Steve Maxwell, chosen by Men’s Journal as one of the top 100 trainers in the US, brings over 53 years of training experience to The Deen Show. As the first person to graduate from the Gracie Jiu-Jitsu instructor certification program and former conditioning coach for Helio Gracie’s son Royce, Steve shares invaluable insights on fitness, fighting, and living with integrity that go far beyond the gym.
The Five Pillars of True Exercise
Steve identifies a critical confusion between exercise and recreation that is causing injuries across the fitness world. True exercise must increase strength, endurance, cardiorespiratory health, mobility, and flexibility while preventing injuries. When exercise becomes competitive, as in CrossFit, form gets thrown out the window in pursuit of extra reps, turning what should protect your body into something that destroys it.
“If you are getting hurt doing your exercise, you need to take a hard look at what you are doing. Exercise should prevent injuries, not cause them. Exercise prepares your body to do the things we like to do.” — Steve Maxwell
Lessons from a Life of Discipline
- Humility is essential for growth; even after 53 years, Steve considers himself a student who has only scratched the surface
- The pharmaceutical industry spent $422,000 per Congressman in 2013 to influence US health policy, and made $711 billion in the past decade
- Medical doctors receive only about four hours of nutrition education in four years of medical school
- Steve refuses all sponsorships and advertisements for products he does not personally use, choosing integrity over profit
- Chronic disease prevention has gone backwards in modern medicine; doctors from 100 years ago often knew more about natural healing
Integrity Over the Almighty Dollar
“I think it is basically a sin to start being a hypocrite, espousing things just to make money. Money is a consequence of what I do, not why I do it. Have this world in your hand, not in your heart.” — Steve Maxwell
Whether in fitness, nutrition, or life itself, the principle remains the same: do not sell your soul for the almighty dollar, stay true to your values, and always keep learning. The Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, taught us that the strong believer is better than the weak believer, and caring for your physical health is part of honoring the trust Allah has placed in you.
