For the last few months, I've been working with Sam remotely to help me develop a training program for myself and some sparring partners. I wanted his support in forming new movement habits and unlearning long-held limiting beliefs. His approach to martial arts- and to movement and learning generally- is truly profound. The creative play. The almost philosophical approach to goal setting. My trust in his process was such that I wanted more. And so I recently flew from the east coast to work with him -in person- for a multi-day intensive. He did not disappoint! He helped me throw better kicks within days. He gave me a lot to think about in terms of how to improve my approach to training for the long haul of life. Highly recommend working with All Out Effort read more

I've trained Muay Thai for 6 years and competed in a tournament. In 2023, I struggled with chronic right ankle instability from multiple ankle sprains that became debilitatingly painful, and then soon after a torn ACL on the left leg. After more than a year of rehab after the ACL reconstruction, I've struggled with recurring pain and stiffness. My knee stiffened up with the demands of a typical Muay Thai class, but with Sam I was able to train and even spar comfortably, safely, and creativity. What's unique about Sam is that he encourages and applauds creativity. After cross training across several striking gyms in OC and LA, even the best gyms teach essentially the same combos and drills. What's become important to me is training with someone who is trauma-informed, inclusive, takes into account chronic injuries with a passion and knowledge for the "art" of martial arts, not just the violence of it. I've faced a lot of injuries and trauma training in commercial MMA gyms. If I started out with Sam, I think I would have been even better and healthier by now. Come train with Sam, whether you're a beginner or experienced, young or old! There's no one like him for his affordable rates! read more

Sam and Michelle are fantastic trainers and mentors. I had been put off by personal trainers before. I am a 300+ lb man and I had worked with folks at LA Fitness who had a "no pain, no gain" mentality and had me do burpees and pushups until I threw up. No good. Sam and Michelle are the complete opposite of that experience. I remember that one of the first things Sam told me during our evaluation was along the lines of "You don't need to work out to be a worthwhile person. You already are. If you want to be a healthier person, though, I can definitely help you out with that." It's such an important message to hear when most of the physical fitness industry seems to want to focus on "fixing what's wrong with you." The workouts themselves are thoughtfully constructed. My workouts consisted of work improving mobility and balance. It might not be as sexy as bench pressing 500 lbs, but the feeling of moving with less pain in my body did wonders for my mood and outlook. The big one was my hips opening up more and more. I forgot they could move like that! Sam and Michelle alternate days they work with clients. Sam is a trained martial artist and after a few weeks of work we started working with kicks and light sparring. I've always been fascinated with martial arts but thought it was out of the picture at my weight. Sam taught me that it's mostly about balance and it felt great to move my body in new ways. Michelle and I would usually work with the equipment in the room, like dumbbells, kettlebells, cable machine, etc. Unlike the LA Fitness crew, she paid attention to how I was and never let me sacrifice my form for more weight all while making sure I was sufficiently challenged. I always liked when I could get one session with each of them every week. They're a great team and you can trust that they're looking out for your safety and well-being while working with you on your goals. Sessions are scheduled every Sunday with a text from Sam. They'll work with your schedule to fit you in throughout the week (I was doing twice a week). Sam and Michelle train out of the gym inside the Hollywood Production Center on Santa Monica. It's a great location, with easy parking in an enclosed lot and restrooms equipped with lockers and showers, if you need them. I'm currently taking a break from AOE due to some life changes, but I hope to return to working with them again soon. Sam and Michelle are the gold standard of body-positive trainers and I highly recommend you give them a shot. read more

I came down from the SF Bay Area for a weekend of personal training because I was feeling stuck in life and my martial arts journey. Sam and Michelle are amazing trainers who recognize that we are the experts of our own lives and bodies. I came to them because my old ways of training were unsustainable and just not making me happy anymore. They helped me rediscover the joy of movement and martial arts. I learned more about my body and safe playful movement in one weekend than I have in over a decade of training in fight gyms and fitness boot camps / HIIT gyms. I also learned a lot about keeping others safe and building an inclusive, participant-led martial arts training community. I have over a decade of combat sports experience including training and fighting in Thailand. I am also in my 30s with bad knees and I felt safe the whole time I was with Michelle and Sam. This is the most body positive and inclusive training I have ever experienced. This is also the most effective martial arts training I have seen because the participants have developed skills within hours that would take months to years at other gyms. They also provide a refreshing respite from prescriptive workout programs and the grindset of living in a big city, where you feel like you must constantly produce some type of output for validation. This is personal training that centers you and your body, your time, your space. The location offers privacy, with showers and gated parking, and their rates are extremely reasonable for the Hollywood area (or any big city for that matter). I can't highly recommend them enough no matter where you are in your training journey. read more

Came down from the Bay Area to undergo 3 martial arts session in one weekend and I can say without a doubt that this was the most I've learned in a short period as well as the most fun I've ever had training martial arts. For context, I have previously trained Muay Thai, kickboxing, sanda, and Brazilian jiu jitsu on and off for the past 5 years. Michelle and Sam are wonderful guides that helped me learn to listen and feel my body in order to move in a natural, energy efficient, and non-destructive way. They also helped me understand how to exercise my vision in a way I've never done before. The experience was eye opening (pun intended) and the their guidance has altered how I approach not just martial arts but movement in general. I highly recommend a consultation with them whether you're a beginner looking to start your martial arts journey, you train casually on occasion, or you have extensive training experience. No matter your level, their approach meets your training needs and makes the experience enjoyable in a safe, clean, and welcoming environment. read more

This was my first session with Sam and Michelle. I've trained martial arts since my early 20s and as a 35yr old today I had to unlearn and realize a lot of things today during my hour with them. Everything Sam explained was well put and simplified he was patient in his explanation I wish I knew about his method of training in my early 20s who knows where I would've been. The space is clean and well kept with a clean bathroom. I will be coming by again thanks again! read more

Had a great workout session with Sam. He helped me focus on breathing & taught me variety of mobility exercises. I recommend All Out Effort to everyone interested in feeling better internally & externally. read more

I've been seeing Sam and Michelle for a little over a year now, and I cannot recommend them enough. As a plus size gal, I'm always weary of trying new gyms or fitness classes because I find that not all instructors are knowledgeable about offering modified workouts for different skill levels or body types. I came in looking to improve my overall health and well-being, and they've helped me do that in a safe and welcoming space. Training sessions are personalized for each person. I started out doing mobility and strength training, and we've transitioned into more martial-arts based training, but every step of the way, I've felt cared for and supported and stronger every day! I've had some sporadic back pain and knee issues, and anytime there's a flare up, they've thoughtfully helped me work through it. Two big plusses for me also include the affordability of their sessions as well as easy and safe parking. Parking in Hollywood can be a nightmare, but their gym is located inside a building with a big parking lot and parking attendant. I never have to deal with the drama of looking for parking!! If you're looking to build lifelong habits and improve your quality of life, train with Sam and Michelle! read more

I've been training with Sam and Michelle since August 2022, and am super grateful for their compassionate approach to personal training. As someone with limited gym experience, I was intimidated by the idea of entering a weight room, but both Sam and Michelle have made the 1.5 years an enjoyable and fulfilling training experience. They truly care about their clients, and it shows in their level of patience and investment in every individual they train. I'm finding that over the course of time that I've spent with them, I feel substantially stronger and agile when it comes to daily movement. Most importantly, training with them has established a genuine enjoyment in getting my body moving! I'll find myself casually doing the conditioning movements they've taught me at home, which has really enhanced the level of energy I have these days. I would not hesitate to recommend them to anyone I know, and feel that Sam and Michelle have created a uniquely approachable environment for their clients that is free from judgement or shaming. They truly know the value of creating community, and it shows in the trust and strong relationships with all the fellow clients I've met coming in/out of their training! read more

Before coming to Sam for martial arts training, I had not done any real focused physical exercise for almost two years due to my own work-related restrictions and apprehensiveness during the Covid 19 pandemic.  I never played sports growing up but had enjoyed going to jiu jitsu classes before the pandemic and had a brief stint training in amateur boxing in college, which was cut short due to other respiratory illness. I came to Sam without ever having learned how to kick properly, with terrible cardio and endurance from my years working at a desk and frankly having never really improved beyond an extremely beginner level in the previous two arts I had studied. From the first day on, Sam took extreme care to take note of all of my personal limitations and emphasized that whatever I could do on that any given day was good enough.  This set the tone for the next six months of training in which I would see massive improvement going from quickly learning the fundamentals of kicking and movement to now being able to engage in full contact sparring for multiple hour-long sessions.  Sam's great attitude and practice rooted in compassion has really helped me to avoid burnout or frustration at all stages of my training from the very beginning to the occasional off day when not all pistons are firing correctly.  At All Out Effort, a safe training environment is intrinsically linked with rapid improvement - not only have I never been injured in our sparring sessions, I would say I've improved to a level on par with kickboxing students who have been training at commercial gyms for 2 years or more.  My sessions with Sam are the best part of my week, and I couldn't recommend All Out Effort enough for anyone interested in addressing their own fitness goals or training martial arts in a safe, non-toxic environment. read more

Sam's ability to distill the complexity of martial arts to its basics is unique, unparalleled, and most importantly applicable to my 15+ years of striking experience and my new hobby of BJJ. He creates a playful environment that brings out the joy of martial arts and returns it back to a way of being, rather than just monotonous drills and empty combinations. I enjoyed this play-based approach to learning in a safe, judgement-free environment. AOE is refreshing for someone who has trained for most of their life since Sam can teach his approach in a way that still feels new while honoring your personal style. read more

I had a great experience training with Sam. His innovative concept-driven, play-based approach to martial arts made learning and training not only intuitive but also really fun. I appreciated that he doesn't focus on individual techniques or moves but rather on guiding you towards finding what works for you through experimentation. I walked away from my lesson with ideas that I could apply to other aspects of my life which is something I did not expect from a personal training session. I highly recommend training with Sam for anyone interested in martial arts and looking to gain a better understanding of creatively expressing yourself through movement. read more

I have been working with Michelle remotely for 6 months or so. She's been one of the good parts of my week during this pandemic. She knows a lot about the human body and has creative ways of helping me get stronger and healthier while working around pain points. I love having exercises planned out for my body and goals, and she comes up with great work-arounds if something isn't feeling right. I'm repeatedly impressed by how good she is at explaining things to look out for (toes pointing the wrong way, neck not aligned, etc), and how to correct my posture or where I'm holding my weight. Thanks to her diligence, I get the most out of every movement and am never worried that I may accidentally hurt myself. Her tips are so helpful that I am able to maintain good form when I work on things between sessions. Even when I'm feeling tired or stiff, Michelle makes the exercise fun and engaging. She doesn't let me slack off, but I also never feel intimidated. I look forward to our sessions and have never felt that my experience was lesser due to being remote. read more

First things first, Sam makes an effort to build a safe, welcoming and Covid-free environment. Sam is essentially the only reason I still have an interest in martial arts. I thought I outgrew them, but no, Sam taught me that the world is filled with wonder and joy and injury, and idk. Sam is super thoughtful and patient regardless of your background. He tries to meet you where you are. We bonded over korean webtoons and wholesome activities. I don't think I've ever had a trainer be the kind of nerd I am and that makes me extremely happy. read more

I've trained at several different gyms with long breaks in-between and by far training here with Sam has been the best experience. Their entire approach to training pedagogy is different. They're all about learning martial arts through play in a friendly environment that makes it safe for practitioners to make mistakes and try new things without fear of getting injured by the sparring partner. If it's a group class everyone is given a set of clear instructions on how hard to spar and the specifics of the drill. Ahead of time you're given instructions on what safety gear to bring. Everything is very clearly communicated. The student energy is friendly and welcoming as well as the result. I would highly recommend this for everyone looking to develop new skills, get in shape or just learn more about martial arts. They have students of all levels. Also students wear masks during training so it's a safe place to train during the flu season or new outbreaks of covid. read more

I've been working with Sam for a few years and he's helped improve my overall wellness, balance, and awareness of my body. Highly recommend for those who are looking for long term body work. I have fibromyalgia and plates/pins in my ankle, chronic pain is an issue I deal with. Working with Sam has definitely helped with my symptoms, and he always let's me move at my own pace. Bonus- Sam can talk about pretty much anything and the conversation is always fun. read more

I have LOVED my experience with Sam and Michelle! They are so attentive, caring, knowledgeable, and encouraging. I hate going to gyms and working out in general, and yet I felt so safe and confident with them. I came to them dealing with back pain/issues that wound up landing me in the hospital a few months before I booked my first session. I felt like I was in such great hands with them during my recovery process. They taught me very valuable information, worked at my pace, and challenged me when appropriate. They really seem to view health from a holistic perspective and got to know me as a person too. 10/10 recommend. read more

If you read all the reviews about Sam & Michelle you know that they are a power couple that have aligned & combined their knowledge to help guide you to be the most optimal, functional you. My goals will constantly evolve but I don't have a doubt that Sam & Michelle will help me get there. They didn't just give me a work out. They helped change my lifestyle completely. And for that, I am forever grateful. read more

Did kickboxing and general fitness training with Sam. Amazing experience; can't recommend Sam enough: Detailed, thoughtful instruction tailored to your goals and delivered in a way that makes you feel supported. Whatever your goals, Sam can help you get there. read more

I've been training martial arts on and off for nearly two decades. I can fairly confidently say that I've made more progress in the past week of training than any single year of that time. Sam graciously offered to allow me to get some training sessions in while visiting from out of town - if I lived in LA, I can't see myself bothering to train anywhere else. Sam's training style is personalized to the students in front of him and uses a different method than I've experienced from any other gym that emphasizes live practice and teaches you to control your attention where it's most needed in any fighting situation (competitive or otherwise). I also got the opportunity to train with a bunch of other students he trained: Sam's insistent on building a positive culture throughout the whole gym and not just the instructor-student relationship, which means that you can show up with the certainty that every round will be productive and controlled no matter who you're training with that day - which means that everyone gets quality work even with (and partially because of!) huge diversity in training experience, body size, and comfort level. Easily the best money I've spent in years and years of martial arts training. An easy decision if you live anywhere remotely near Hollywood. read more

At all out effort, you don't just get some tips for exercises, you get full on life coaching. Both Sam and Michelle are extremely skilled trainers and more than that, incredibly likable people. The program starts out with a thorough assessment of your weak spots as well as a talk about your personal goals. Workout sessions are tailored not only to your overall goals, but even to how you feel any given day. Through this process you learn to read your body in ways you never have been able to before. They allow you to schedule classes fairy flexibly which is awesome for people with busy and irregular work schedules. Besides that, Sam is a passionate entrepreneur, podcast publisher and philosopher meaning you won't just walk out of classes physically challenged, but mentally inspired as well. I couldn't imagine better personal trainers and can highly recommend Sam and Michelle to anyone wanting to take their heath and fitness to the next level. read more

2 years later, I am still rocking Paleo 80% of the time and now moved onto Crossfit which is something I never thought I'd ever have the confidence to do. I crossfit 3-4 times a week now. I've gained a few lbs back but it's muscle as I have leaned out while lifting heavy. I wouldn't have gotten to where I am today w/o Sam's support. read more

Sam and Michelle are amazing. My husband and I both see them and they've helped us so much with aches and pains, flexibility and strength. They really know anatomy and are great at adjusting an exercise to fit the individual. I work with Michelle and I can tell she's always looking for new ways to challenge me without aggravating my joint issues. I always feel so much better after a visit. Not to mention they're really nice people. Can't recommend AOE enough! read more

Highly recommend! I was looking for a PT and very drawn to All Out Effort based on their reviews and the integrity that came through their site, mission and holistic approach. I met Sam and Michelle in 2018 and have been working with them ever since, both in the gym and remotely. I loved the intimacy and privacy of the gym and the flexibility in scheduling. Sam conducted my initial assessment, which was thorough and eye opening in that it highlighted areas as simple as my walking form and daily habits contributing to some minor pains I was experiencing. I've since mainly worked with Michelle who is incredibly skilled and knowledgeable and has a knack for knowing what's on my mind and what I need to push through - which oftentimes is education and kinesiology related, as form and movement are very important to me. She knows how to inspire and challenge me in a safe and comfortable way. Beyond that, Michelle is super friendly, patient, consistent and reliable. I love the accountability, integrity and friendship formed over the years and highly recommend AOE. read more

I'm so thankful to have worked with Sam and Michelle for the past few months. With their help, I was able to reach my goal of getting stronger and having more energy throughout the day which made a big difference in my quality of life. I appreciated that they personalized each session and created a comfortable environment, focusing on overall well-being. I really enjoyed working with them, and I highly recommend! read more

Sam and Michelle are incredible trainers that go beyond typical fitness. They helped me come back from a reoccurring knee injury after three different physical therapy stints didn't do the job. Haven't had a knee injury since. In addition they got me in the best shape of my life. Cannot recommend them enough. read more

As someone who had anxiety while going to gyms, Sam helped me build my confidence. The intimate gym setting and simple and effective workouts were perfect. Sam also provides great conversation on a number of topics as well. It was overall a great experience, I highly recommend Sam as a trainer. read more

I have struggled with maintaining good exercise habits my entire life. Often times when I would try to get back into working out, I'd become overwhelmed with shame about how much my physical shape had degraded and then give up again. The best part about working with Sam is that he created goals for me that allowed me to emphasize consistency over numbers, so that way I could stop competing with my mental image of where I should be and just focus on where I'm at now. It helps a lot that Sam's a super sweet and encouraging guy, but that's just the cherry on top with such a competent and thoughtful approach to fitness training. Can't recommend him more. read more

Sam and Michelle are incredible trainers with a vast amount of experience and have a talent for not only being able to improve your fitness but views health and well-being holistically. You're never going to find this level of training at some box/corporate gym - I've been down that road and All Out Effort are on a totally different level. Plus they're great people, you don't come in just as a client, you make life long friends. read more

Not too long ago, I wrote a review professing my onetime obsession with Popeye's. Shortly after, I received an incredulous message from Sam saying, "Why are you eating this??!" That's Sam for you - there to read your reviews about the food you eat and tell you when your choices are whack. On the serious tip, Sam's a great trainer. He is like the Plato of physical fitness. He comes up with these gems of wisdom that are so inspiring that you almost forget he's making you do 80 million yards of walking lunges...almost. Here is one of his nuggets of inspirational wisdom and I'm paraphrasing, "These days we spend 8 hours a day sitting at a desk, another 60 sleeping and barely get any exercise. If you only work out 5 hours a week, you body has a lot of downtime to overcome....hey, I didn't say stop doing pushups!" Sam is not the kind of personal trainer that barks at you 'til you want to bitch slap him. Who wants to pay money to have somebody yell at you and make you feel badly about yourself? Many of us can just go visit our families for that. He provides encouragement, guidance and he's supportive. He's friendly, he's fun and when you ask him when he'll stop torturing you, he'll just smile and say, "This is nothing!" He'll urge you to finish that 100th sit up, but if you can't he won't berate you into an eating disorder. He'll just give you a look that makes you want to work harder, but if you feel like you're going to fall over and die, he understands that you need a break. The bootcamp work out is an hour-long combination of cardio and strength training. Sam is a big proponent of interval training because it helps burn more fat. He understands that living in L.A. the fat has to get to steppin' and so do you. Sam's workout also helps prevent cockiness. You might strut into bootcamp thinking, "I got this! I work out 5 days a week. Pleeeeaaase, this won't be nothin'". Midway through your 11th sprint, as you're huffing and puffing, sweat soaking through your clothing and burning your eyes, you're thinking, "What the %**(^%# have I been doing at the gym!? I'm so out of shape!" And you cry inside as one of the 5 year olds at the park mocks you. You're great, Sam, thanks! read more

Shit, so the world didn't end today. I need to get my life back on track. To write this review is the first item on my new bucket-list that I formulated about an hour ago. I am proud of Sam. He's my son, so I don't feel weird stating this. Ok, ok, he's not my actual son, but he's the type of guy you greet with, "Yo, what's up, ma' son?" whenever you run into him. Wait, daaamn I think I watched too much Moeshia on UPN back in the 90's. Sorry. But you get the idea... I've known Sam since 2007, and before his decision to be a personal trainer, I nicknamed him, 5am-- "Five-A.M." obviously play on word for Sam -- for always staying up late, doing stuff he wouldn't dare do today. But one day back in 2008'ish, he gave up this lifestyle, in pursuit to help others give up similar lifestyles when he reckoned that eating, drinking, and playing StarCraft til 5am every morning was detrimental to his health and more notably, to his love life. Fast forward to 2012- He's now married, and a bona fide personal trainer, who'll truly understand your reason for reaching out to him. He understands cause he's been there- eating McNuggets, drinking Sam Adams, playing StarCraft, all at the same time, at 5am. Last week was my first time officially working out with him. As he was coaching, boot camp style, I couldn't help myself but to imagine him being Bruce Lee. Bruce Lee knew his shit and Sam knows his shit. Even Sam's instructional gestures and cadence are reminiscent of Bruce Lee's, minus the "whhhhhhhooooah" vocal expressions. Plus, they sorta look alike, no? No! They don't look alike, you racist! I recommend Sam, if you want to experience what it would've been like to be coached by Bruce Lee back in the 60's. Sam is a throwback, with a slight modern twist thanks to his lovely wife. (Hi, Michelle! How you doing?) Three suggestions if you end up reaching out to Sam: 1) Wear clean socks without holes in them. 2) Bring only water. No Gatorade. No soju. No horchata. 3) Never mention StarCraft. Never. You'll thank me later. Ya'know wha I'm sayin'? Opps, sorry again. (Check) read more

What can I say that other people haven't ... let me think. OK I got it. What Sam's good for ... - Pushing you to your limit, but making sure you're not over-doing yourself - Motivation? Nah. He won't force you to go, he only wants people who want to be there - Turning his back to you so you can take a mini-break - Making you think to yourself "this guy's a punk" but then he tells a joke to make you laugh, he's actually a funny guy and makes working out fun - Overall good trainer: cardio, strength, endurance, stamina, running, sprinting, stretching, sit-ups, punching and kicking - the only thing we haven't done yet was co-ed wrestling, i'm still waiting for that - Plagiarism. During the work-out, he says inspirational quotes but he never gives credit to the people he stole them from If you're looking for someone to take you to the next level in your overall fitness goals, Sam's your guy. You'll feel good after your hour session. Join his group, they're fun. If you don't want to sweat in front of other people, then ask about his private sessions. Get it out of the way early and you'll feel good the rest of the day. read more

I've been to the other Personal Trainers; The dime-a-dozen, amped-up fitness freaks, of which there are so very many in this town. People with frozen smiles and that perpetual groaning noise caught in their throat after they say what they think you want to hear. People who will tell you anything to make you feel like you're making progress. People who coddle you and make you feel good about yourself so that you continue to give them money for their unlicensed, unregulated business that they conduct with little to no training requirements or expertise. Such is the usual business practice of the Hollywood Personal Trainer. I'd hate to sound clichéd, folks, but Sam is not the average Personal Trainer. He shouldn't even be in the same category. At this point, I find that referring to him as a "Personal Trainer" belittles him due to the mere association it creates with the rest of the fitness morons in this town. Sam is, to me, a remarkable individual with whom it is a privilege to train with and be helped by. Unfortunately, that's not a catchy title but it captures the spirit of his practice far more than "Personal Trainer". He is not here to tell you what you want to hear. In fact, you're probably going to hear a bunch of stuff you didn't want to hear. About your diet. About your posture. About your moods and your personality and the way you conduct your life. He approaches you from a clinical, almost mathematical point of view. Just by looking at your musculature and the tightness of your joints and nerves, at the way you move and run and interact, he can somehow see the kind of life you lead and the kind of person you are and, make no mistake, to Sam, that is important. He's not trying to improve your body. He's trying to improve you. Body and mind. Hardware and Software. Improve it, shape it. To him, it's all connected, as I've come to learn that it should be. Let me explain; He will constantly look at every aspect of your life. Your diet. Your exercise. Your work place. Your personal life. All of these things come into play and he evaluates all of it and forms a plan to improve every facet of your life. And he will explain to you, in detail, why and how these parts of your life must change. Get ready to absorb some info, because Sam does his homework. He is learned and very informed in everything that he does. This kind of dedication from a "Personal Trainer" is not the norm. I cannot stress it enough when I say he doesn't NEED to do what he does, he does it out of pleasure and kindness. And as much as he might seem like the hard-ass, he's a softie. He puts a LOT of emotional investment into you. More than many people should. So much that you won't want to let him down. It's not a guilt thing, he actually cares. He puts effort into you, tries to help you in any way he can, professionally and personally because he approaches you like a PERSON, not like a body or a client. That's why he's so effective. He tries to fix problems from the source. And he feels more like a good friend than a coach. The only reminder that I'm a client of a business is that every few weeks he mentions that I'll have to make a payment soon. The rest of the time, he approaches me with a balance of professionalism and friendship that is exactly what I need to turn my life around. Which brings me to my final point; By far, the most important thing you must take away from this review is that he will stress that it is YOU who's got to make the change. YOU who has to put the work in and the belief. I know I've made him sound like some flip-a-switch solution to your problems, he's not. He just gives you the support and information you need for YOU to become the solution. And that's worth a whole lot more than he charges. Before Sam, I was half-assing life. I was just trying my best. Now, I'm trying to be the best. There's a big difference there. read more

After 9 months of training with Sam and following his dietary instructions... I am 7% body fat. Need I say more? read more

The popular saying goes that your body is a temple. After two years of working the 9 to 5, an undisciplined eating habits, and a dramatically reduced metabolism, my body became more like a fortress with the subcuteous fat a thick padded wall that surrounds my frame. By no means was I ever obese. But I could no longer be classified with words such as "thin" or "fit". However, I was adept at fooling many that I carried a thin yet curvaceous frame. Like a clever magician, I used the optical illusions of fashion to divert attention away from my excess pooch. Waisted belts, empire waist shirts..you name it. Ah, but I couldn't hide it from myself. I was bothered by the discomfort of a portruding stomach and extra cushion. I slouched more. I didn't feel comfortable while sitting nor sleeping. And I was outraged that the cute clothes I owned didn't look so cute on me anymore. My crafts at optical illusions couldn't hide the obvious anymore. So I began slaving away at the gym daily and tried to cut down my eating. Sometimes it worked...temporarily. I was another victim to yo-yoing with my weight. Though I could build a temple, I didn't have the foundations nor fortitude to maintain it. I didn't have the right knowledge nor the right tools to keep off my weight. I needed a professional with years of knowledge and experience to help guide me into building my body into the temple I desired it to be. So, I decided to meet with Sam. And I'm sure glad I did, because as much of a smart-ass I am and as much as I hate ass-kissing, he has earned my respect because he IS the best. Sam Y. knows his shit, and he's a mother-effing guru when it comes to fitness. Sam was the perfect civil engineer / architect to help sculpt my fortress into a temple. Brick by brick, he guided me how to lay the foundation for a lifestyle that would both build and help me maintain the figure I want for myself. And he gave me some handy tools to effectively accomplish this. Instead of using a shovel, he gave me a bulldozer. Oorah!! I have been working with Sam for 4 weeks. Right now, I'm still a work in progress, and I am still in process of reaching my target. But I must say, since I've began with Sam I've been losing the optimal weight that I should and building lots of lean muscle. My metabolism have definitely jump-started. In fact, honestly, physically speaking, I am very satisfied with where my body is at. Everyone has noticed a difference. However, now my focus is more on toning, being more lean, and healthy. NOW I want my temple to be spotless, damnit!! Sam is also great to work with. He's amiacable and will do his best to answer any questions I have. And I have a tendency to ask many technical, scientific questions. To be frank, I am a guilty of being an unapologetic obnoxious pain in the ass to deal with. I'm a skeptic, and I take everything that challenges my conventional wisdom with a grain of salt. So I always question HIM and his methothology, "is this really working? Are you sure? What is the science behind this? Am I working hard enough to achieve my goals?" "Will I get too many muscles? I don't want to gain too much muscles or look stocky." And he doesn't just answer my questions, but he shows me every week when I weigh in on his scale. As long as I follow his guidance, I will meet results. Sam Y.. the ultimate architect / civil engineer of the body. He will help you to sculpt your body good. read more

I have worked out with personal trainers before, but never with anyone who actually cared about how I was doing and wanted me to be healthy not just lose weight. I knew that Sam was different the first day I met him when he gave me reading homework. I was like I have to read to get in shape, but Sam wanted me to understand my body and what roles nutrition and exercise played in my life. I didn't get to work with Sam as long as I would have liked, but with him I lost nearly 30 pounds in just a few short months. Everyone asks me what I'm doing like it's some big secret or mystery. I just say I met this awesome guy who taught me how to eat right and exercise the right way. I would recommend Sam to everyone! He's the BEST!!! Angela (Derek's wife) read more

Before Sam Y started All Out Effort Personal Training, he needed someone to test out his various exercises, diet plans, and be on the receiving end of his various punches and submission holds. From early 2004, I was that guy. Was it tough? Absolutely. Did I want to quit? All the time. Were there days when I wanted to key Sam's car? Every day. But because of his early dedication to my continued fitness and personal goals, I was able to achieve them and much more. He's the kind of coach that Hollywood loves to recreate time and time again: He'll work you like a dog but pushes you to achieve your potential with a few wise words during intense training montages. His knowledge in the field continually gets better and shows no sign of deteriorating. read more

I actually found Sam & Michelle from All Out Effort on Yelp. I was looking for a personal trainer who would take a holistic approach to my fitness and body - not just make me do squats and tell me to drink protein shakes to get "swoll". After an evaluation from Sam, I learned I had a lot of work to do. But there was zero judgement and 1,000% encouragement. Their first priority was to get my core stronger. This was exactly what I was looking for. Sure, 12 pack abs are great, but have you tried building your core for long-term health and stability?? The focus, for me, was never on losing weight - but rather, building muscle and getting stronger as I approach my older years. Sam & Michelle really listened to my goals and crafted a work out plan and philosophy that worked for me. They even gave me exorcises and stretches to do throughout the day, as I sit at a computer all day long. One thing that I really liked about Michelle & Sam is the workouts were tough, and I felt them, but I never felt like my body was being pushed beyond what I was able to do. I never questioned my safety and never felt injured from working out with them. Michelle is particularly good about picking up on a person's pain or previous injuries (perhaps even a mild flinch) and making an immediate adjustment. M&S keep the workout serious, but with a relaxed and fun environment. Sam always has interesting things to share - whether it's a new podcast he's listening to, or his recommendations for the best pizza joints in town. In addition, Sam & Michelle would always ask how my body was feeling. How I was eating. How was my work stress, etc. They taught me that it was all related. As for the gym, it's small, intimate, clean, simple. Sometimes the hardest workouts required the simplest tools. When Michelle pulls out a yoga mat or furniture sliders, watch out. Your core is gonna burn!! I know people can be weary of a review that only has one 5-star review. But All Out Effort was worth joining Yelp for. Sam & Michelle are amazing professionals (and all around nice humans) who have really helped transform the way I treat my body and they are definitely one of the LA's best kept secrets. read more

I have been in the US for 6 years now and had a sedentary lifestyle for the first 5-1/2 years. Before that, I was never FIT at any point of time but, at the very least, I used to play cricket for several hours every week. Being a south-indian, veggies and fruits were part of my diet. Excessive cheese, oil or salt were NOT, it was all good stuff (lentils, veggies, diverse spices, etc ). On the downside, I used to eat a lot of rice, yoghurt, savories and drank coffee quite a bit (coffee diluted heavily with milk). When I came to LA, there were a few subtle but important changes. I started eating out more (indian fast food and otherwise). So, more cheese, salt and oil than I was ever used to. Due to anxiety of grad studies or work or what not, I started drinking even more coffee. Plus, absolutely NO exercise. Fast forward 5-1/2 years later, I couldn't do easy hikes without taking breaks to catch my breath when everyone around seemed fine (they are not super-fit, just not as bad as I was). Advice from friends, family, doctor and lot of internet research led to prioritizing health as an important goal in my life. Sam's experience and his blog was an important factor. http://www.allouteffort.com/ has a lot of information on how to improve the diet, what are the kind of exercises to incorporate in training to achieve fitness goals. Another factor is his emphasis that safety comes first. I know people who had severe injuries trying to work out or lift weights without proper training. So, having read client reviews and being convinced in a FREE session, I decided to give AOE a shot. IMPROVEMENTS 1. Safety comes first and Sam is critical about perfecting the posture before moving on to more reps or heavier weights. When I started, I was asked to run on the treadmill. Soon, he noted that I had an incorrect running form. After a while of running, I had shin splints due to the way I was striking my feet and my shoes. He promptly asked me to try running barefoot, corrected my form and suggested particular type of barefoot shoes. Hours of practice later, I can run faster (7-8 mph), longer (9-10 minutes) and no shin splints yet. 2. Strength training: I didn't know most of the exercises, had poor form for the rest and the weights I used were small. So, Sam suggested that I start with small weights and lower reps. But he made sure that I was pushing myself to the next level and over time, improvements were apparent. Earlier, I could probably squat with 15 lbs kettle bell for few reps. Now, I can squat with 35 lbs for more reps or even do a complex with two 25 lbs (50 lbs effectively). Still have a long way to go compared to other clients. 3. IMO, one of the best advices that Sam gave (see http://www.allouteffort.com/2012/01/basic-exercises-for-beginners.html) is the notion of proper form in body-weight exercises. Some exercises (squats, dead lifts, getting up, etc.) are basic movements that we do everyday. It is crucial to maintain proper form while doing them as well. I felt that was insightful and made it a point to apply it everyday. Whenever I reach down to pick up stuff or lift heavy packages in mail, I make sure that I apply the same techniques as if I were in a gym working with free weights. His method is to teach techniques that go beyond the confines of a gym and intended to be incorporated into daily activities. 4. Sam asked to make significant changes to my diet. Basically, cut down on grains, eat raw and cooked veggies and fruits, healthy fats, nuts and egg whites. The changes have had a profound impact. It is difficult to explain here, but I wrote an article about it, posted on his blog http://www.allouteffort.com/2012/05/letter-from-vegetarian-to-vegetarians.html. 5. The results speak for themselves. After 5 months of training, I can hike for several hours on moderate to steep inclines; last month, I hiked with a 30-40 lbs backpack on a steep incline for 10 hours in one day and I did fine. And for the readers interested solely in numbers, I've lost 16 lbs (10% body weight) since I started and am at less than 10% body fat (I started at 20%). 6. So far, I've talked about improvements on my end. But that's just part of the story. I had recommended his blog to friends and relatives and it seems, that's had a positive impact as well. For instance, two of my younger cousins, aunt and uncle have already made changes to their diet and fitness methods. Also, it has brought about changes in what my room mates eat everyday. One of them has cut down on rice significantly and has started eating more raw veggies. Now, only if I can convince her and the other room mate to start exercising. There are several positive things that I could go on and on about Sam but this review has reached its limit. So, I'm gonna end by saying that I completely recommend Sam to anyone looking to prioritize their health, learn the fundamentals of fitness and the effective methods to make it work to attain your goals. read more

When I was selected as an official representative for the Miss California USA pageant (My title was Miss Melrose 2012), I furiously looked around for THE best personal trainer so I could confidently wear a bikini for the millions of viewers that would be watching. I am so fortunate to have found Sam Y, as I achieved this goal, and so much more. Knowledge. Inspiration. Unparalleled trainer of both the body and mind. And I've worked with several personal trainers, most of whom use a one size fits all approach. When I would inquire about kettlebells, tabatas, greasing the groove, or other exercise programs, most of the trainers I interviewed would either give me blank stares or mumble that they weren't as familiar with these fitness concepts. Sam's immense fitness and nutrition knowledge is so expansive that it feels like he can field any array of questions pertaining to these subjects to a degree that instills so much confidence in him as a trainer and the regiment he puts you on. He answers the WHY that gave me confidence in what I was doing. In a mere 7 weeks of training with Sam, not only did I transform my body, but also my level of fitness in the areas of cardiovascular endurance and muscular strength and power. When I first started with Sam, I would feel slightly tired jogging up a flight of stairs. About a month into our training, I did a late night jog at Griffith Park with a former marathon runner, and barely felt tired during the uphill portion of the run. I was shocked to find out I had been jogging over a mile uphill to start out. Sam and I hadn't even been doing any treadmill or running work at that point, but it was the eclectic power, strength, and muscular endurance exercises that helped me get from "feeble to fit" (one of Sam's goals for clients). I love Sam's take on building strength through MOVING weight rather than LIFTING weight, which is much better for the body, and you see incredible results. When we first started training, I would complain that my body wasn't "feeling" certain exercises as much as other exercises. I think we often are under the false pretense that an exercise is only effective if we are in severe physical discomfort. Not so. I built strength and endurance without feeling like I was about to pass out or my muscles were going to give out every second. Makes the sessions much more enjoyable as well. I had never actually looked FORWARD to going to the gym or working out with a trainer prior to Sam. Nothing ever felt stale because we did a variety of workouts, ranging from kickboxing, to kettlebells, to weighted Indian bats, floor exercises, endurance drill competitions between clients, and much much more! He was very available via phone and email, proactively checking on my progress, both physically and mentally. At the very least, do the personal assessment with Sam. His keen eye for detecting bad form and habits will provide you new information about your body and the way you use it. If certain habits aren't corrected (if you aren't aware of them, how can you begin to change them?), they could lead to very debilitating injuries in the near or distance future. read more