness industry! *laughs* but yeah I want to go to fitness conventions, meet top coaches and trainers and just learn so I can educate my clients and help the people around me more better. As for now, I am taking the Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) course at FIT. I started with sports so I still want to be in it and maybe provide my services and knowledge in helping to build a better sports performance enhancement industry.

Love that passion and enthusiasm from you. Is there anything else you want to say for your friends out there and people wanting to be in the fitness industry?

Jatt: I know a lot of my classmates, juniors and friends from the same program (Sports Science) wants to be in the fitness industry and become a personal trainer. I would highly recommend they have an international-professional certification together with the diploma or degree. You will be more credible and you will actually learn more stuff from the ACE-personal trainer course itself. And you’ll get a cool card stating that you are a certified personal trainer that you can put in your wallet and show to people. *laughs*

Jatt: Other than that, go and find internships, continuing educations workshops, be out there and just keep on learning.

Any last word?

Jatt: Yes! I would like to thank the people who has helped me and supported me to be in this fitness industry namely my mentors in Original Bootcamp, Simran, Faizal, Ian (the one who referred me to Original Bootcamp), my parents, my lecturer especially Mr. Rahmat Adnan, my friends and everyone else.  Most importantly I want to take this opportunity to thank Jerrican Tan as my new mentor and also FIT Malaysia. Thank you so much.