Billy Blanks Jr.’s New Fitness Platform Offers Accessible Workouts for People with Disabilities (Exclusive)

Billy Blanks Jr. continues his family’s legacy of fitness – for a good cause.

The 45-year-old son of cult fitness figure and Tae Bo creator Billy Blanks, Billy Jr. he spent years as a professional dancer, working with artists such as Paula Abdul, Celine Dion and Madonna.

Now he is entering a new, significant project. As president of Kibu, he oversees a live and on-demand fitness platform that offers people with disabilities customized fitness classes including cardio, strength, yoga, dance and martial arts.

For Billy Jr., paying it forward has a special meaning after his own journey of ups and downs. Billy, his wife and their adopted son were nearly homeless and living in a motel in 2011. He decided to continue Aquarium for sharks 2012 to launch his new dance fitness program and received $100K from Mark Cuban and Daymond John to launch Dance It Out.

“When I was at my lowest point trying to build my Dance It Out program, I was also teaching the most popular class at the gym with 100+ students per hour. I was only paid $35-$45 per hour, not enough to raise a family. I lived in a motel attached to a gym and sneaked through the garage so none of my students would know I was homeless,” he tells PEOPLE.

“I decided to quit to look for a more stable job, and on one of my last days of teaching, one of the students said, ‘Please don’t ever stop teaching this program. It makes me feel so much better.'”

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Billy Blanks Jr. dances with Kibu users.

Callalily Studios

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Those words inspired him to continue searching for his greater purpose.

“Wellness and fitness are emotional, mental and physical health – and inclusion and support are paramount,” she notes.

“It means a lot to overcome so much and be at this very significant time in my life with Kibu. Overcoming homelessness, divorce and more, I’ve learned to never give up,” Billy Jr. shares. “We all go through things, we all need each other, and time and life experiences have taught me that and that timing is everything.”

Billy Jr. is proud of how Kibu helped end the “fitness industry catering to one demographic.”

“It was never inclusive for people with disabilities,” he explains. “I remember people asking me if I had a class for people in wheelchairs or for people with autism. I started incorporating it right into my classes and saw how it made a difference for the better for everyone.”

Billy Banks Jr. in the Kibu class.

Courtesy of Kibu

Billy Jr. has the support of many influential people in the fitness community as he grows Kiba and expands its reach.

“Everyone I meet in the wellness industry immediately signs up to participate. They know the fitness industry isn’t as inclusive as it could be, and they’re excited about the opportunity,” Billy Jr. says. for PEOPLE.

Among his fans are his dad, as well as boxing champion Mike Tyson. “It means the world to me to have both legends — my father, Mike Tyson — as well as all the amazing instructors and trainers on the platform. We want participants to have fun experiencing content with trainers from all walks of life: celebrities, dancers, instructors and more.”

Billy Blanks Jr. with Kibu users.

Courtesy of Kibu

He also has the support of longtime friend and collaborator Paula Abdul, who has been “my mentor, my big sister and my champion, since I was 12 years old.”

“I give her as much credit as anyone because she supported and guided me and always told me to work, to be kind and to never give up, because success will come,” he says.

Billy Blanks Jr. dances with Kibu users.

Callalily Studios

While Billy Jr. looks back on the path that led him to making a name for himself in fitness, noting that it’s all rooted in his father’s legacy.

“I loved dance and fitness, but I didn’t want to ride my father’s hat, so I took the time to figure out how to do something of my own—how to respect and honor what he did, but do it in a way that was uniquely me,” she shares. with PEOPLE.

“It’s a pretty amazing feeling to be a part of my family’s fitness legacy. It’s amazing to hear one of my students say, ‘My mom worked out with your dad on TV, and now I’m working out with you!'”

But what means the most to Billy Jr. is the feedback he received from Kibu users.

“It touches my heart when I meet people from the disability community who use Kiba and tell me how it has changed their lives,” he says. “I hear from parents all the time how grateful they are that Kibu gives their kids a place online where they can take care of their health, engage in fun activities and learn real life skills.”

Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education