#PeopleFirst Friday: Tony Bogert

In 2016, Senior A/V Technician Tony Bogert began a fitness journey, not necessarily for the traditional reasons that one typically starts working out – he just couldn’t get into his attic.

“I didn’t have a ladder to get into my attic, and I needed to climb. I had a stool to help me get up, and once I couldn’t pull myself up, I didn’t like that.” Bogert recalled with a laugh. “I felt like I should have been able to get up there, and that was the moment I decided to start working out.”

So began a workout regimen that saw him head to the gym at 5:00am at least five days a week, a routine he has maintained since. While he was working out, he wanted to create his own distinct style that different from his fellow gym patrons.

“I started caring about what I was wearing to the gym, and I didn’t want to wear what everyone else was wearing. I wanted to create something,” Bogert said. “So I created my own brand – GymBum365. It’s more of a state of mind than anything. You don’t necessarily need to be in the gym 365 days a year, but as long as you’re moving, you’re in the same frame of mind – that gym and fitness mindset. That’s what GymBum365 represents.”

Several years into his fitness journey, Bogert, who grew up with an interest in martial arts, discovered “The Art of Eight Limbs” known as Muay Thai and added that into his training.

“I grew up watching Power Rangers, and I always wanted to take karate as a kid, but my parents couldn’t afford to put me in it,” he said. “I loved fighting, and I thought I could fight until I started doing Muay Thai and got my a—kicked, and learned very quickly that I couldn’t fight.”

Training at the “House of Eight Limbs” once or twice a week since 2020, Bogert is consistently learning more and honing his craft as he learns to fight with his fists, elbows, knees, and shins. Even when he’s not “officially” training, he’s constantly shawdowboxing, or showing his son and daughter different techniques.

“I’m still learning so much, even after three years of practicing Muay Thai,” he said. “There’s so many different moves, and even on a simple takedown, there’s so many different things that can happen to you and different combinations that you can be hit with. It’s mind blowing.

“Muay Thai has taught me so much,” Bogert continued. “It’s taught me to never underestimate anybody – men, women, people who are fit and people who aren’t fit at all. I’ve sparred with a ton of people, and you never know who knows what. Muay Thai has humbled me a lot, and I’ve learned a lot of self-discipline because of it. It’s great having that confidence and knowing how to handle myself if I’m put in a certain situation.”

“I’m never going to be the one to start anything,” he concluded. “But I’m totally comfortable finishing.”