USC EMBA students Don Tran and Prime Hall are recent cofounders of the Underwater Torpedo League and Deep End Fitness. With over 20 years of experience as water survival instructors in Special Operations in the United States Marine Corps, their qualifications are exceedingly high. Since launching the Underwater Torpedo League and Deep End Fitness more than two years ago, they have trained Olympic swimmers, professional athletes, and military personnel in safe and impactful sessions. Using their own training and experience in the military, Don and Prime ensure they always have the highest standards of safety and continue to refine and grow with certifications from NASM, AFAA, and other nationally known accreditations. They take all necessary safety precautions to reinforce the programming, safety, and risk management behind what they do at Underwater Torpedo League and Deep End Fitness.
Their mission is to ignite a warrior class of people by creating a positive shift through harnessing the power of breath, breaking through glass ceilings in water confidence, and gaining an unrivaled mindset. They have plans to spread this nationally and to key cities globally to allow their mantra “Go Deep. Live Empowered” to reach much wider audiences.
The F.R.E.E. acronym (Focus, Relaxation, Economy of motion, and Efficient Breathing) drives the basis of their program and core training principles. This operating system has proven to have rapid transformations both physically and scientifically. Increasing the athletes’ Vo2 Max and C02 tolerance alongside improving their mental focus and ability to manage pressure allows them to remain calm in stressful situations and get the most out of each training session.
Safety is always the number one priority. With in-water safeties at all times, the instructors are able to manage the flow of swimmers in and out of the pool during workouts or transitions. A buddy system is always in effect, and lifeguards are stationed on the pool deck at all times.
A typical session begins with an opening circle of trust. Instructors go through each swimmer’s background and abilities, check in on their health, and acknowledge any potential limitations before the session begins. The session then moves on to a screener that allows swimmers to focus on the basics of being efficient in the water. This includes a five-minute water tread while working on basic fundamentals for the foundations of swimming. The entirety of the session is focused around F.R.E.E. and strives to meet the unique goals of each individual swimmer, while also allowing opportunity for working in a team environment. The session concludes with a closing circle of trust, where each athlete shares what they received from the session, any goals they met, any expectations they surpassed or anything they would like to improve on next time. Every person has full support from the circle, leaving each participant feeling a part of a community; seen, heard, empowered and ready to crush their day and next session!
Recently, Don and Prime partnered with WeFunder to raise $1 Million for national expansion of Deep End Fitness and to expand their product lines with Underwater Torpedo League, starting with the UTL Torpedo. With the success their programs have shown in just the past two years, it has become increasingly evident that the company has massive potential to grow and develop nationally, and then worldwide.
Why should you invest?
For as little as $100, you can invest in your fellow Trojan entrepreneurs Don and Prime and UTL|DEF and join them in their mission to create a positive shift in countless lives. You can help them build communities through confidence, strength, and resiliency in and out of the water as they continue to provide a trustful, safe environment for athletes to come and build their water confidence techniques and principles. Back the project and join their circle, share the story with your community, on your socials, and assist them in creating a positive shift, a ripple effect, into the world.
Go Deep. Live Empowered.
