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Billy Blanks is the creator of Tae Bo® Fitness, and his rise to success seems all the more astonishing when seen through the prism of his childhood. Born the fourth of 15 children to Isaac and Mabeline Blanks, he had few opportunities on the mean streets of Erie, Pennsylvania. Complicating his young life, Billy was afflicted with undiagnosed dyslexia and suffered a problem in his hip joints, which impaired his movement, resulting in a clumsiness that caused his coaches to think he would never amount to much. However, Billy took his first martial arts class at age 11 and soon began to gain a mastery of the sport and himself. In 1975 he became the first Amateur Athletic Union Champion, a title he would earn five times. Billy ascended to become a eigth-degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do and gained black belts in five other forms of martial arts. He became a seven-time world karate champion, captained the U.S. karate team, won 36 gold medals in international competition and earned admission to the Karate Hall of Fame in 1982. Billy Blanks also became the 1984 Massachusetts Golden Gloves Boxing Champion and the Tri-State Golden Gloves Boxing Champion of Champions. |
Billy moved to Boston as an adult and opened his own karate studio. It was there, while combining dance moves and Tae Kwon Do, that he unintentionally hit upon the concept for Tae Bo® Fitness. Billy moved to Los Angeles in 1989 and taught classes in his garage. Shortly after, he opened the Billy Blanks World Training Center in Sherman Oaks. Word of mouth brought the early clients, but when singer-dancer Paula Abdul came through the door and the dramatic benefits of Tae Bo® Fitness became quickly apparent, the business took off. Most recently, celebrities like Charlotte Ross of "NYPD Blue", Melissa Reeves of "Days of our Lives", actress Alicia Coppola, actor and country music star Scott Reeves, Stephanie La Grossa of "Survivor", Kendra Todd of "The Apprentice", actor Lou Diamond Phillips, Trista and Ryan Sutter from "The Bachelorette", and former Philadelphia Eagles star Randall Cunningham have also been reaping the benefits of Tae Bo® and BootCamp™. Lou Diamond Phillips says that he gets cut more quickly in Billy's classes: "I have not seen faster results than through Tae Bo® Fitness or Boot Camp™." |
Countless other celebrities are also believers, including Pamela Anderson, Justine Bateman, Catherine Bell, Valerie Bertinelli, Neve Campbell, Rae Dawn Chong, Rebecca De Mornay, Farrah Fawcett, Viveca Fox, Goldie Hawn, Queen Latifah, Emmanuel Lewis, Ryan O'Neal, Lisa Rinna, Lela Rochon, Jack Scalia, Connie Selleca, Brooke Shields, Sinbad and Shannon Tweed. Athletes seeking to stay in top physical shape have also flocked to the studio, including Wayne Gretzky, Bruce Jenner, Magic Johnson and Shaquille O'Neal. Concurrent with his rise as a fitness expert and physical trainer to the stars, Billy has also built an impressive resume as an actor. He has appeared in 18 movies including Kiss the Girls, The Last Boy Scout, Bloodfist, Lionheart, Talons of the Eagle, Back in Action, Stand Alone, Balance of Power and The King of the Kickboxers. On television, Billy has been seen in such episodic shows as "Sabrina, the Teenage Witch," "The Parkers," "Suddenly Susan," "ER," "Melrose Place," "Martial Law," "Street Justice" and "Spenser: For Hire." Whatever incredible project he may be working on, Billy has made helping others a top priority in his life. The most vibrant example is The Billy Blanks Foundation. Established in 1999 by Billy Blanks and Gayle Blanks, the foundation is dedicated to equipping high-risk individuals with life skills that allow them to achieve their full potential. Billy has also done notable work with the military. He frequently travels with members of his family, including daughter Shellie, thus helping to integrate cross-gender, generational and racial messages into their appearances at training camps and hotspots worldwide. Billy's work with the military has included trips with his daughter to Iraq, Bosnia, Kosovo, Sarajevo, Greece, Africa, Germany and Italy, to work with members of the U.S. Armed Forces. |
Shellie Blanks Cimarosti is not only Billy Blanks' daughter but has been at his right hand side from the creation of Tae Bo® Fitness. Her knowledge, dedication & guidance has been nothing but an asset for the continued growth and instruction of this intoxicating fitness regimen. Her humble beginnings, being brought up in the projects of Erie, Pennsylvania, to her current residence in the Los Angeles area, is a storybook fantasy in itself. Before starring as the original Yellow Power Ranger (fighting/stunts), modeling in a number of Fitness Magazines, starring in a Tae Bo® Fitness Subway commercial campaign and having appeared on many TV spots, such as “Opera”, “Montell Williams” & “The Parkers” hit television shows, she put in plenty of time working toward her mastery of Martial Arts. Training began at a young age of 2 years old and at 14, she won the Jiu Jitsu World Championships and a Gold Medal at the Junior Olympics for Full Contact Sparring. Currently, she is in a select club, only a few, dedicated women have attained, by acquiring a 6th Degree Black Belt in the Martial Art discipline of Tae Kwon Do. At age 9 she and her family moved to Boston, Massachusetts, which would explain her fanaticism toward the Boston Red Socks & the New England Patriots. Los Angeles eventually became home another 6 years later where she has continued to foster her career as a personal trainer, Tae Kwon Do & Tae Bo® Fitness instructor to many. The long list includes business executives, professional athletes and celebrities such as: Shaquille O'Neal, Wayne Gretzky, Magic Johnson, Brooke Shields, Robert Downy Jr, Queen Latifah, Elizabeth Hasselbeck, Jessica Alba, Goldie Hawn, Jessica Biel, Kate Hudson, Kim Kardashian, Carmen Electra, Lisa Marie Presley, Slash (Gun n Roses), Jordon Knight (NKOTB), Ricky Bell (BBD), Anna Nicole Smith, Denise Richards, David Alan Grier, Mr T, Lou Diamond Phillips, Bette Midler, Ryan O'Neal, Mo'Nique, James Toney (Boxing Champion), Kris Jenner, Rodney Pete (Pro Footbal), & David Hasselhoff. |
Shellie travels internationally training, instructing and demonstrating the world-renowned fitness technique of Tae Bo®, created by her father, Billy Blanks. One of her greatest enjoyments of spreading the goodwill of Tae Bo® Fitness has been traveling overseas to work with members of the U.S. Armed Forces in such places as Iraq, Afghanistan, Korea, Spain, Bosnia, Kosovo, Sarajevo, Greece, Africa, Germany, Italy and many location throughout the United States. While home, she focuses her efforts on Tae Bo® Fitness by running the certification camp (www.teamtaebo.com), adding content on the web club at www.billyblanks.com and spear heading creative ways of bringing Tae Bo® Fitness to the next level. Shellie's philosophy of “giving back” is quite evident in many areas of her life. She sits on the Board of Directors, for The Billy Blanks Foundation, as well as, assisting her Mom, Gayle Blanks, with their on going philanthropic effort,“The Greater Love Campaign”, in which they send care packages to our brave men & women in the US Armed Forces overseas. |
Shellie thanks God everyday for her husband, Mark John Cimarosti, their two sons, Rocco John & Titus John. In addition, they have three dogs. A toy Yorkie named Foxie who weighs 3.5 lbs and two 100lb. black labs, named Champ & Jaz, and not to forget their betta fish named “Fishy”. Her greatest joy lies in expressing her love for the Lord and assisting others in achieving their dreams. Shellie says, "It makes me happy to help people reach their goals and make a life change. It inspires me to see people happy and loving one another." For a fun, relaxing time, Shellie enjoys cheering on her New England Patriots against her husbands, Dallas Cowboys. “I have to admit”, Shellie says, “When the Patriots lost the Super Bowl and failed to complete their incredible 19-0 season, I cried, my husband laughed,...., right before he cried,....,when I kicked him in the shin”. |
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Meet Billy & Shellie |
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