Adam Bůžek, also known as Czech Tarzan, is a certified fitness trainer and influencer who inspires thousands of people to a healthy lifestyle. His journey was not always easy. How did he go from a gaming enthusiast to a fitness and health expert who entertains with his natural approach? Read about his transformation and why he fell in love with barefoot walking. You will also learn how barefoot shoes help engage the small muscles in the feet that are often neglected by classic shoes.
When we asked Adam about his beginnings, he couldn't help but smile. "Before I got to high school, I didn't do any sports, my world revolved around computer games. The turning point came when the girls entered the game. And as it happens, the hormones took over and the computer replaced the interest in the fairer sex. But I realized that I didn't really have anything to offer because I didn't know anything other than playing games. I knew that in order to score, I had to change not only my physical condition, but also my lifestyle. So one day I just got up and headed to the gym.”
"Computer games and physical training are essentially quite similar - in both cases, a person goes through different levels, the fulfillment of which requires effort, regularity, persistence and time."
Can you describe to us what it was like to start training?
"To get the most out of my training, I started to educate myself. In addition to listening to various podcasts, I read a lot of literature, from the physiology of the body itself to nutrition to mental health. I enjoyed watching my progress, setting individual goals and then overcoming them. Eventually, exercise became a true passion. It's amazing what the human body can do.”
The results were not long in coming, which soon attracted the attention of the people around them, who gradually began to turn to Adam for advice. After a while, he decided to share his fitness tips on social networks, where he met with success. He took a coaching course and turned his hobby into one of the activities that currently supports him.
"On social networks, people soon began to call me Czech Tarzan, probably because of my long hair or the natural lifestyle I lead."
Oh, and he also often goes shirtless and shoeless! According to him, it is the ideal way to strengthen and maintain the health of the entire legs. Overall, he has come to identify with the nickname, he likes Tarzan mainly because he is naturally fit, and that is something he resonates with and tries to pass on.
"Although I love challenges and in the past I was very motivated to become, for example, a successful bodybuilder, MMA fighter or triathlete, but over time I realized that in order to be successful at the top level in any sport, one has to sacrifice a lot. The moment a person focuses only on one sport, he begins to suffer in all other spheres of his life, and the body itself begins to be good only in the discipline for which the person is training. I myself want to indulge my body in a complex, healthy and, above all, natural lifestyle, and that includes a combination of different types of training. I like to include exercises with dumbbells, with my own weight, running, swimming or climbing the wall at the moment."
Adam previously competed in Natural Bodybuilding in the ICN Federation, first competing in 2018 and a couple of competitive seasons. A few years later, he even won the award of the best athlete of the year 2021 in the ICN federation, and in 2022 he became a finalist in the Man of the Year competition, where he also introduced the public for the first time to his lifestyle on TV screens.
Why barefoot shoes and why Skinners?
"I like to incorporate Barefoot shoes, specifically Skinners , into my everyday life as it allows me to get back to a more natural movement and feel of walking. I have the higher cut, Compression 2.0 and also the lower, Comfort 2.0 - these fit me a little better .Each type of shoe has a specific role – for example, when I go for heavy weight training, I reach for weightlifting shoes that give me the stability and support that I need for such a load. When I run on the athletics oval, I wear running shoes that are optimized for speed and dynamism.
On the other hand, barefoot shoes like Skinners are a great choice when I go for a more relaxed run in the woods or just for a walk, or when I train my clients in the gym all day.
“With these shoes, the foot is given space to move more naturally and I feel each step completely differently - I have a better sense of the surface, which strengthens my contact with the ground and helps me stay consciously involved in each movement. In addition, barefoot shoes support the strengthening of small muscles in the feet, which often remain unused in classic shoes. It's a great way to keep my legs healthy and strong, which also helps me in other sports activities and training."
Can you remember any intense experience with Skinners?
"Then it will definitely be the one here. I decided to run 33 kilometers in the winter and in the forest in Skinnersky. As a trainer and a person who likes to push his limits, I saw it as a challenge to test the comfort zone, but also the capabilities of my own body. It was about finding out what I could endure not only physically, but also mentally. In winter conditions, when I faced not only the distance, but also the cold and demanding terrain, and I had to fully concentrate on every step. Every sensation in my foot, every stumble or slip brought me back to the present moment, which is exactly what barefoot running offers - a connection with the earth, nature and my own body.
Adam often experiments on himself, trying different training approaches, eating styles and biohacking techniques. And this was just one of the more extreme experiences.
"In these situations, one realizes how adaptable the human body is and what it can handle when it comes to it. That run was physically exhausting, but also incredibly liberating. I felt like I was learning to listen to my body again and understand where my limits lie.
But the biggest life challenge for me so far was when we got into the reality show Survivor in 2023. "
How has your life changed after participating in Survivor?
Life after Survivor has changed for me in so many ways. For one thing, I got a lot of attention outside of the fitness world, and a lot of people started to recognize me on the street as well. Some new followers were impressed by my approach to training, a healthy lifestyle and pushing their own limits, so they started coming to my training sessions regularly. In addition, Survivor gave me a great opportunity for personal growth – when you are dependent only on yourself and nature, you learn your limits, but you also learn to rely on your own abilities and resilience. It was an experience that helped me develop not only as a coach, but also as a person, and that gave me the courage to pursue my goals even more intensively. Now I'm focused on inspiring others to push beyond their comfort zones, whether it's in fitness or in general lifestyle.”
Adam also remembers how walking barefoot helped him win immunity.
“Unfortunately I couldn't have my own shoes on the island to make it fair for all players, but I was lucky enough to be allowed to be barefoot in some fights and that was key for me. I remember that in one of the individual duels for immunity, this option helped me win.
My feet are strengthened thanks to wearing barefoot shoes, which affects not only their muscles, but also the arch and overall stability of the whole body. A strong arch also strengthens the middle of the body, knees, hips and improves overall balance - and this is something that gave me an advantage in Survivor, especially in balance games. Thanks to training and wearing barefoot shoes, I was able to better manage movement on different types of surfaces and maintain balance better, which others may have underestimated a bit.
Adam Bůžek is an inspiration for everyone who is looking for a natural and active lifestyle. His journey from games to healthy movement and discovering the body's limits shows that every change starts with a decision. Skinnersky opened up to him the world of barefoot walking and freedom that everyone can experience. Just take the right step.