Built by Latte Built Clayton Izuka

Welcome to MP's monthly segment, Built By Latte Built.

This segment highlights athletes and individuals training at Latte Built who are chasing their fitness goals and inspiring others along the way.

This month, we feature Clayton Izuka, a powerlifter with about seven years of experience in the sport that features three lifts: squat, bench, and deadlift.

Izuka, the president of the NMI Powerlifting Inc. has competed in powerlifting competitions in the states, including the USAPL 2023 Barbell Brigade Winter Finale with best a squat of 451.9lb/205kg, a best bench of 259lb/117kg, and a best deadlift of 534.6lb/243kg. He also competed in Saipan during the 2022 Golds Gym Powerlifting Meet putting up a 455/206kg squat, a 250lb/113kg bench, and a 490/222kg deadlift.

Izuka has been with Latte Built Gym for a total of about five years. He was a first a member of the gym's original Oleai location before leaving to attend college in the states. After returning to the CNMI, he resumed his membership.

He said one of the things he likes most about Latte Built is that it's open 24/7 and has a supportive gym culture.

"Everybody wants to be a better person overall, so I really enjoy the environment," he said.

As a powerlifter, Izuka said the gym has all the equipment he needs to train effectively.

"They have kilogram plates here, so I gear my lifting with kilograms because that's what they use in the world of powerlifting. I really enjoy using all the equipment," he said.

With the gym's 24-hour access, Izuka trains three to four days a week while also fitting in jiu-jitsu and kickboxing classes.

Izuka said another thing he likes about the gym is that it’s welcoming to beginners and helps people feel comfortable when they are just starting out. “That’s what I really like about the gym—it’s really beginner-friendly,” he said.