Ray Charles Arde, the youngest of 8 siblings, was born in a small town in the Philipines. Said Kris Crawford, founder of For Pits' Sake, Inc.

Ray has always had a passion for sports, in particular football.  Ray had dreams of becoming a professional football player.  While playing football, Ray decided to start training with weights because he wanted to impress the girls. Not only did Ray impress the girls, but he also impressed the judges at his third bodybuilding competition in 1991 winning the Teen Mr. San Jose Bodybuilding Championship. With his developing passion, sweat, hard work, and dreams of becoming one of the best bodybuilders, football took a backseat to bodybuilding.

Ray quickly rose to the top as he continued to train and win many bodybuilding competitions which soon ranked him as an elite athlete earning his professional status in the International Federation of Bodybuilding (IFBB) in 2005 at the National Bodybuilding Championship in Atlanta.  Ray, a very well known and humble bodybuilder, has been featured in major bodybuilding magazines including: Muscular Development, Ironman Magazine, Muscle Mag Magazine and Flex Magazine.  According to Kris Crawford.

Word quickly spread to the Philipines recognizing Ray as the 1st filipino IFBB PRO BODYBUILDER. In February 2006, Governor Chavit Singson had Ray personally flown to the Philipines where he was greeted by a parade given in his honor.  Ray was also honored at a Meeting in a Town Hall where he was given a “Certificate of Recognition” awarded by the Mayor, Governor and other local politicians.  Following the meeting, Ray made a guest appearance on a local talk show called GMV at Noon.

For the past thirteen years, Ray has successfully managed various well known gyms in the south bay of California: California Athletic Club, George Brown’s Fitness, Bally Total Fitness and The Right Stuff all while establishing himself as a personal trainer, bodybuilder, and business professional. Ray now owns and operates “Rays Built Tuff Gym” located in San Jose, California. Clients and members of Ray’s Built Tuff Gym say Ray’s gym is the “Cheers of the fitness industry where everybody knows each other’s name and everybody helps each other!” Says Kris Crawford.

Ray’s dedication to health and fitness goes beyond the doors of his gym.  Ray is very passionate about reaching out to youth from abusive situations in an effort to help them find their internal strength.