Filipino Trainer Nikko Reyes Talks Fitness, Identity, and Staying in the Game
The athlete who stayed when the spotlight didn’t
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Nikko Reyes remembers it as if it were yesterday: training spaces with bare floors, mismatched equipment, and terrible lighting. Nothing fancy, but full of heart, he says.
There, he built a body that could deftly navigate the worlds of endurance sports and physique competitions. More importantly, he forged a mind capable of withstanding strenuous situations.
“Those places taught me how to work without an audience. Early competitions humbled me fast. You learn that nerves are normal, preparation matters, and ego weighs more than any barbell,” he says.
“These lessons still show up daily: be early, do simple things well, and don’t skip warm-ups, physically or mentally. Every polished moment I have now traces back to those gritty rooms where I learned to love the work before the results.”
From those humble beginnings, the New York-based Filipino trainer now operates in more elevated spaces. Beyond a solid online following as a fitness content creator, he has founded a personal training business catering to the Big Apple’s top executives.
He has never looked or moved better, but Nikko remains grounded enough to keep his priorities in check.
The work that doesn’t post well
“My body reflects years of choices. Most of the work that shaped it happened off-camera: early mornings, imperfect sessions, and showing up even when motivation didn’t,” he shares.
“What people rarely see are the ordinary, unglamorous parts that actually matter most. The cool thing about fitness is that you can’t cheat the process. It humbles you.”
Off-days were never unfamiliar. There were moments of low energy, sessions scaled back instead of pushed harder. During those times, he trained himself to be patient and keep self-doubt at bay.
“My routines aren’t just about working out. They’re also about protecting my mental state, honoring recovery, and choosing consistency over extremes.”
“Those decisions don’t always make for great content, but they keep me steady, healthy, and capable of showing up long term.”
It marks a clear shift from his early motivations. “Movement then was mostly about how I looked, how much I could lift, and how I fared against others. Now, training has become less about chasing numbers and more about longevity, resilience, and listening to what my body needs,” he says.
Coaching as a turning point
Becoming a coach further reshaped his relationship with movement. “Coaching others made it less about me and more about them. When you’re responsible for someone else’s progress, you stop obsessing over mirrors and start paying attention to movement, energy, and effort,” he explains.
“I’m also expanding into the wellness space. My business partner, Tomer Vinitski, and I are launching a hydration venture built around an exciting new ingredient. As we build the company, I’ll be documenting the journey as a founder, sharing the process of creating something meaningful from the ground up.”
Stronger than the workout
As his presence grew online and in real life, Nikko began to reckon with the weight of representation as a Southeast Asian man.
“At the beginning of my career, I didn’t think I had any responsibility when it came to that. I just wanted to put out fitness and lifestyle content to help people, and I thought it was fun.”
For him, representation does not mean carrying an entire culture on one’s shoulders. “It’s more about showing that we belong in spaces where people might not expect to see us,” he says. “I hope my content makes other Southeast Asian guys and anyone who’s ever felt invisible feel there is a spot for them too.”
In Nikko’s ideal world, that place is one where confidence, growth, and a little fun chaos can coexist.
“Whether it’s pushing through a tough workout or learning to trust yourself, I hope my work shows that getting stronger isn’t just about your body. It’s about showing up for life. If people leave feeling a little braver, a little prouder, or just smiling after sweating, then I know I’ve done my job.”
As seen in the pages of VMAN SEA 05: now available for purchase!
Photography Kevin Chung
