Meet Kevyn Lopez | Strength and Conditioning Coach

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kevyn Lopez and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kevyn, let’s talk legacy – what do you want yours to be?
I want to be remembered for two main things; first, for being the person that helps others understand biomechanics, become confident, and feel limitless in their body movement. We only have one body, so it is imperative for people to move correctly to maximize longevity. Second, I want to be the best strength and conditioning professional in the Mixed Martial Arts world- to be known for helping athletes achieve peak performance.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
What sets me apart from the rest is my academic knowledge base and rehabilitation background. I can apply this knowledge to a wide range of individuals; this can be from anyone that suffers from orthopedic injuries, physical disabilities, and cardiopulmonary conditions. I can help them regain functionality by emphasizing certain movement patterns and establishing exercise regimens that are uniquely beneficial to the individual in order for them to become a stronger version of themselves. Not only can I apply my knowledge towards the general population, but also towards athletes in the MMA world. Practicing any division of MMA puts athletes at a risk of injury simply due to the nature of the sport/ lifestyle. I can help them regain confidence in movement again through rehabilitation techniques and corrective exercises, and eventually bring them to peak performance. Having a university education in exercise physiology, I am able to utilize certain tests and algorithms to understand an individual’s unique biological and anatomical needs in order to improve performance by customizing their strength and conditioning programs. My journey has not been easy, but if I could go back and do it all over again I would not change anything for my struggles have helped me evolve into the determined and knowledgeable person I am today. When life knocks you down, I have found the only way to continue on is to pick yourself up and punch back harder. Keep rolling with the punches until you have a clear shot to knock your way onto the path that you want to be pursuing. I still surprise myself when I look back at how far I have come, and I now know that my ambition will always leave me wanting more from myself and from life in general. The most valuable lesson I have learned is that holding onto the drive of continuously wanting to be better is what makes me feel alive.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If someone came to visit me in Tucson, we would definitely start with breakfast at Tanias 33 on North Grande Ave. They have some of the best burritos and breakfast options in all of Tucson. I would then take them to train at Rise Combat Sports on the east side, which is home to the best martial arts in the city. Come lunch or dinner time, we would visit Sushi de Papa down on South 12th Ave where they serve incredible Mexican sushi from a small food truck, or Karuna’s Thai Plate on East Grant Road for delicious, authentic Thai cuisine. When we aren’t eating or training MMA, I would take them to one of the many gorgeous hiking trails Tucson has to offer, and for a drive up to Mount Lemmon to escape the desert heat and enjoy the change to green scenery.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
From the deepest muscle fiber of my heart, I would like to thank four individuals that have helped me walk the path envisioned in my dreams. The first individual is my younger brother. He looks up to me for my ambition and he has never doubted the goals I set for myself, not even once. He has believed in me since I can remember, and I am forever grateful that his involvement and dedication in my life has driven me to become the best version of myself. The second person I want to show extreme gratitude towards is my beautiful girlfriend. She has also believed in me since the first day we met, and has pushed me to punch and knock-out those dreams that seemed too frightening for me. Both her and my brother encouraged me to fight my way through the biggest change of career paths I could imagine, and to start training to become the person I truly want to be. Lastly, I would like to show my appreciation to my parents in law. They helped me through some of my darkest times, and I truly would not even be close to the stage I have now if it was not for them. They acted as secondary parent figures, and they will always be in the back of my mind as I make decisions. I never believe when people say they made it on their own, because behind every successful person lies a string of support from those surrounding them.

Website: thestrengthlaboratory.com

Instagram: kevynlopez93

Facebook: The Strength Laboratory

Image Credits
Pictures Credit: Ivan Bojorquez