Today we’d like to introduce you to Dwayne Turner.
Hi Dwayne, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I was the shy kid in the back of the room. So it’s funny where life put me: coaching Olympians and MMA fighters, standing guard backstage for music producers, and traveling the world on tour. Being put into positions to have to speak to people and or being the speaker of the event. We have these things inside of us that we do not know what we can do until the opportunity presents itself to be shown. With the correct tribe around you and the constant belief in your abilities, there is NEVER a limitation on what is possible.
For more than 20 years as a fitness professional versed in a multitude of modalities, I’ve made a career in rooms built for extroverts and building introverts (physically) into extroverts. I’ve trained professional athletes, fighters, weekend warriors and people who just want to feel good in their skin again. I’ve worked as a bodyguard and road manager for producers like Jim Beanz (Empire; Britney Spears’ “Gimme More”) and TroyBoi (Illi; Justin Bieber’s “Red Eye”).
But the lesson that stuck with me didn’t come from a stage or a gym. It came from the people. The people just want to heard about their journey in life. A small piece of time of someone they respect or they see as light. We can dismiss the notion that we don’t need an approval of another, which maybe correct depending, but we cannot dismiss the fact, we all want to be seen as human in each others eyes. A want or need, to be seen as I matter!
In every city and every culture, I saw the same thing: everyone wants to be seen and heard. Not for their title or their physique. Just for being human.
That idea runs through everything I do and who I am. I was once told, what a person does not receive as a child, they will either seek or resent as an adult.
The Unknown Trainer, my coaching company, isn’t just about building bodies. It’s about finding the capabilities you didn’t know you had. The physical work opens the door to the inner work. Maybe my drive to help people comes from what I didn’t get growing up. Either way, I can’t turn it off. Its a part of me that makes me who I am and that part resinates with the athletes that I work with. There is a certain authentic emotional connection put into the well being of the person and their well being in life, not just the gym.
Keepers of Khora, the nonprofit I co-founded with Tiffany Levy, came out of my own mental health struggles, some diagnosed and some not. We create relaxed spaces, like a workout, a meal or a conversation, where people can finally say what they’ve been carrying. We’ve partnered with Lululemon for a Black Excellence Event and with Xcal Shooting and Fitness, for men’s events. And we’ve watched strangers leave as friends.
My purpose is to provoke thought, conversation, community and create change.
One person. One rep. One event at a time.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Smooth road? How many eye-roll emojis do you need?
Nothing impactful has ever come easy. To truly value what you’ve built, you have to go through the grind that earns you the knowledge, and the right, to be great. My road in fitness and in the nonprofit world has been anything but straight.
When I came to this area in 2017, I had to start over. My years of experience and the results I’d built in other markets didn’t mean much to people who had never heard of me. I had to earn every client from scratch, one session and one referral at a time. I’m also naturally shy and introverted, so putting myself out there, marketing myself, and walking into rooms full of strangers took real effort. Some seasons were slow. There were times I questioned whether the path I’d chosen was worth it.
Keepers of Khora came with its own challenges. Nonprofit work runs on limited resources, and you’re always stretching time, money, and energy further than seems possible. On top of that, mental health is still a topic many people would rather avoid. Getting people to show up, open up, and trust the space took patience. Some early events were small. There were nights we wondered if we were making any difference at all. Then someone would share a story they’d never told anyone, and we’d remember exactly why we started.
Here’s what I’ve learned: unwavering belief in yourself, paired with real passion for your work, will carry you through every obstacle. The energy you put out into the world comes back. It leads you to the right people, the right rooms, and the right opportunities to take what you’re doing to the next level. The setbacks weren’t detours. They were part of the road.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
The Unknown Trainer
When I arrived in the area in 2017, people assumed the name meant nobody knew who I was. That’s not it. The Unknown Trainer is about the unknowns we all carry: the doubts, the fears, the version of ourselves we haven’t met yet. My job is to help you face those unknowns and come out the other side stronger in every sense.
Yes, my sessions are tough, and yes, we build top-notch physiques. I’ve coached professional athletes, Olympians, MMA fighters, and everyday people. But I’m not here only to change your body. I’m here to challenge how you see yourself and your life. My style is tough love: I meet you where you are, emotionally, physically, and mentally, and I walk with you the whole way. Together we break down destructive habits and choose progress over perfection. Put simply, we’re building better humans.
What sets me apart
Most coaches start with your goals. I start with you. Before we lift anything, I want to know your “why.” Why now? What’s your story? What’s driving you to walk through the door today? When the person comes first, they stop just following a plan and start believing in the process, and in themselves. Someone else can spark that belief, but it only lasts when it comes from within. That’s where I put my focus.
What I’m most proud of
Every client I’ve trained could have picked someone else, and they picked me. Seeing athletes compete and win is a great feeling, but each of them still had to decide to start that journey with me. I don’t take that for granted. It keeps me humble and grateful every day.
Keepers of Khora
My commitment to the whole person goes beyond the gym. Keepers of Khora is a nonprofit I co-founded with Tiffany Levy, and it’s built around mental health. We create spaces where real, organic conversations about the struggles we all face can happen. Each event brings people together over an activity, a shared dinner, and honest conversation. Not everyone is ready for therapy right away, and sometimes you need a softer landing first. We partner with local therapists at every event so guests have support and resources if they need them. These gatherings have led to incredible breakthroughs, and some have saved lives.
Whether it’s in a training session or around a dinner table, my mission stays the same: see the person first, then help them become who they’re meant to be.
Can you share something surprising about yourself?
Most people are surprised to learn that I’m shy and an introvert.
In the gym I’m loud, direct, and pushing you through that last rep, so people assume I’m naturally outgoing. The truth is, that energy is something I choose. It isn’t where I’m most comfortable. Walking into a room full of strangers still takes effort for me. After a long day of sessions and events, I recharge in quiet. I’m usually the one listening and taking everything in before I say a word.
What drives me past that shyness is how much I care about people. I don’t just care about their bodies. I care about their minds, their stories, and how they’re really doing when no one is asking. That’s why I want to know your “why” before we ever start training, and it’s why Keepers of Khora exists. Being an introvert has made me a better listener, and listening is where real change starts.
Another thing people rarely guess: before I was known for fitness, I worked as a bodyguard for producers Jim Beanz and road manager/ bodyguard for music producer TroyBoi. That world taught me how to read a room, stay calm under pressure, and protect the people in my care, and I still bring all of that into coaching.
And one more: I’m working toward becoming an author. I have a lot of stories and lessons from this journey, and I am working to put them into print and publish in the upcoming future.
A life lived with opportunities, turmoils, with knowledge and wisdom gained means, zero if it is not shared with the masses. We should use our testimonies, to help uncover the possibilities of this life for all.
Thank you for this opportunity to Be Seen and Heard!
Contact Info:
- Website: the_unknown_trainer.com
- Instagram: the_unknown_trainer and keepers.of.khora
- Facebook: KeepersOfKhora
