Andrew Alexander King lights the beacons of hope for all

Andrew Alexander King climbs the highest mountains, but, metaphorically speaking, he also brings them closer together, as this inspiring African American has given younger generations a glimmer of hope for those who may want to join the world of climbing and exploration.

From his early days appreciating his local surroundings as a child to his sporting achievements around the world, this philanthropist uses every moment to grow mentally and physically.

M&F sat down with the super-fit 34-year-old to find out how he Trains for climbing big mountains and surfing those big waves, and we soon found out that his give-and-take relationship with the Earth is the secret to his success.

“I grew up running for 13 years,” King says. "I started running in Detroit, where I was born, because it wasn't economically possible for us to play other sports. It was pretty free. Growing up in that city back then was pretty hard, so I just ran up and down the block with my friends."

As he grew older, King was able to use his passion and commitment to athletics to earn a scholarship and become the first member of his family to go to college. He became an NCAA Division I athlete and also played football, where he was captain.

From the race track into the distance

During his teenage years, King's household had moved from Detroit to Hawaii. “That changed my entire life and my entire career,” remembers the pioneer. "I just started exploring more in nature to have a more peaceful and meditative approach to life, and then in the same day after meditating, climbing or hiking and trekking, surfing to the tops of volcanoes or different trails was just something that I just found to be my way of life." During his runs, King ran up and down Diamond Head, an active volcano, furthering his wish Explore the world and become more in tune with himself. Now King is on a mission to become the first African American to climb the seven highest mountains and volcanoes on each continent, and although this is an endurance test and will require every second of his dedicated training and skills “Project between worlds” is also about shining a light on underrepresented cultures in the places he visits.

“Every year I sit down at the table with myself,” says King. “I switch everything off and meditate and reflect on the year.” For this adventurer, being a better version of himself year after year is something that he takes very seriously from a human, social and sporting perspective.

Not a moment is wasted

Even in the chaos of a raging ocean, King is able to control the moment by finding his inner peace and Controlling his breathing to come from the other side without fear or panic. “We all have the same hours in a day, 24 hours, that's all, I can't cheat that and I can't break that,” King says. "But with a sporting background, the level of discipline started very young. There is a fine line between talent and dedication. You can be the most talented surfer or climbers of the world, but if you don't have structure and commitment and discipline, you'll peak and the person who wakes up every day who isn't as talented will soon eat away and catch up with you and then you push back. They fall in love with the process and don’t take talent for granted.”

King loves the outdoors, but when the weather is bad, he doesn't cancel his workouts. Instead, he could choose a Bouldering in a climbing gym away from the elements so he can focus on his grip and some of the more isolated movements.

In order to train his own talent, King is coached in several disciplines. He intervenes to strengthen him Isometric exercises. King also regularly takes cognitive tests, which can be done anywhere on a phone or tablet, to check his breathing and mental clarity. “You have to know how your mind reacts because it has to be very fast,” says King.

Andrew Alexander King is as at home in the gym as he is in the outdoors because he understands the importance of honing your talent to be the best version of yourself. The Boy Scout pushes weighted sleds work on its explosive power, and flips tires to replicate the unpredictable weights he faces on his many hikes and climbs. King walks the bottom of swimming pools with dumbbells in hand and cycles and sprints for a cardio kick. “We go running at 6 a.m., then we surf, then we have weight lifting and conditioning, and then we climb to end the day,” says the pioneer, breaking down an example of a single day of epic training.

Andrew Alexander King moves mountains together

During King's many dangerous adventures, such as climbing Mount Fuji where he saved a fellow climber from freezing to death, or being struck by altitude sickness the day before a major multi-pitch climb in Kenya, the explorer is as interested in the indigenous population as he is in his own pioneering community. King understands that it is a privilege to visit new places and seeks to use his Between Worlds Project to raise awareness for the underserved. He is passionate about bringing people closer together, and whether it's something as simple as donating equipment to aspiring climbers or highlighting more complex issues surrounding the lottery ticket where we are all born, Andrew Alexander King will only work with bands like Sea to the summit, Black Diamond and other responsible companies committed to doing good. For King, the exploration is not an opportunity for Instagram photos. His entire life is dedicated to seeing the world through an unfiltered lens, appreciating the universe we all live in and trying to leave it a better place than he left it.

“I always say, are you doing it for the LIKE reasons or for the RIGHT reasons?”