Jon Pritikin


Jon Pritikin is an American strongman and motivational speaker.

Early life and education

Pritikin, born in Rockford, Illinois to a Jewish family, had speech and learning disabilities as a child. Placed in special education in first grade, he was bullied and abused by schoolmates and neighborhood children, and has said he had no friends.
In high school, a teacher worked with him on his speech impediment and academic problems, and he was finally accepted on academic probation to Bethany University in Scotts Valley, California.

Career

Since graduating, he has shared his anti-bullying message in the United States and around the world. He uses feats of strength as a tool to grab people's attention; he is the Guinness record holder for "the tightest circumference of two aluminum frying pans rolled together with his bare hands in less than 30 seconds". In 1994 he started a non-profit organization, Feel the Power. Since then he has spoken to more than 3 million people.
Pritikin is also involved in an anti-steroid program known as S.W.A.T.S., which is an acronym for Sports With Alternatives to Steroids.

Personal life

He and his wife Rhonda and their daughter Jaden live in Lodi, California.