Today we’d like to introduce you to Elmer Bench.
Hi Elmer , so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I’ve lived both sides of this life.
I’ve been elite—and I’ve been broken.
I’m a former Clemson Tigers football player. I spent 18 years in the classroom as a teacher and over 20 years on the field as a football coach—developing young men, building discipline, and learning that success has very little to do with talent… and everything to do with standards.
I’ve also lived under the bar.
A 721-pound squat.
A 650-pound deadlift.
A 430-pound bench.
A 1,719-pound total.
But those numbers came with a cost.
At my last meet, I tore my left bicep. Before that, I tore my triceps tendon and had it surgically reattached. Most people would’ve shut it down.
I didn’t.
After surgery, I trained legs and squats for 90 straight days. No excuses. No breaks. No shortcuts. That discipline led to a 700-pound squat on the platform at the Arnold Classic.
Because this body has been through it.
I’ve torn my pec. Torn my lat. Cracked my L5 under a 660-pound squat. Torn both adductors. Ruptured a bursa sac and part of my tricep.
And I kept showing up.
Because pain will either stop you… or it will shape you.
But strength doesn’t make you immune to life.
In 2016, during the CrossFit Open, I suffered a major injury. What followed wasn’t just physical—I gained 50 pounds, lost structure, and lost control.
Then came a deeper failure.
In the fall of 2019 and into the spring of 2020, I had an affair. No excuses. No deflection. I owned it. I confessed it.
That moment forced me to confront who I really was—not who I pretended to be.
In 2022, my marriage ended.
But the rebuilding didn’t start there—it started when I chose to face the truth.
I spent five years in therapy—not trying to fix appearances, but to completely reshape myself from the inside out. My thinking. My discipline. My standards. My character.
Because real transformation doesn’t start with your body.
It starts with truth.
And once I faced mine, everything changed.
In 2017, I entered the Gold’s Gym Transformation Challenge. I lost 54 pounds and won the national championship.
But that wasn’t the real win.
The real win was what came after.
That transformation became the blueprint.
It led directly to the creation of Breaking Bars Gym—a place built on discipline, accountability, and the belief that anyone can rebuild their life if they’re willing to do the work.
I didn’t open a gym to train bodies.
I opened it to change lives.
I’ve stood on platforms. I’ve spoken at events like Summer Strong 12 hosted by Sorinex.
But none of that matters if you don’t apply it when life gets hard.
At 50 years old, I’m not chasing who I used to be.
I’m building something
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?
At Breaking Bars, we built something real—something this community can feel the moment they walk through the doors. While there were whispers and outside noise along the way, we never got distracted by rumors or negativity. We let the work speak. We showed up every day, coached with purpose, and poured into people who wanted to change their lives. That’s why Breaking Bars became the place to be—not because of talk, but because of results, culture, and a standard that couldn’t be shaken.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
As the owner of Breaking Bars, I’ve built more than a gym—I’ve built a standard. Every day as a personal trainer, I’ve poured into people from all walks of life, helping them become stronger, healthier, and more confident through consistency, discipline, and accountability. Over time, that commitment has created a culture where results aren’t hoped for—they’re expected. That’s what led to the creation of the Breaking Bars Hall of Fame, a group made up of men and women who embody everything we stand for: loyalty, work ethic, longevity, and passion. From longtime clients who have trained for years without missing, to athletes who continue to compete and perform at a high level well into their later years, these Hall of Famers aren’t just success stories—they’re the living proof of what happens when you commit to the process.
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
Finding a true mentor is rare, and for me, that man has always been Robbie Briggs. I first watched him as a player at The Citadel, and even then, you could tell he carried himself differently—discipline, toughness, and leadership all in one. When he later recruited me and I eventually had the opportunity to coach alongside him, that relationship turned into something far deeper than football. For over 25 years, he’s been someone I could lean on for advice, perspective, and truth—whether it was about coaching, business, or life. Robbie didn’t just teach schemes or strategy; he taught me how to lead, how to stay grounded, and how to handle both success and adversity with character. Having a mentor like that isn’t just valuable—it’s been one of the defining blessings of my journey.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.breakingbarsgym.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/breakingbarsgym?igsh=MThtNGx5ejJ0OG1kNA==
