Fitness guru Talal Rashed Alshemari

Embark on My Journey

My name is Talal Alshemari, I was born in Kuwait and now a proud New Zealand citizen since 1995. I've traveled through 48 countries, from the peaceful shores of Maui to the lively streets of Tokyo, connecting with and supporting 15,000 individuals on their mental wellness journey. In 2019, I was humbled to receive a nomination for New Zealander of the Year.

From refugee camps to New Zealand to Los Angeles and Paris— My Journey has connected me with people facing various challenges in their business and family and health. I prioritize time efficiency to make every effort count.

Back in 2007, I stood at a crossroads, contemplating my entrepreneurial path. Choosing a name for my venture was a pivotal moment. After much deliberation, "Coach TA" emerged as the perfect fit. It symbolized my aspiration to coach and bore my initials, Talal Alshemari. Initially, my focus centered on rugby coaching and sports immersion. Yet, the road ahead was far from smooth. I encountered skepticism and prejudice, being deemed "too small," "too Arab," and "too hairy" and my favourite one "Not Qualified enough" for local success.

Undeterred, I sought unconventional solutions. Turning to online tutorials, I taught myself website development, opening new avenues and attending sports academies to learn from All Blacks Legends until 2009. In 2010, alongside rugby legend and All Blacks Legend Hika Reid, I launched "www.rugbydraft.com," a watershed moment propelling me into coaching and entrepreneurship. In just three months, our website drew an astounding 500,000 unique visitors monthly from around the world. This global reach enabled the sale of our inaugural program to athletes spanning Italy, France, Japan, and diverse regions of New Zealand. Our first program debuted triumphantly in April 2010, marking the dawn of a transformative journey.

The inaugural promotional video

During this period, myself and All Blacks Legend Hika Reid collaborated to support and empower our youth. Despite battling cancer, Hika generously dedicated his time to contribute to this program, which ultimately laid the foundation for my future endeavors. In 2018, I made a heartfelt visit to Hika Reid in Rotorua to express my gratitude personally. His mentorship and the invaluable lessons learned from him and others during that time have profoundly shaped my journey.

Then I got the right attention to work as Youth Worker and Social Media Developer for an organization in Rotorua.

Read my interview with NZ Herald in 2014 about my journey and growth once I secured a position as a youth worker in Rotorua. My appointment garnered the attention of NZ Herald, where I was interviewed about my new role and my journey in life. Click here to read it.

Following that, we established Shadow Academy Ltd.

In my entrepreneurial journey, a friend and I established 'Shadow Academy,' a brand and fitness community hub in Upper Hutt. This venture involved strategic collaboration with Work and Income, local organizations, maraes, and schools to implement a program offering free training sessions. Through these partnerships, we not only promoted health and fitness but also fostered community engagement. As a result of our efforts, many participants, spanning various age groups, have progressed to successful careers as police officers, educators, and personal trainers, locally and internationally, as of 2024.Moreover, starting in 2009, I began coaching at local schools, overseeing their rugby programs for college and representative teams in Wellington and Rotorua.

This experience allowed me to interact with outstanding students from Upper Hutt College, Heretaunga College, and Bishop Viard College in Wellington. In addition to my coaching role, I took charge of establishing and managing the business infrastructure of Shadow Academy. This included developing social media platforms, constructing the website, and collaborating with IT departments and resources worldwide to ensure the safety, security, and privacy of all stakeholders."

Then in 2016, We Scaled to Prime Fit Academy

You're Never Alone

We partnered with outstanding businesses and partners to establish 2 free 24/7 Fitness Academy in Upper Hutt and Wellington City. Our facilities boasted showers, top-notch equipment, and we supported local trainers to become certified. We also created a cutting-edge app, expanding its user base globally, reaching Tokyo, New Zealand, Dubai, Europe, and Australia.

Nominated for New Zealander for the year

Between 2015 and 2019, I had the privilege of assisting a diverse range of individuals – from schoolchildren to parents to business owners – in finding motivation and personal growth. This dedication to uplifting others culminated in my nomination for New Zealander of the Year in 2019.

Then in September 2019, Life Changed for ME

From being nominated New Zealander of the year to homelessness

After the exhilarating journey of being nominated for New Zealander of the Year in 2019, I found myself facing unexpected challenges that tested my resilience and resolve. From appearing on the AM Show to traveling to Los Angeles to learn from the late Kobe Bryant and his team at Mamba Academy, and fostering relationships with soccer team owners in Mexico, it was a whirlwind experience. However, upon returning to New Zealand, I encountered a tumultuous period marked by adversity. Business partners sought to dissolve our community gym partnership and leveled allegations against me, triggering a barrage of social media attacks. As I navigated through this storm, I found myself homeless for 16 weeks, fighting to clear my name through the proper channels. Despite the hardship, I chose to approach the situation with forgiveness and a commitment to rising above the negativity. Through perseverance and integrity, I successfully refuted the allegations, emerging from the ordeal stronger than ever. This experience taught me valuable lessons about resilience, forgiveness, and the power of staying true to oneself in the face of adversity.