Melissa Valdez

Movement has always been a big part of my life. Growing up immersed in sports like softball, ballet folklorico, football & cheer, I discovered early on that physical activity brought me so much joy.

Athletic Background
My competitive journey took off in college, where I played rugby from 2011-2017. Simultaneously, I trained in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, embracing the discipline, technical precision, and mental fortitude these combat sports demand. These years were transformative, teaching me not just about athletic performance, but about resilience and determination.

Overcoming Challenges
My athletic career wasn't without obstacles. I navigated through numerous injuries—a labral tear in my left hip, nerve damage in my foot, a cervical spine injury, AC joint sprains, and multiple concussions. Each setback became a learning opportunity, deepening my understanding of rehabilitation and recovery.

Professional Evolution
My educational background in Exercise and Sports Science, coupled with internships at the Department of Sports Medicine at USF and Grossmont College, provided me with scientific knowledge that complemented my athletic experience. The turning point in my coaching journey came in 2015 when I joined the Department of Sports Performance at City College of San Francisco. Working primarily with the football team transformed my approach to strength training and athletic development. Running that program was challenging but invaluable—it refined my programming skills and enhanced my own strength conditioning methodology.

Personal Transformation
Life threw more challenges my way in 2018 when gut health issues forced me to reimagine my approach to fitness. I firsthand, personally learned the critical importance of holistic wellness—how nutrition, stress management, sleep quality, and recovery all influence physical performance. This period taught me how to balance training with life's chaos.

Again in 2019/2020, when work-life balance became challenging, I experienced firsthand how stress, poor nutrition, and lack of recovery can lead to physical and mental decline. Through small, attainable goals, I rebuilt my habits and found my way back to health—a journey that made me a more empathetic and effective coach.

Today's Journey
Currently, I train as a Strongman athlete, applying all the lessons I've learned throughout my journey. I prioritize proper fueling, recovery protocols, and finding joy in the process. Each competition and training session continues to teach me something new about strength, resilience, and human potential.

The Coach I've Become
My path from athlete to strength coach has shaped my unique coaching approach. I believe in creating inclusive, empowering environments where clients can explore healthy movement with confidence.

I have had a lot of turning points in my story. But I will share these two:
In 2018 my body suddenly betrayed me with unexpected gut health issues. After years of pushing my physical limits, I faced an enemy many struggles with: the disconnect between pushing harder and actual wellness. This crisis forced me to decide who I truly was beyond physical performance. Was I still a coach, an athlete, if I couldn't perform like one?

The journey back taught me that true strength is found in the humility to rebuild and embrace a holistic approach to wellness. Learning to prioritize stress management, nutrition, and recovery transformed my coaching philosophy.

In 2020, I hit my lowest point health-wise—I lost muscle mass, gained weight, abandoned workouts, neglected nutrition, and ignored stress management completely. Yet the foundation of good habits I'd previously built, combined with my professional experience, gave me the tools to methodically rebuild myself. This experience of falling apart and putting myself back together has further shaped who I am, how I coach, and how I personally choose to approach life. Health is wealth.

These experiences made me a compassionate coach who understands the real struggle of rebuilding when you've lost your way—and the power of consistent, sustainable habits to overcome even the deepest setbacks.

My purpose as a coach is to create supportive environments where people discover their strength capabilities through proper technique and progressive training. I'm motivated to work with individuals who want to build confidence in strength movements, improve athletic performance, or return to fitness after setbacks.
Having navigated my own physical transformations—from collegiate sports to overcoming significant health challenges—I coach from a place of genuine understanding about the obstacles people face in their fitness journeys. What drives me is witnessing the moment when someone pushes past their perceived limitations and discovers what their body can truly accomplish.
I believe strength training should be both challenging and accessible. My approach emphasizes form, function, and sustainability that carry over into everyday life, helping people build resilience both physically and mentally.