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Instead, Paul focused his attention on his dancing and fitness career. He began teaching more classes and spending more time with Diavolo. Putting his knowledge of flow to good use, Paul began helping a client who was having trouble with his workouts by trying to develop a piece of equipment to take the pressure off the client’s neck and hips.
 But what happened next was not part of the plan. Paul was finishing a practice at Diavolo. It was his last move. He was to catapult off a 12-foot wheel and be caught by his spotter. Instead, Paul recounts, “I jumped, did a little sputter, collided with my spotter and ended up landing on my back, elbow first. I didn’t even realize it was broken until I tried to push myself up and it buckled. I was in such pain I almost blacked out.” Not too much pain to notice the paramedics who showed up. “They were hot,” he remembers.
TAKE TWO...TAKE THREE
It was a clean break at the elbow, which should have been a routine repair. The doctor was to install three screws, a rod and a plate. As it turned out, he only installed the screws. “I came out of the surgery with the feeling that my elbow was still broken,” Paul recalls. “I was in huge pain. The more I complained, the more painkillers they gave me until I was all dopey and drooly.”
They were intent on discharging Paul, but even through his drug-induced haze, he knew better and demanded a new X-ray. Since the rod and plate were not installed, one fracture had turned to multiple ones, and much of the bone was turning to dust. He made sure a corrective surgery was immediately scheduled. “It was five weeks after the second surgery, and I knew it was still not right. I was in constant pain even with all the drugs.” Paul explains. “I could tell the bone had not calcified yet.” This time around, the good doctor left a screw floating in his arm, causing even more degradation.
“He thought the bone would just grow back around it,” Paul says with a bit of residual anger. “My arm was total dust at this point.” Going back to that doctor was not an option. “The next few months I spent a lot of money trying to figure out how to fix it.”
“I was afraid,” he tells me candidly. “Every doctor I talked to told me the bone was so deteriorated that it would never repair itself. They all suggested I fuse it, which would leave my arm at a permanent 90-degree angle. I never accepted that.” Finally, he found a doctor who was willing to take a chance.
THIRD TIME'S A CHARM
For his next, and final, time under the knife, Paul’s previous two surgeries would have to be completely undone. In order to repair the bone, a surgeon would have to graft a part of Paul’s hipbone into his arm, as well as install two titanium rods and 12 screws. The hip graft was risky, but Paul was bent on making it work. Naturally, I assumed there would be a hefty settlement from the previous hospital visits. Can you say “malpractice”? But here is where Paul rewrote his story.
“They settled with me for just enough to cover my medical and legal bills,” he tells me. “My health and my future were more important to me than confronting that other doctor and engaging in years of litigation trying to get more. Life puts things in front of you that you can handle.” He enlightens me, “I knew I had to focus on me to get through this.” Paul’s choice not to be a victim surely aided in his recovery.
But what really helped was Paul helping someone else. “During my rehab, I remembered that piece of equipment I was working on for a client. I had actually just completed it three days before my accident. The bar I was using in rehab was not giving me a full range of motion and was not very helpful. So I brought my bar to my physical therapist,” he says with a proud smile. “It worked great. It opened up my shoulders, hips, back and core. It really accelerated my recovery.” Paul had the equipment with him one day when he went to teach a class. “The national Fitness Director for Crunch happened to be there and asked to see it,” Paul recounts. “She asked me how many I could make and if I could build a class around it.”
With some help from Home Depot (think PVC piping) and the Diavolo equipment team, Paul had enough bars to teach his first class in about a month. What did he name this amazing product? The Katamibar, of course. Not only did the Katamibar launch a whole new fitness craze at Crunch gyms nationwide (including Kardio Katami, Katami Kickboxing and Kore Katami), but Self magazine named Paul’s the best new workout classes of 2003.
BUT WAIT, THERE'S MORE!
Spurred by the success of the classes and the Self magazine endorsement, the Katamibar brought Paul full circle and back to TV. Infomercials and stints on QVC introduced Paul and Katamibar to households across America. Events that would have sent many people running back home actually seem to have fortified Paul Katami. “I understand myself better now,” he reflects. “It’s about the bigger picture and the choices I make.”
So where does he go from here? “I’m ready to get back to acting,” he says. “Very ready.” But that doesn’t mean he is getting away from fitness. He is working on a few new deals and has just produced a new fitness DVD around his next concept, Band Camp, a workout using resistance tubing. While I was quick to label Paul’s story as one of inspiration, he sees it differently. “I’m just a guy living his life.” Regardless of how you see it, Paul’s story made this scribe think about the choices I want to make to write the next chapter of my own. What about you?
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For a closer look at Katamibar and its various exercises, visit paulkatami.com
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written by geralddee on August 02, 2007 at 02:16 PM
Yum! He's hot... can't wait to see MORE pics!
written by Carlos Manuel on August 02, 2007 at 05:29 PM
It's incredible to read about Paul. He and I went to school (Santa Clara University) together. We were in the same department. His story is amazing and also very inspirational.
written by Dereck Feemster on August 02, 2007 at 06:58 PM
great looking guy i like to get to know him better
written by geralddee on August 03, 2007 at 10:53 AM
He seems very approachable. Where does Instinct find these guys? Another great job with an actually interesting and hot cover guy.
written by Eva on August 05, 2007 at 09:45 PM
what an incredible human being. He's an example of human strength! Not to mention he's a handsome boy...good job, Paul. You are an inspiration!
written by Engel Yu on August 08, 2007 at 09:41 PM
I really appreciate the fact that you did not airbrush this cover guy to death. In fact, you never do. But here is just the point: the picture with his backpack clearly shows the scar from his injury and you guys didn't try to pretty-fy. Paul is a handsome man who overcame tragic cirsumstances. Thank you for showing it warts and all.
written by Dixie Longate, the Tupperware Lady on August 10, 2007 at 03:41 AM
Congratulations Paul. Being friends with you, I know how hard you have worked for your success and how single focused you have been to overcome your injury. I am proud to know you!
written by steven on August 10, 2007 at 02:15 PM
An inspirational story from Instinct Magazine? I love it! You people are growing up over there. Keep up the great work. It doesn't hurt that's he 's super-cute too. Is he single? The article doesn't mention it.
written by joy on August 16, 2007 at 06:19 PM
I think he a Ross would make a great couple!!
written by warlock frm cebu , phillippines on August 17, 2007 at 07:28 AM
he hot and nice he shoould make him self do better life good lucvk bro
written by Jeff on October 15, 2007 at 01:15 PM
paul is an amazing guy and instructor..he instructs at my gym here @ equinox..
written by JJ on December 04, 2007 at 09:29 PM
Paul has been one of my closest friends since high school.
This moment in his life is just an example of what an amazing person he is!
written by John B on August 30, 2008 at 09:49 AM
are you gay?