Project 2012: Kendrick Farris

Project 2012: Kendrick Farris

By Robert Hall

As it appeared in the May/June, 2010 Issue of Strength+

Farris proves that weightlifting is more than a sport. It’s a way of life.
And for some, it’s even more than that.

It seems like every few months the fans of USA Weightlifting are given the privilege of seeing excellence personified on the competition platform. The Arnold Classic this past March was no exception. The patrons of our sport welcomed back 2008 Olympian Kendrick Farris to top form in our beloved sport of weightlifting. While the predominant membership can tell you Kendrick’s best lifts in the snatch, the clean and jerk, and even the back squat, most of us have never had the fortune to see the other sides of a man I’ve called “Ken” for ten years.

Kendrick’s beginnings are very humble, growing up in the inner city neighborhood of Stoner Hill, just outside of his native Shreveport. Kendrick stated, “Growing up in the Hill was really no different than any inner city neighborhood, but at the same time, there was a lot going on – positive and negative. The negative overshadows the good. There was lots of dealing and using, but for me, my family did a good job keeping us active and busy. I played football and baseball. There are a lot of good people, but a lot of other stuff that leads straight to a dead end. It forces you to grow up quickly.”

It was there that Kendrick knew that his life was either headed for success or for disaster. As luck would have it, he had the opportunity to try his hand at weightlifting, a sport suggested to him by his uncle Kevin. He recalled that his uncle read an article about the City of Shreveport starting a center for the youth, focusing on promoting athletics and after school programs. It was there that he met the man who would change his outlook on life forever – Dr. Kyle Pierce.

“My cousin, brother and I were playing on church league teams for football and my uncle thought it would be good for us to learn to lift. That’s when I met Kyle. I lifted twice a week, and qualified for the Junior Olympics and I just stuck with it.”

It would be a decision that would shape the next thirteen years of Kendrick’s life. Kyle Pierce is the head coach and director of the USA Weightlifting Center for High Performance and Development at Louisiana State University in Shreveport. As it pertains to Dr. Pierce, Kendrick has the highest of praise for his mentor, a praise that borders on the relationship between father and son. “We’ve really come a long way. From my childhood to where we are now, it’s almost overwhelming, but Kyle has been more than a coach to me.

“When I first came in the gym, I never got the feeling he was just a coach. He just kinda took me under his wing. My parents were separating when I got into lifting, and Kyle told me I had the talent to see the world. The attention he showed me was overwhelming. It was like he was my dad, man. He showed me the lifts, and showed me a lot of love. I wanted that from my dad, but Kyle was there for me. My dad has never seen me lift. But, as hard as it is God teaches us to forgive.

“My mom and Kyle were always there for me, and I’m so blessed to have that in my life. I thank God I was able to let Kyle in, because at first I was so reluctant. But, it’s such a blessing, and I’d never give that away for anything. Weightlifting is just an extra. It goes so much beyond the platform.”

This love and respect that Kendrick has received from both his coach and his mother have helped him to become a better father to his four-year-old son, Khalil. Kendrick said of Khalil, “That’s my little dude, man. He just turned four. We had a nice party at the house. He likes Spider Man and Astro Boy, so we did a party like that. His friends, my friends. Really low key. It was great.”

Kendrick plans to take his son and younger cousins to the gym more often, to learn the sport that he loves. It’s an opportunity he feels fortunate to have.

Positivity is the only attitude Kendrick has. From the influences in his life, to the people he seems to influence, positive energy radiates from Kendrick like the guiding light he feels brought him to where he is today. Aaron Adams, 62-kg National Champion, said that, “I’ve seen Kendrick grow in weightlifting since our first meet in 2001 at the Young Louis Cyr in Canada, when we roomed together. He has seen more struggle than I could ever see on a TV show. I look up to him both spiritually and in every other aspect of life. He is truly a loving person that I hope my children can look up to.”

Aaron trains with Kendrick on a daily basis in Shreveport, and said that his long standing friendship with Kendrick was a contributing factor to him leaving his home in New Jersey, to train in Louisiana. Jason Brown, a fellow lifter who moved from Florida to train in Louisiana with Kendrick, also added, “On top of being a good lifter, Kendrick is also a great teammate. He constantly pushes not only himself, but also those around him to reach their full potential.”

In addition to his family life and training life, Kendrick also has a very interesting personal life. The three-time National Champion enjoys working in recreational centers around the Shreveport area. He has three different centers he travels to, going to each one five to six times each month, teaching lifts, helping with projects, and being there to mentor. It’s a great way for him to give back to the community that has done so much for him. In addition to his social work, Kendrick loves to entertain, as we’ve all seen on the platform. His avenue for entertaining is stand-up comedy. Ken said, “I tried improv once, and it’s something I enjoy doing. I love getting on stage and taking on the crowd, I love when I can hit them in the head with something and they’re like ‘damn, that’s really funny.’”

He attributes his comedy and love for entertaining to weightlifting, saying that, “Just like lifting, I like to entertain as much as I can. The people that don’t know me will sit there and they think ‘oh, that guys cocky’, but it’s just about putting a show on.”

If that weren’t enough, he is also looking to become an author, with his first book due out in 2011, just in time for the 2011 Senior National Weightlifting Championships. His pastor is helping him write the book, with a second in mind. The second book is scheduled to be released after the London Games in 2012. He also spoke of another business venture that he “can’t let out of the bag just yet, but it’s something he is very passionate about. I’ve got a lot of things I’m trying to work on, and not just be boxed in as an athlete. I’m just trying to build my brand. I’m just trying to make my mark, I have a strong vision, and I’m confident it will fly. I’m just trying to tackle as many things as I can.”

If it weren’t obvious by now, that mark has been made.

As he looks out toward the horizon, Kendrick is looking forward to both Fall 2010 and the London Games. Kendrick will marry his fiancée this October, in Shreveport. “She’s my best friend! She has been with me through thick and thin, she has seen my ups and my downs. She is one of the sweetest women I know. I love her to life! It’s such a blessing and inspiration to have her.”

He feels 2012 will be a big year for him and is anticipating the coming Olympiad with lots of hours in the gym. “If I’m close, I want the medal. That’s what my eyes are set on. Those are my marks, [and I’m] working hard every day. I don’t want to be in auto mode, because there’s a limit. I want to be on! I feel capable of doing 170 and 210 at the Worlds, and I hope to secure that number one ranking in 2011. We’ll see where we go from there.”

All eyes are now firmly set on the man who hopes to lead the way for USA Weightlifting towards London and beyond. The man I know, simply, as “Ken”.?

Robert Hall currently lives in Marietta, GA, where he is pursuing his Doctor of Chiropractic degree as well as a Masters in Chiropractic Sports Science at Life University. He is the owner of Rampant Lion Enterprises, and the silver medalist at the 2010 Collegiate National Weightlifting Championships. He can be contacted at rampantlion2010@yahoo.com.