Athlete:

Simon Ata

Physiotherapist / Athlete

Bio/standing results:
Simonster is a world leader in breakdancing and bodyweight strength training. Starting gymnastics at an early age, he became passionate about mastering control of the body and immersed himself in the world of bodyweight strength training. Expanding his skillset with training in martial arts, circus, and breakdance, his movements and teachings reflect a mixture of knowledge from each of these disciplines. Attaining a Bachelor of Physiotherapy degree alongside personal training qualifications furthered his understanding of the body from an academic side and accelerated his training methods and skill. Simon has performed, taught and judged breakdancing and calisthenics on an international level.

List of 2XU gear you use/prefer (3 fav products)

Compression tights
Ghost T-shirt
Performance track pants/urban pants

What does your standard training week involve?
3-4 training sessions per week consisting of 2x weight/strength training sessions and 2 skill training sessions (anything from spinning on my head, to hopping on one hand or flips) with bodyweight strength exercises to conclude each session.

Favourite training venue/environment:
Gymnastics gym / martial arts gym

Favourite 2XU garment, when you use it and why:
2XU Ghost top – it’s great for training, feels like you’re not wearing anything. Super light and breathes well… As a breakdancer, it’s also great for spinning.

What is your favourite training accessory?
2XU water bottle!!!

What has been the toughest experience in your career and what did you learn from it?
I ripped my left adductor longus tendon off the bone in 2014, 2 weeks prior to a performing contract in New York. I had to pull out of the tour and couldn’t do any strenuous with my legs for 3 months. I learned to make the most of a bad situation and took this opportunity to addresses weaknesses and maximize my upper body strength. With almost all injuries, there is something you can still train.

What’s the most common training mistake you see on the circuit? Any suggestions on how to avoid it?
In what I do there are so many skills and therefore options of what to practice. I find when people try to achieve everything at once they make little progress. The best results I’ve seen are when people focus hard on a few skills at a time, and move on once they have mastered these. Usually, like riding a bike, once you have a skill mastered, it requires little practice to maintain.

What motivates you to train and race harder?
My daughter! And the people that see me as a role model / gain inspiration from what I do. I also teach workshops and have tutorials online so I train to make sure I practice what I preach, and can do the skills I teach to the best of my ability.

Describe your diet/meal plan leading up to a big race:
My diet remains similar all year round. I am by no means strict with my diet, but I try to keep a healthy balanced diet and follow the Australian Dietetics Association recommendations.

How do you balance your training and racing life with life outside the sport?
Getting adequate rest and recovery is just as important as your training. I spend a lot of time with friends and family, drinking coffee, playing video games and hiking.

What type of nutritional supplement do you find most helpful (either for training or competition)?
A post workout protein supplement, whether it be a protein shake or simply a glass of milk.

Best and worst thing about being a professional athlete:

Best: Being able to do what I love for a living, and being able to teach and empower people with the methods I used to achieve what I can do.

Worst: Aches in the body, and needing to perform despite this.

In five years time, I'll be:
better.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

Judging in Japan
Performing in Vegas
Teaching the Australian bodyweight blueprint workshops