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Detroit’s Michael Knight Whips Hollywood Into Shape

Not many personal trainers can say that they truly understand the work it takes to transform a body, but Michael Knight does.

Knight’s unique training style has given him the ability to work with hundreds of men and women in the Detroit area, and now he is traveling around the world. Most recently, he was on hand, and on set, for the filming of Red Dawn.

The casting director needed a trainer to work with the actors while Red Dawn was filming in Detroit. “As fate would have it, she looked in the phone book and happened to call my gym,” Knight says. “The director was looking for a trainer who was tall and could look menacing to be an extra on set, and she was instantly directed to me.”

Knight auditioned as an extra, and a half hour later he was part of the film. While on set, he found himself doing what he does best — talking to other extras and actors about nutrition, diet and workout methods. He spoke with Red Dawn’s lead actor, Chris Hemsworth, about the training needed to get him ready for his next role as Marvel Comics’ Thor. It wasn’t long before Hemsworth was a devoted client. Knight also worked intensively with Josh Peck (Nickelodeon’s Josh and Drake) and Isabel Lucas (Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen), keeping them in shape and active during their time in Michigan filming the remake of the 1980s action film.

Many people need a trainer that will tell them what to do. With actors and those who already have a workout routine, it’s completely different. Knight was able to work with them at a faster, tougher pace and allow them to do the unconventional routines that keep them excited and interested throughout their workout.

Often working on set for hours, Knight’s method of training created an outlet to not only get actors ready for filming, but also keep them active during their time off set. Watching both Peck and Hemsworth train with Knight, they rarely work with machines. Instead, Knight uses logs, kettle bells, ropes and other alternative methods to keep things lively and train the entire core.

“I’ve done many workouts with excellent trainers,” Hemsworth says. “So much of training comes down to personality, and Michael is able to connect with his clients. That’s important when he’s yelling to tell me what to do.”

A decade ago, Knight, who recently opened the Art of Strength Training Center, was overweight and miserable. “Many trainers don’t understand the psyche of someone who has been overweight and had that low self-esteem,” Knight says. “But coming from the place I did, I know it’s possible to transform your life.”

Shortly after wrapping-up filming in Detroit, Knight traveled with Hemsworth to his hometown in Melbourne. With many trainers to choose from, Hemsworth will be using Knight’s methods to train and continue preparing for his next role.

“Just looking at Michael, you know he knows what it takes to be built and strong,” Hemsworth says. “Personality is everything, and Michael is the guy you want telling you what to do.”

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