Academic History

Kimana achieved his Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice from John Jay College in 2014. He originally wanted to go into federal law enforcement because of the perceived excitement, but after that didn't happen, he had some thinking to do.

Kimana wondered: "What can he do that someone doesn't have to force me to do?" He looked around his room and found his answer: "Read exercise science books." He thought: "If this is something that I enjoy, then I might as well get a degree in it."

That's when Kimana enrolled in Long Island Univeristy (Brooklyn Campus) for his Master's in Exercise Science. He graduated in 2019 "Top of Class" with a 4.0/4.0 average. During that time, he's also become a:

  • NASM Certified Personal Trainer
  • NASM Corrective Exercise Specialist
  • NASM Sports Performance Enhancement Specialist
  • NASM Youth Exercise Specialist
  • NASM Certified Nutrition Coach

After graduation, Kimana went on to receive the following:

  • NSCA Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist
  • ACSM Certified Exercise Physiologist

Coaching Career

Kimana has been training youth, adolescent, and adult individuals for 6 years to become better at taekwondo. Using sport science and exercise principles, he's conducted numerous sessions to improve cardiorespiratory fitness, proprioception, total response time, and other physical qualities

Outside of taekwondo, he's helped individuals improve their muscle mass, lose unwanted body fat, improve maximum strength, local muscular endurance, flexibility and more. This was done either in-person or via his 1-on-1 online coaching services.

Sporting Career

In high school, Kimana ran middle-distance track and cross country for three years for Midwood High School. If you go to the PSAL website, you can still probably search his name! He graduated high school as middle-distance runner of the year.

Kimana also competed in several World Taekwondo Federation (WTF) sparring competitions.

Awards and Competitions

  • Gold Medalist in the 2004 NYS JR. and SR. Taekwondo Championship at Queens College
  • Silver Medalist in the 2003 NYS Taekwondo Championships at West Point
  • Silver Medalist in the USTU President's Cup Taekwondo Championship at West Point
  • Bronze Medalist in the 2004 NYS JR and SR Taekwondo Championship at Queens College
  • Participation Medal in the 2003 JR Olympic Taekwondo Championship in Orlando, Florida (I was disqualified for "excessive contact", hence the participation medal)

Kimana's Latest Posts

Kimana Neilstrong

I've been practicing taekwondo for 9 years, and I've been teaching for 6 years. I've seen beginners and black belts struggle with the same technical problems with their kicks. Why? Because all they do is kick, thinking that's the way to get better.Now while quality repetitions build skill, your body has to be properly conditioned to enter, maintain, and produce force from key positions. You'll achieve this with intentional fitness

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