HOUSTON — At Master Trainer Justin Allen's southwest Houston gym ALL-EN SPORTS PERFORMANCE a fancy ambience is replaced with hard work, and air conditioning is replaced with the drip of sweat.
"I like to give that type of feeling, that type of vibe … it’s kind of what made us … that adversity ... you fight through that adversity," Allen said.
Every day, Allen works with some of the most prominent athletes in sports. His gym and his social media (@allensportshtx) are filled with the likes of Tyreek Hill, C.J. Stroud and Tank Dell just to name a few.
And even in the middle of training sports biggest stars, Allen is working with clients of all ages and backgrounds. His goal is always the same.
"Whether I’m helping the general public or a star athlete, the passion is the same and the mission is the same: How can I help you get better?" he said.
Although he's become one of the most sought-after trainers in sports, Allen's journey began as a high school athlete at Cy Falls High School. He would go on to play football at New Mexico State but said that's when his playing career ended -- he struggled with what came next.
Allen said a pivotal trip to see his brother Dwayne changed his life.
"When I finished playing ball, my brother’s actually Dwayne Allen, he recognized I was in depression," Allen said.
Allen said knew he wanted to be a trainer and it was his big brother's push that helped him embrace what he needed to do next.
"He was like if you want to be a trainer you gotta' take matters into your own hands and work for it. And so I did. I asked him to send me to Houston and I literally started from the bottom," Justin said.
So he started by training wherever he could and his client list began with his dentist's son. Eventually, Allen worked his way up to a small gym off Chimney Rock.
"I was broke and I had a dream and I had a passion to help the people and that led me to where I am today," he said.
Pretty soon, word of mouth turned into training clients like James Harden and other top athletes -- eventually expanding his business to its current location.
“It’s my passion and I found out it was my purpose," Allen said.
But Allen isn't stopping there --he's now using his platform to give back. He's partnered with Dick's Sporting Goods to give funds and time to local schools; bringing some of his biggest stars to help present checks and answer questions about mental health.
“I think it sits with them pretty well, more than any other information they take because it’s something that they want to do, it’s something they actually want to be involved with," former Texans Safety Mike Tyson said.
Allen also started a 7-on-7 team to provide opportunities both on and off the field to future generations.
“That light bulb pops on and it’s like, ‘Wow, he gets it.’ That’s the most important thing to me -- being able to reach that mental level and having that strength and having that heart, having that real foundation is the most important thing to me," Allen said.
And with football season just a few weeks away, Allen and Texans fans are excited to see one of his biggest clients, Tank Dell, complete his comeback from injury.
“J-Allen, that’s my guy! I give a lot of credit to J-Allen at all times. During the offseason, I’m always with J-Allen. He has a lot of different workouts for me. We go through hill work, outside sand work, in the weight room we do explosive things -- a lot of stuff that he put together for me," Dell said when asked about Allen's impact a few months ago during minicamp.
"I told him, ‘Hey man, pick your head up because next year we’re going to be happy, we’re going to be all smiles, there’s going to be joy and you’ll be able to finish what you started,'" Allen said.
As for what's next, Allen said he looks to continue to expand.
And it's his work building strength and building communities that are showing others he's "ALL-EN."
"To my clients, I want to say thank you because they help me more than I help them. That’s how I see it, I believe it’s a favor for a favor and a gift within a gift. --. every day my message to myself and my prayers -- I pray for protection and I ask God to give me the knowledge and guidance to help everyone else," he said.