Today we’d like to introduce you to Thomas Ashman.
Hi Thomas, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I started in working in the fitness industry teaching Kung Fu at the age of 17, I was always interested in alternative methods of strength training, and I loved Kung Fu movies like the 36 Chambers of Shaolin. When I was 18, I competed in mixed martial arts, won my first fight by knockout in 43 seconds, then tore my labrum in my second fight. This drove me further down the rabbit hole of alternative strength training as I was determined to fix my shoulder without surgery. I studied physical therapy, kettlebell training, Persian club swinging, and even competitive arm wrestling. I found amazing knowledge in all fields but still felt like something was missing. So I combined elements of everything I had learned including martial arts to create leverage-based strength training equipment. The first product is the Dragonslayer, inspired by the series Berserk, and it has greatly improved my strength. I had trained with swords before but this was a completely different feeling. I began logging my training progress on social media, and my videos started to go viral, then people began asking where they could get their own Dragonslayer. So I created a website to sell them and have found enough success in it to quit my job and focus on my company full time. I’m now working towards creating more innovative products and inspiring as many people as possible to improve their health through movement.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I’ve had a lot of ups and downs throughout my life. I struggled with depression growing up and wasn’t very motivated in school. Martial arts gave me purpose and taught me how to make the most of life. Recovering from my shoulder injury took two years. It was an uphill battle where I lived in near-constant agonizing pain. My shoulder would dislocate on a regular basis, often multiple times per week. But I continued my training and eventually my shoulders became stronger than ever, now I can share what I learned with others and help them be free from pain as well.
Another huge struggle was the pandemic closing gyms down, rendering me unable to teach and train. I ended up moving into my car and road-tripping the country for eight months. During this time, I started my first company, a logistics company where I transported furniture and art cross country. I also got to learn carpentry from a pool table manufacturer in Georgia. There were many days where I thought I wouldn’t be able to return to the fitness industry and many days where I felt like I didn’t have a place in the world. I didn’t know what my strengths were or how to play to them. More recently, I feel as if I’ve really grown into myself and gotten more confident in my ability not just to provide for myself but actually bring value to other peoples life’s and hopefully society as a whole.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Ashman Athletics?
Ashman Athletics is a true fitness startup. It began with me working as an in-home personal trainer and martial arts instructor and has grown into a multi-faceted team creating innovative and effective fitness equipment and content. Our goal is to put the fun in functional fitness. This means inspiring people with workouts they want to do for the sake of doing them, not just because they see it as a way to get results. A lot of trainers offer six weeks programs or 30-day diets, but the results only last as long as people stay on the program.
I want to make people fall in love with fitness, not by forcing them to work out in traditional ways, but by making it exciting and tapping into the nostalgia for play we all had as kids. Right now I’m known for being the giant sword guy, but I know that in the future we will be known as one of the most positive and professional companies in the entire fitness industry. I’m proud to say that all of our following so far is completely organic, I’ve spent $0 on advertising and plan to keep it that way for as long as possible. I believe high-quality products and content is the best form of advertising, and we have done a fantastic job at putting our name out there so far.
I want people to feel welcome to try our products, training style, and become a part of our mission. We’re beginning Dragonslayer strength classes at Original Muscle Beach in Santa Monica in June. You can find out more info about these on my Instagram @ashmanathletics. We’re also going to be releasing more products this summer. So stay tuned to see what we create next.
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
I love the opportunity and openness of Los Angeles. I’m from Chicago originally, where people tend to take very traditional paths for their careers. I met so many people who didn’t take the traditional path to success and it makes me believe anything is possible here. I think the thing I like the least is the lack of a good public transportation system. I would love it if it was as easy to commute throughout LA via train and bus as it is in Chicago, and I would probably spend a lot more time exploring if we had one.
Pricing:
- Dragonslayers now come in 6 variations. With prices ranging from $211.95 to $281.95
Contact Info:
- Website: Ashmanathletics.com
- Instagram: @Ashmanathletics
- Linkedin: Thomas Ashman
- Youtube: Ashman Athletics
Image Credits
The 2 pictures of us balancing on the swords were taken by Keith Weiner. The picture of the woman with the sword was taken by Sidney Scott. The picture of me kicking on the rock was taken by Anupam Shetty.
