Kel on Great Day Houston

my next guest was an elite College my next guest was an elite College athlete and business school graduate athlete and business school graduate athlete and business school graduate with his entire life in front of him with his entire life in front of him with his entire life in front of him before a brutal attack left him disabled before a brutal attack left him disabled before a brutal attack left him disabled and ready to give up but his competitive and ready to give up but his competitive and ready to give up but his competitive Spirit wouldn't let him quit with the Spirit wouldn't let him quit with the Spirit wouldn't let him quit with the right people he found a road to recovery right people he found a road to recovery right people he found a road to recovery and now he dedicates his life to helping and now he dedicates his life to helping and now he dedicates his life to helping people with severe brain injuries to get people with severe brain injuries to get people with severe brain injuries to get their lives back kbia mabata is the their lives back kbia mabata is the their lives back kbia mabata is the founder of the Kell strong mabata founder of the Kell strong mabata founder of the Kell strong mabata Foundation his bodybuilding trainer Ken Foundation his bodybuilding trainer Ken Foundation his bodybuilding trainer Ken Jones and Jonathan bowar a Kell strong Jones and Jonathan bowar a Kell strong Jones and Jonathan bowar a Kell strong scholarship recipient are also joining scholarship recipient are also joining scholarship recipient are also joining us good morning gentlemen morning all us good morning gentlemen morning all us good morning gentlemen morning all right colia start with you born and right colia start with you born and right colia start with you born and raised in Houston but you kind of had raised in Houston but you kind of had raised in Houston but you kind of had one foot here and one foot in uh Nigeria one foot here and one foot in uh Nigeria one foot here and one foot in uh Nigeria but you went to Kincade life was looking but you went to Kincade life was looking but you went to Kincade life was looking great you're among the top high school great you're among the top high school great you're among the top high school players in the US in tennis and got a players in the US in tennis and got a players in the US in tennis and got a tennis scholarship to Purdue and tennis scholarship to Purdue and tennis scholarship to Purdue and transferred to TCU all right pick us up transferred to TCU all right pick us up transferred to TCU all right pick us up from right from that point on yeah so from right from that point on yeah so from right from that point on yeah so after after after TCU um I I was always after after after TCU um I I was always after after after TCU um I I was always my Drey to play pro tennis so I I I I my Drey to play pro tennis so I I I I my Drey to play pro tennis so I I I I did it for about a year or so but at at did it for about a year or so but at at did it for about a year or so but at at Purdue I had I had a couple elb Purdue I had I had a couple elb Purdue I had I had a couple elb surgeries that caught that still B me to surgeries that caught that still B me to surgeries that caught that still B me to a point where I wasn't able to play uh a point where I wasn't able to play uh a point where I wasn't able to play uh at at my full level so I decided to at at my full level so I decided to at at my full level so I decided to retire from the sport and do something retire from the sport and do something retire from the sport and do something else and that was to get involved in my else and that was to get involved in my else and that was to get involved in my dad's family business back home in dad's family business back home in dad's family business back home in Nigeria and help him run it and several Nigeria and help him run it and several Nigeria and help him run it and several businesses and you were working there businesses and you were working there businesses and you were working there one night and what happened well um one one night and what happened well um one one night and what happened well um one night um I just Co from work I walked night um I just Co from work I walked night um I just Co from work I walked back to to call my mom um to check on

back to to call my mom um to check on back to to call my mom um to check on how see how she's doing in Houston and how see how she's doing in Houston and how see how she's doing in Houston and then about and I came back and I ate then about and I came back and I ate then about and I came back and I ate some food and about 20 minutes later I some food and about 20 minutes later I some food and about 20 minutes later I was some lot of bangs at the door um at was some lot of bangs at the door um at was some lot of bangs at the door um at first I thought it was my security cuz first I thought it was my security cuz first I thought it was my security cuz sometimes they'll come and check on me sometimes they'll come and check on me sometimes they'll come and check on me but these these bangs were different but these these bangs were different but these these bangs were different once I KN once I realized okay someone's once I KN once I realized okay someone's once I KN once I realized okay someone's trying to break down my door I I locked trying to break down my door I I locked trying to break down my door I I locked I locked I locked the door and I I I locked I locked the door and I I I locked I locked the door and I I grabbed my phone and I went back in the grabbed my phone and I went back in the grabbed my phone and I went back in the went back to the house to call the went back to the house to call the went back to the house to call the police that you should escort me police that you should escort me police that you should escort me anywhere I need to go but the line was anywhere I need to go but the line was anywhere I need to go but the line was busy so I kep calling calling and the busy so I kep calling calling and the busy so I kep calling calling and the line was busy so I came back in in the line was busy so I came back in in the line was busy so I came back in in the sitting room and the bangs were getting sitting room and the bangs were getting sitting room and the bangs were getting louder and I was just praying and hoping louder and I was just praying and hoping louder and I was just praying and hoping that I pray I pray that don't they don't that I pray I pray that don't they don't that I pray I pray that don't they don't break down this door until I can get break down this door until I can get break down this door until I can get help and all of a sudden they they kept help and all of a sudden they they kept help and all of a sudden they they kept kicking and all of a sudden they kicked kicking and all of a sudden they kicked kicking and all of a sudden they kicked the door in and about four or five of the door in and about four or five of the door in and about four or five of them entered um all holding all had them entered um all holding all had them entered um all holding all had weapons one had a long rifle gun and one weapons one had a long rifle gun and one weapons one had a long rifle gun and one guy he threw the TV down that was guy he threw the TV down that was guy he threw the TV down that was watching like he was mad about something watching like he was mad about something watching like he was mad about something and then the one the one person holding and then the one the one person holding and then the one the one person holding a gun he said where when I saw the gun I a gun he said where when I saw the gun I a gun he said where when I saw the gun I pull my hands up yeah and then he said pull my hands up yeah and then he said pull my hands up yeah and then he said words to me that I'll never forget he's words to me that I'll never forget he's words to me that I'll never forget he's like you know you know you're going to like you know you know you're going to like you know you know you're going to die turn right um you almost did yeah so die turn right um you almost did yeah so die turn right um you almost did yeah so um then he asked me you know where was um then he asked me you know where was um then he asked me you know where was the money and then I pointed to where the money and then I pointed to where the money and then I pointed to where the money was but I knew it wasn't it the money was but I knew it wasn't it the money was but I knew it wasn't it wasn't it wasn't a lot and I know what wasn't it wasn't a lot and I know what wasn't it wasn't a lot and I know what thinking that what big company that I I thinking that what big company that I I thinking that what big company that I I should have access to thousands of of should have access to thousands of of should have access to thousands of of dollars so um no knowing that I told him dollars so um no knowing that I told him dollars so um no knowing that I told him like um I can take you to the office to

like um I can take you to the office to like um I can take you to the office to get you as much money as you want but no get you as much money as you want but no get you as much money as you want but no he he he refused you know he's like no he he he refused you know he's like no he he he refused you know he's like no shut up get down on the ground on your shut up get down on the ground on your shut up get down on the ground on your hands and knees and that's what I did hands and knees and that's what I did hands and knees and that's what I did and so I got down on the ground hands and so I got down on the ground hands and so I got down on the ground hands and knees I closed my eyes thinking I'm and knees I closed my eyes thinking I'm and knees I closed my eyes thinking I'm never going to see my mom again I never never going to see my mom again I never never going to see my mom again I never going to see my dad again never going to going to see my dad again never going to going to see my dad again never going to see my sister again never going to see see my sister again never going to see see my sister again never going to see my friends again and I just closed my my friends again and I just closed my my friends again and I just closed my eyes I thought they're going to pull my eyes I thought they're going to pull my eyes I thought they're going to pull my brains out and then how long ago was brains out and then how long ago was brains out and then how long ago was this what year was this this is in 2014 this what year was this this is in 2014 this what year was this this is in 2014 December 2014 so nearly nearly 10 years December 2014 so nearly nearly 10 years December 2014 so nearly nearly 10 years ago every second of that is still very ago every second of that is still very ago every second of that is still very emotional for you yes um you were in a emotional for you yes um you were in a emotional for you yes um you were in a coma for days they ended up beating you coma for days they ended up beating you coma for days they ended up beating you you were in a a coma for days uh you had you were in a a coma for days uh you had you were in a a coma for days uh you had brain surgery then came back to Houston brain surgery then came back to Houston brain surgery then came back to Houston what was your first memory waking up did what was your first memory waking up did what was your first memory waking up did you had did you have any idea well you had did you have any idea well you had did you have any idea well clearly you remembered all the way up to clearly you remembered all the way up to clearly you remembered all the way up to that point what had happened yeah so um that point what had happened yeah so um that point what had happened yeah so um I was in I was in the coma for for a I was in I was in the coma for for a I was in I was in the coma for for a week so when I woke up from my coma in week so when I woke up from my coma in week so when I woke up from my coma in Nigeria after my first brain surgery in Nigeria after my first brain surgery in Nigeria after my first brain surgery in Nigeria I woke up to like someone in my Nigeria I woke up to like someone in my Nigeria I woke up to like someone in my family family there but I didn't know I family family there but I didn't know I family family there but I didn't know I didn't know what happened to me um I saw didn't know what happened to me um I saw didn't know what happened to me um I saw whenever my parents called me from the whenever my parents called me from the whenever my parents called me from the US I couldn't I couldn't speak to them US I couldn't I couldn't speak to them US I couldn't I couldn't speak to them all I could do was was was listen to all I could do was was was listen to all I could do was was was listen to what they were saying um so I I still what they were saying um so I I still what they were saying um so I I still didn't know I still didn't know what didn't know I still didn't know what didn't know I still didn't know what what happened to me why why why why I what happened to me why why why why I what happened to me why why why why I couldn't move my move my right side yeah couldn't move my move my right side yeah couldn't move my move my right side yeah it and coming from you know for anybody it and coming from you know for anybody it and coming from you know for anybody that that happens too is it's so that that happens too is it's so that that happens too is it's so traumatic but you know also coming from

traumatic but you know also coming from traumatic but you know also coming from being an athlete to all of a sudden you being an athlete to all of a sudden you being an athlete to all of a sudden you just can't use your body and you kept just can't use your body and you kept just can't use your body and you kept fighting through and then you get you fighting through and then you get you fighting through and then you get you know things weren't happening fast know things weren't happening fast know things weren't happening fast enough for you and so there was a point enough for you and so there was a point enough for you and so there was a point where you thought I want to give up yeah where you thought I want to give up yeah where you thought I want to give up yeah there's there's doing at the very there's there's doing at the very there's there's doing at the very beginning there's many times I I I I beginning there's many times I I I I beginning there's many times I I I I want to give up I thought about giving want to give up I thought about giving want to give up I thought about giving up but whenever I had those thoughts I up but whenever I had those thoughts I up but whenever I had those thoughts I thought about okay those words that that thought about okay those words that that thought about okay those words that that person said to me um that night oh um person said to me um that night oh um person said to me um that night oh um yeah those words they say like you know yeah those words they say like you know yeah those words they say like you know you you know you're going die to die you you know you're going die to die you you know you're going die to die tonight right so I always think about tonight right so I always think about tonight right so I always think about that like I'm I'm not going to let those that like I'm I'm not going to let those that like I'm I'm not going to let those people win because if I give up then I I people win because if I give up then I I people win because if I give up then I I will I will although they didn't in my will I will although they didn't in my will I will although they didn't in my life that they thought they did that life that they thought they did that life that they thought they did that night in my they will be giving up if I night in my they will be giving up if I night in my they will be giving up if I give up then then at that point then give up then then at that point then give up then then at that point then I'll give him the the I'll give him the the I'll give him the the yeah you started doing physical therapy yeah you started doing physical therapy yeah you started doing physical therapy as part of your um Rehabilitation and as part of your um Rehabilitation and as part of your um Rehabilitation and that sparked something in you and Ken that sparked something in you and Ken that sparked something in you and Ken there's something to be said for that there's something to be said for that there's something to be said for that human body right and it's like when you human body right and it's like when you human body right and it's like when you challenge it it can rise to certain challenge it it can rise to certain challenge it it can rise to certain occasions that sometimes people never occasions that sometimes people never occasions that sometimes people never expected right so in working out with expected right so in working out with expected right so in working out with him what did you see in him I think uh him what did you see in him I think uh him what did you see in him I think uh just as he learned a lot of lessons just as he learned a lot of lessons just as he learned a lot of lessons about himself he probably learned a lot about himself he probably learned a lot about himself he probably learned a lot of lessons about human beings too yeah of lessons about human beings too yeah of lessons about human beings too yeah um just working with Kels just it um just working with Kels just it um just working with Kels just it motivated me and it V motivated more of motivated me and it V motivated more of motivated me and it V motivated more of people in the gym just seeing you know people in the gym just seeing you know people in the gym just seeing you know his condition and the effort that he put

his condition and the effort that he put his condition and the effort that he put in yeah and uh it just it pushed me as in yeah and uh it just it pushed me as in yeah and uh it just it pushed me as well just to we're looking at the video well just to we're looking at the video well just to we're looking at the video right here talking about effort that he right here talking about effort that he right here talking about effort that he put in you're like okay it's one thing put in you're like okay it's one thing put in you're like okay it's one thing to just work out to try and get your to just work out to try and get your to just work out to try and get your body stronger it's another thing to body stronger it's another thing to body stronger it's another thing to enter a competition I have judged some enter a competition I have judged some enter a competition I have judged some of these competitions it's crazy and so of these competitions it's crazy and so of these competitions it's crazy and so you all went there thinking that the the you all went there thinking that the the you all went there thinking that the the goal was just to at least try right what goal was just to at least try right what goal was just to at least try right what ended up happening he ended up winning ended up happening he ended up winning ended up happening he ended up winning and man it was it was that boost my and man it was it was that boost my and man it was it was that boost my confidence as more as well so it also confidence as more as well so it also confidence as more as well so it also sparked the idea for you that if this sparked the idea for you that if this sparked the idea for you that if this can happen for you how many other people can happen for you how many other people can happen for you how many other people are out there who have given up right are out there who have given up right are out there who have given up right who can be inspired to challenge who can be inspired to challenge who can be inspired to challenge themselves and rise to their own themselves and rise to their own themselves and rise to their own occasion exactly you know and that occasion exactly you know and that occasion exactly you know and that that's my whole thing like I want to by that's my whole thing like I want to by that's my whole thing like I want to by by by me sharing my story and everything by by me sharing my story and everything by by me sharing my story and everything I'm doing now I I want to give people I'm doing now I I want to give people I'm doing now I I want to give people hope and if I by giving people hope you hope and if I by giving people hope you hope and if I by giving people hope you know I can change the world by giving know I can change the world by giving know I can change the world by giving people hope you gave Jonathan hope and people hope you gave Jonathan hope and people hope you gave Jonathan hope and Jonathan for you what had you been Jonathan for you what had you been Jonathan for you what had you been dealing with um um like like what have I been yeah um um like like what have I been yeah like like what what was happening with like like what what was happening with like like what what was happening with you that that had you feeling like you you that that had you feeling like you you that that had you feeling like you know maybe you were feeling kind of know maybe you were feeling kind of know maybe you were feeling kind of hopeless in your life until you came hopeless in your life until you came hopeless in your life until you came yeah okay um I mean I was in a yeah okay um I mean I was in a yeah okay um I mean I was in a wheelchair I couldn't walk couldn't my wheelchair I couldn't walk couldn't my wheelchair I couldn't walk couldn't my right side so uh when I was going to right side so uh when I was going to right side so uh when I was going to tier I was running out of therapy visits

tier I was running out of therapy visits tier I was running out of therapy visits and my therapist told me about the and my therapist told me about the and my therapist told me about the kelong foundation he had just started it kelong foundation he had just started it kelong foundation he had just started it so I applied for it well I won I was the so I applied for it well I won I was the so I applied for it well I won I was the first recipient of the kelong first recipient of the kelong first recipient of the kelong foundation and uh seeing him become a foundation and uh seeing him become a foundation and uh seeing him become a professional professional professional bodybuilder made me uh realize hey you bodybuilder made me uh realize hey you bodybuilder made me uh realize hey you get off your get off your behind and get get off your get off your behind and get get off your get off your behind and get to work wow and you walked yes this to work wow and you walked yes this to work wow and you walked yes this morning I I like there I noticed when morning I I like there I noticed when morning I I like there I noticed when you said you're in a wheelchair I was you said you're in a wheelchair I was you said you're in a wheelchair I was like there's no wheelchair here this like there's no wheelchair here this like there's no wheelchair here this morning no ma yeah and what do you say morning no ma yeah and what do you say morning no ma yeah and what do you say to somebody else who is in that moment to somebody else who is in that moment to somebody else who is in that moment of feeling like they want to give up on of feeling like they want to give up on of feeling like they want to give up on life remember these three words I had to life remember these three words I had to life remember these three words I had to keep telling myself this every time I keep telling myself this every time I keep telling myself this every time I went to the therapy never give up never went to the therapy never give up never went to the therapy never give up never give up so all right what's next for you give up so all right what's next for you give up so all right what's next for you CIA oh the next is know I want to CIA oh the next is know I want to CIA oh the next is know I want to continue inspire people um by sharing my continue inspire people um by sharing my continue inspire people um by sharing my story and I want to change lives impact story and I want to change lives impact story and I want to change lives impact lives um and and this it's just you know lives um and and this it's just you know lives um and and this it's just you know like I said earlier you know I want to like I said earlier you know I want to like I said earlier you know I want to change the world by giving people hope change the world by giving people hope change the world by giving people hope um by tell by telling my story so so um by tell by telling my story so so um by tell by telling my story so so that's so that's what's next um I'll that's so that's what's next um I'll that's so that's what's next um I'll also be competing uh in my in the show also be competing uh in my in the show also be competing uh in my in the show mustard Beast classic and October 5th mustard Beast classic and October 5th mustard Beast classic and October 5th you know he's get me right now when prep you know he's get me right now when prep you know he's get me right now when prep getting me ready for the show yeah um getting me ready for the show yeah um getting me ready for the show yeah um and then uh you have the tennis day and then uh you have the tennis day and then uh you have the tennis day fundraiser in November so I'll have to fundraiser in November so I'll have to fundraiser in November so I'll have to have you back for that and Ken I I can't have you back for that and Ken I I can't have you back for that and Ken I I can't tell you how many people will say um tell you how many people will say um tell you how many people will say um yeah but I don't feel good so how am I yeah but I don't feel good so how am I yeah but I don't feel good so how am I going to get up there and work out or I

going to get up there and work out or I going to get up there and work out or I can't I can't I can't be a bodybuilder can't I can't I can't be a bodybuilder can't I can't I can't be a bodybuilder so how am I going to work out it's all so how am I going to work out it's all so how am I going to work out it's all about starting with your mind first and about starting with your mind first and about starting with your mind first and the small steps first right y baby steps the small steps first right y baby steps the small steps first right y baby steps yeah yeah one step at a time day by day yeah yeah one step at a time day by day yeah yeah one step at a time day by day yeah and I have a friend who he suffers yeah and I have a friend who he suffers yeah and I have a friend who he suffers with severe arthritis and you would with severe arthritis and you would with severe arthritis and you would think okay sit still but when he works think okay sit still but when he works think okay sit still but when he works out he feels better working out does out he feels better working out does out he feels better working out does things for people I'm going to end with things for people I'm going to end with things for people I'm going to end with you there's somebody out there again you there's somebody out there again you there's somebody out there again who's looking at the TV set saying I who's looking at the TV set saying I who's looking at the TV set saying I can't what do you say to them to get can't what do you say to them to get can't what do you say to them to get them to push them to push them to push through um what through um what through um what I cuz you really can't give up on I cuz you really can't give up on I cuz you really can't give up on yourself can you but I think a lot of yourself can you but I think a lot of yourself can you but I think a lot of times we start in that position no ma'am times we start in that position no ma'am times we start in that position no ma'am um um um just keep just keep just keep tell if you try yeah and you don't tell if you try yeah and you don't tell if you try yeah and you don't succeed you got to get back up and try succeed you got to get back up and try succeed you got to get back up and try again yeah because you never give up again yeah because you never give up again yeah because you never give up it's interesting how sometimes we forget it's interesting how sometimes we forget it's interesting how sometimes we forget that the strongest person in your life that the strongest person in your life that the strongest person in your life even in your weakest moment is still you even in your weakest moment is still you even in your weakest moment is still you Kia thank you so much for sharing your Kia thank you so much for sharing your Kia thank you so much for sharing your story with us well thank you for the story with us well thank you for the story with us well thank you for the opportunity and thanks for you all opportunity and thanks for you all opportunity and thanks for you all sharing as well to keep up with Kell's sharing as well to keep up with Kell's sharing as well to keep up with Kell's competitions including the Muscle Beach competitions including the Muscle Beach competitions including the Muscle Beach Classic this coming October follow him Classic this coming October follow him Classic this coming October follow him on Instagram at kmat and to learn more on Instagram at kmat and to learn more on Instagram at kmat and to learn more about the kelong foundation visit kellr about the kelong foundation visit kellr about the kelong foundation visit kellr strong foundation.com after