The Legend Tony Doherty

[TonyDoherty]

Hey Tony,

My Name is Sean and I am 18 years of age, Last year I decide to become a personal trainer because of my past experiences through obesity, eating disorders as well as anxiety and depression. As you know it is very hard to get a start in the Industry and I have been struggling since january. Fortunately I have got some money saved up because I have been working and saving since I was 14. Also my parents help me out a lot, provide me with a place to live and most of my meals for only $35 board a week. I just wanted to let you know your story on the first page has inspired me to do something pro-active and go after my dream of either opening my own training studio or gym. I just called one of my Business mentors from my fitness course and have organised a meeting with him tomorrow. I will also be down the bank first thing tomorrow morning (after ANZAC day) to organise a time to get together.

Cheers Tony I appreciate everything you have shared.
Any info or tips would be great.

Yours in Size and Strength
Sean

All the best mate.

My advice is dont listen to negative people, never quit, work hard and keep pushing forward, even if it is just one inch at a time.

[biggie87]

OK here is my story, thanks for asking.

I started out in the gym business in about 1985, I had been working at a fitness centre in my home town for a year or two and saw an opportunity to buy it. I thought I knew everything and I paid way too much for it. At the time there was two gyms in a town of 100,000 people. Within three years there were nine gyms and the market share had shrunk. I still thought I knew it all and pushed ahead, losing money every month. I had gone into it with my parents backing and after the first few years just about lost the lot, including the family home. Being a cocky ****er, I just didn't get it and continued to think I knew it all, as young men do.

By 1994 things had become really bad, the town was over saturated by gyms, two more had opened up in my street and the wolves were circling. By then I was becoming well established as a bodybuilding promoter in Melbourne and knew that I needed to move quickly or lose the lot. I just could not see a way out. Then it hit me. I went to see the guy that had opened across the road, I knew his lease was coming up and he wanted to grow. I offered him my lease, all of my members and some equipment. I would walk away and he would get a better building and double his membership overnight. My only condition was that he would honour the members that had paid upfront, after all my folks still had to live int he town and I had to walk away with some dignity.

My dad has always been a partner in the business and we have become very close over the years, he still does all the bookwork and accounts which allows me to forge ahead.

I opened up in Brunswick, Melbourne in a small warehouse (400m2) with a truckload of worn out equipment, zero members and a dream. I had learned a lot but still thought I knew it all, there would be some more hard medicine ahead, all I had going for me was that I was too driven, stubborn or stupid to quit. At that time all I wanted was somewhere to train, somewhere to live and a Harley Davison motorcycle (one day).

The first year I lost everything to keep the doors open, house, cars, furniture, you name it I lost it. The phone or power got cut every month for the first year, at least. I had no where to live and no car, all I had was a vertical grill and a rice cooker. I slept on the couch at the gym most nights for that first 9 months, I would get up in the morning and walk up to the main road to get a paper and a coffee. This way it looked like I had come from somewhere when I would walk to the gym to open up at 6AM. I would work through to 9PM, most days on my own until everyone had left, once again I would lock up and pretend to head home until everyone had gone, then sneak back and let myself back in.

I stayed with Sonny Schmidt's family a couple of nights a week and his brother Pale stated working at the gym. They were very kind to me and that Samoan food kept me going. When Sonny moved back to Australia we managed to get a little rental across from the gym, it was a dump but worked great at the time. I started training like crazy with Sonny for the Olympia's and the gym started to get a following. People would come to watch us train and I started to get a few clients.

I still had nothing to show, but the gym was starting to go better and I had paid back most of the bills that I had bought with me. Once I started to get on top, I would buy a piece of equipment every time that I had some money in the bank. It was 6 years before started to get a regular wage but I managed to hustle up enough to survive between contests, personal training and a bit of debt collecting.

It was about this time that I started to wise up and realise that I didn't know everything at all. By now I had met Amanda (my wife to be) and we were starting to live a bit better. I managed to put food on the table, but still no car or flash living. At least I had killed my ego and learned a lot about myself and people from all walks of life. Looking back, going hungry and losing just about everything was the best thing that happened to me, no easy ride and looking down the barrel every day was probably what I needed to wake me up.

By 1998 we had kind of out grown the small building and the landlord wanted to turn it into apartments. So after finally getting ahead, (still no wage) but I owned all my equipment and had started to get our name out there. It was then that I found our current building, it was three times the size and the rent was also three times the size. However I have always thought that you have to risk something that matters. So with that we moved into Weston Street and it was like starting all over again. We went 24:7 immediately and things got really bad again. It was a good gym but with the overheads going up so much, it was impossible to make a buck. For the next three years I fought every day, worked twelve hour days and did everything myself, cleaning, maintenance, graphics, mail-outs, contests and day to day management. Things slowly started to turn around. I kept my policy of buying equipment every time I could, I would scour the internet and auction sites to find the best stuff I could at the right price. I kept pushing myself and by the time my first child was born in 2002, I was earning wages every week and business was looking better than before.

In 2001 I held our first pro show and the brand started to get known worldwide. We started to attract all types of athletes form Olympians to AFL footballers and power athletes from everywhere. Around 2004 we launched Muscle TV and I had started to work as a strength and conditioning coach at the Carlton Football Club, which gave us more credibility and a bigger following. Over the next 5 years it started to work, I kept buying equipment and expanding the gym. To this day I own every piece in every gym and don't lease any equipment at all. It keeps your overheads down and takes away most of the stress.

Three years ago I had a opportunity to buy an old hardcore gym that was rundown and going broke, it was in a great location and just need some love. I had to risk everything all over again. With the encouragement of my wife and family I went for it. We fixed it up nice and it is now very busy day and night. A couple of years ago I had the same opportunity in the middle of the City, it was in worse shape and provided the biggest challenge of all. It is also flying now and to have Tiger Woods train there for the last two weeks was the icing on the cake. We have done the same again North of where we are and also in my original home town. The last two are still to break even but heading in the right direction and getting busier every week.

The expos and shows have taken over a lot of my time now but have huge potential. I now have 62 staff and 4 of the gyms run 24:7, every day of the year. We have four healthy kids and live pretty well. I have never forgotten where I have come from and love to see others reach their potential. I still spend every day in the gym and wouldn't change it for the world. I am still working on the gym to make it better and will never stop trying to improve the product and the brand.

"It's a long way to the top if you want to rock and roll"

Wowwww, Tony, This is a very very VERY inspirational story. I train at the Dandenong Doherty's 24/7, aever since joining your gym in dandenong i have been thinking of one day opening my own gym, to me it would be a great life style, a dream come true, working somewhere where i love spending every minute. It would be amazing, But honestly i did not know that you had to go through so much to get were you are now.
Respect!

[viviane1992]

Hello Tony I wanted to ask you about the supplement myostatin Should you use it and whether it is beneficial as it is written?

[TonyDoherty]

Hello Tony I wanted to ask you about the supplement myostatin Should you use it and whether it is beneficial as it is written?

Are you talking about the research drug that blocks myostatin or is there a supplement called "myostatin"? If so who makes it? post a link and I will take a look at it.
TD

[TonyDoherty]

Here is a shot of the incredible Vince Taylor that I took at Olympia in 1992.

[sexnews]

That was where the belt buckle hit him in the eye

[TonyDoherty]

That was where the belt buckle hit him in the eye

I think it was a luggage strap.

[BartPimpson]

I cant remember meeting him, not sure if he attended shows or not.

I don't think he cared much for bodybuilding shows. He said once that he'd rather his body be judged by thousands of hot girls at a festival than a couple of old men at a bodybuilding show.

[TonyDoherty]

Anyone here on twitter, you can follow me @TonyDohertyOz

I didn't think I would like it as I don't like facebook, however twitter is actually pretty cool, you can follow some awesome people and nobody can talk for too long.

[Kiwi_]

Here is a shot of the incredible Vince Taylor that I took at Olympia in 1992.

Beautiful

[anto.tran]

awesome thread tony! will definitely drop by one of your gyms whenever I'm down

[TonyDoherty]

Pleased to announce that we have booked Evan Centopani for our IFBB October shows.

He will be here here 2 weeks after the Olympia, with shows in Adelaide, Melbourne, Sunshine Coast and Sydney.

One of the world's most popular pros, more details to come. Follow me on twitter @TonyDohertyOz

TD

[sexnews]

Good for you. He seems to be very popular!

[qoohhlt]

Whys ur rep power only 1539?
By the way can you explain why someone who look bigger with the same body weight and fat, for example phil health? Does it have to do with the shape of muscles?

[TonyDoherty]

Whys ur rep power only 1539?
By the way can you explain why someone who look bigger with the same body weight and fat, for example phil health? Does it have to do with the shape of muscles?

I don't even know what rep power is.

I also don't know what you mean with your other question. No offence!

[qoohhlt]

I don't even know what rep power is.

I also don't know what you mean with your other question. No offence!

I mean some ppl look bigger than before with the same body weight and fat.Does it have to do with the shape of muscles =I ?

[TLF84]

I mean some ppl look bigger than before with the same body weight and fat.Does it have to do with the shape of muscles =I ?

. I still do t get what your saying ????? Give a example like who ???? Also it can come down to conditioning it appears they look bigger but it's the good conditioning

[Gorky88]

. I still do t get what your saying ????? Give a example like who ???? Also it can come down to conditioning it appears they look bigger but it's the good conditioning

He means two bodybuilders can be 5'9 weigh 240 and have same bodyfat but one of them can look bigger. why?

i mean the answer is so damn obvious but I will leave it to Tony

[Spazzzzy]

Tony any comment on the health of the pros once they retire?

Are they still sweet, or have a lot of ailments into their declining years?

[TonyDoherty]

I mean some ppl look bigger than before with the same body weight and fat.Does it have to do with the shape of muscles =I ?

It has to do with having more muscle, better muscle bellies, muscle shape, insertions, joint size etc.

E.g. two people can have 15 inch forearms but the one with smaller wrists will look bigger.

Hope this helps explain.

[TonyDoherty]

Tony any comment on the health of the pros once they retire?

Are they still sweet, or have a lot of ailments into their declining years?

Everyone is different, having said that, all the Mr Olympia winners are still alive, so I guess they have all out lived people that they grew up with, that smoked, excessively drank or just didn't train.

Compared to other sports, I think we are going real well health wise. Look how many pro wrestlers have passed on over the years, scary stuff.

[Callumx]

Loving this thread tony, all the feedback, pictures and advice are all great. thanks

[TonyDoherty]

Loving this thread tony, all the feedback, pictures and advice are all great. thanks

Thanks mate, I've got plenty more.

TD

[TonyDoherty]

Here is a shot I took of Ronnie in New Zealand 2001.

One of the best shots I have ever taken, unbelievable!

[Iceman1981]

Here is a shot I took of Ronnie in New Zealand 2001.

One of the best shots I have ever taken, unbelievable!

Amazing rear latspread. Thanks Tony.

[jeezus]

hi tony,

some constructive feedback..

the mainstream radio in all your gyms is KILLING me (plus WAY too loud in the campbellfield one). i came to melbourne one year ago and they still play the same five songs EVERY single workout. how about switching to online streaming radio (via a minimac or something) with GOOD, constantly changing music and WITHOUT commercials, would be a massive improvement for overall athmosphere (yeah i know there always are headphones).

also the brunswick one really needs a new leg curl, its distorted

other than that, almost like golds gym venice which has been my previous home gym, keep it up!

[paullonsdale]

if you could create a model for the sll time body that personifies bodybuilding......whos body would it be?

i have another question, who in the world do you look upto as an inspiration?

one more, what do you love about bodybuilding and has it changed for the early years when you started training?

[TonyDoherty]

hi tony,

some constructive feedback..

the mainstream radio in all your gyms is KILLING me (plus WAY too loud in the campbellfield one). i came to melbourne one year ago and they still play the same five songs EVERY single workout. how about switching to online streaming radio (via a minimac or something) with GOOD, constantly changing music and WITHOUT commercials, would be a massive improvement for overall athmosphere (yeah i know there always are headphones).

also the brunswick one really needs a new leg curl, its distorted

other than that, almost like golds gym venice which has been my previous home gym, keep it up!

I agree that campbelfield is too load. As far as the radio goes, we will stick at it, I have tried a bunch of other options including, cds, itunes, requests and byo.
All end with someone not liking the style, People love and hate, metal, doof doof, dance, pop and counrty so you just please everyone. I recommend a good set of headphone, wireless is best and play you own favorites.

As for the leg curl, there are 3 lying, 1 seated, 1 kneeling, so I am nor sure which one you mean. I will get to them today and give them all a service, thank you for the feedback and nice comments. If you see me in the gym make sure to introduce yourself.

TD

[TonyDoherty]

if you could create a model for the sll time body that personifies bodybuilding......whos body would it be?

i have another question, who in the world do you look upto as an inspiration?

one more, what do you love about bodybuilding and has it changed for the early years when you started training?

You have difficult questions Paul but I will try my best to answer.

My favorite ever is Ronnie, however I think that is because of how far he took the level.
Seeing Arnold's physique is what got me into the gym as a 14 year old.
Growing up, I thought Haney was the best. Of the newer guys, I think Kai and Phil are awesome, for different reasons. In fact I cant choose my favorite out of the two, Phil is still improving every comp and Kai, when he is on is so complete he looks unbeatable.
I have had a bunch of favorites in between, Sergio, Draper, Flex, Dorian, Kevin, Dexter, Shawn, Vince and Jay. All for different reasons.
The one I have not mentioned until last is Chris Cormier, I think he has one of the best and most complete physiques ever. Underrated, competed in the toughest era ever, great to work with and cool to the other pros.

Who do I look up to, whew, hard one. There are a few for different reasons. My Dad for his work ethic, drive and smarts. Arnold for taking on the world and beating it. Trump for his tenacity and confidence. The regular guy that puts food on his table every day for the ones he loves. There are a few other that I turn to for advice and direction when I need it but you wouldn't know them. I have been lucky enough to meet some very wise people along the way that I have watched and studied, taking a little wisdom from each of them. They have helped me to overcome, to challenge, to fight and to learn. I could write on this for hours, now you got me thinking.

What do I love about bodybuilding?
I like the discipline, the challenge, the refusal to accept the norm, the journey, the fight, internal battle and the feeling it give you to be confident, to shut out every other voice and to keep pushing. I believe that Arnold has had so much success because of bodybuilding and what it teaches us.

Has it changed?
The physiques have got bigger and better, the prize money is more, the contracts are better and more people use our exercises and diets than ever.
However, bodybuilding hasn't changed at all in a way. You still got to do the work, fight the naysayers and battle yourself daily. That will never change.

[TheProgressiveOne]

Guess who??!



And he is a pic of me at the end of last year..how much longer do I have to go hahahahaha