Brock Brown, MA, FAI FAS
Brock has BS and MA degrees in Exercise Science from Ball State University. He worked as an educator, coach and Principal for 36 years in public education while living in central Indiana.
Brock is also a Functional Aging Specialist, with training in mature physiology, nutrition, psychology, and training methods.
The training covers mature adults with a wide range of life experiences, fitness goals, and health challenges.
Additionally, he receives ongoing support from Dan Ritchie and Cody Sipe in order to provide the most up-
to-date training and guidance.
When he and his wife of 40 years, Rhonda, decided to follow their children to Texas, Brock decided to totally immerse himself in his life-long passion for fitness and became a Certified Functional Aging Specialist through the Functional Aging Institute. FAI certified functional aging specialists are educated and experienced to work with older adults. Brock has always had a lifelong passion for fitness. He believes in the Latin phrase, “Mens sana in corpore sano,” which is usually translated as “a sound mind in a sound body.”
After getting “certified” by FAI, he co-authored a book with his mentor Dr. Dan Ritchie: Vibrant at Any Age – Functional Fitness to Renew Your Strength, Balance, and Energy to Follow Your Passion.
His decision to become a Certified Functional Aging Specialist was based upon watching his own mother, aunt and father-in-law struggle through age-related injuries and their rehabilitation process. He himself has spent countless hours at Methodist Sports Medicine in Indianapolis getting himself healed-up from numerous wrestling, martial arts and skydiving injuries: hernia, dislocated shoulders and knee caps, broken fingers, broken ribs, and finally invasive spinal surgery in 2009 at Laser Spine Institute in Tampa, Florida. Last but not the least of it, in August of 2019 ACL surgery to repair a torn ACL he received from doing a hook kick during tkd/karate sparring! No fun but part of the journey. He understands pain and helps his clients to be vibrant in spite of it!
Active age adults do NOT need to train like bodybuilders, nor do they like that type of “muscle-head” atmosphere. However, Boomers do want to stay up with their active lifestyle(s) and continue to pursue their passions! FAI Functional Aging Specialists can help you do just that!
With this wealth of life skills knowledge and experience, Brock connected with Dr. Dan Ritchie of the Functional Aging Institute in the spring of 2015 and decided to start Independent Performance Fitness LLC. Dr. Ritchie along with his business partner, Dr. Cody Sipe, were able to verbalize what Brock had seen firsthand: that older adults need strength training, balance and mobility training that are “functional” to their everyday needs and wants.
As a result Brock has become the leading expert for training mature adults in the region south of Houston! His boutique style in-home fitness facility serves the needs of many young-at-heart mature adults in the Angleton, Lake Jackson and Alvin communities in and around Brazoria County, Texas.
In his past life Brock was a long time wrestling coach creating many champions who have gone on to become great fathers and community leaders. In addition Brock is also a 7th dan Black Belt practitioner of Taekyon Jitsu Do and has studied the martial arts and Asian healing arts for 44 years. He is currently Chairman of the Board and past President of the AMTA – American Mid-West Taekwondo Association.
“I’m a small town guy who has been blessed by small town ‘Mayberry-type’ values…and I wouldn’t trade those values or the friends I’ve made over the years for anything. I’m loyal, I persevere and if I know I’m right, I’ll never back down. As Patrick Swazee said in the movie Road House, I believe in ‘being nice’!”
Brock has been married to his bff Rhonda for 41 years. Together they have three awesome children, two great son-in-laws, a wonderful daughter-in-law, five active grandchildren and #6 due in August of 2019. Blue Skies!
