Personal Trainer's Strength Could Come From Weakness In His Legs

ROSEVILLE (CBS13) – A local man is a personal trainer, wrestling coach and more and does it all with what some may consider a disadvantage.

He prefers to call it a challenge rather than a disability, and Tyler Brey's story speaks to the power of perseverance.

His focus never falters. He knows he's getting stronger with every weighted dip.

"Nothing's really going to stop you unless you let it," Tyler says.

He moves with a mesmerizing motion. His push-ups are as impressive as his bench press.

"If there was a push-up competition, I'd try to break it," he says.

Tyler, 24, sets the bar high with his upper body strength because, quite frankly, that's all he's got.

He lifts at the level of a champion, but he can't lift his legs to walk.

"I was born with a hole in my spine," he says. "They had to patch it up. I can't use my hamstrings. I can use my quads; I can extend. That's about it," he says.

Born with spina bifida, Tyler only knows life without walking, but that's never kept him chained down.

"There's nothing physically stopping you," he says. "It's your own mind stopping you and I like helping people overcome their own barriers."

His personal training clients can't really complain about working out. If he can do it from a wheelchair, then they really don't have an excuse.

"I was raised to believe you don't settle for less than you're capable of," he explains.

And he proves that on the mat. Wrestling since seventh grade, Tyler on his knees brings down opponents from their feet to their backs.

"Some people totally underestimate me," he says. "They're shocked when they realize how strong I am. When I see an able-bodied move, I need to look at the concept. How does it work? What can I do to change it for my abilities?"

That's also how tackles jiu-jitsu.

"Just figure out a way to make it work," he says. "I don't view it as a disability, just kind of a challenge."

He sees his condition as an advantage; a remarkable outlook that pushed him to powerlifting.

"Makes my mind a little more creative than most people's I guess," he says.

He's competed around the world in bench press on the U.S. Paralympic Team, lifting an impressive 370 pounds.

"I believe in myself and I'm competitive enough to get myself to that top level," he says.

He also believes in his clients at the gym and the Rocklin High wrestlers he coaches, sharing with them the power of mind over body when you have the heart.