Some people are natural born fighters. Yari Kaganovsky isn’t just one of them, but he’s the kind of man who refused to let his past define him & now uses his fire to inspire everyone around him. He doesn’t do it on purpose; it’s simply a natural result of how he lives — relentless, raw, & real.
Born in Ukraine but raised in the U.S., Yari’s early life was anything but easy. He grew up in a normal family with considerably strict parents & excelled in school, but he found himself pulled towards the chaos of street life. Fights, gangs, & bad decisions led him down a dark path, spending time in juvenile hall & county jail.
Yet even in the darkest moments, Yari had a spark: fitness. Whether it was lifting weights or throwing punches at a bag, he always felt drawn to the physical challenge. He just hadn’t yet found his purpose. Until he did.
Yari dedicated himself fully to fitness, & it saved him. Today, combat sports are his passion. He says it tests him every day, disciplines him, & makes him feel truly alive. It’s not only about hitting harder or moving faster, it’s about pushing limits, staying focused, & embracing every ounce of sweat & sacrifice.
Yari calls himself the Underdog, because he knows what it feels like not to belong, to fight uphill battles when no one believes in you. But he also knows how to turn that doubt into fuel & how to show up with more heart & hustle than anyone else in the room.
His days are as intense as his spirit. He has double training sessions M-Th, which includes morning cardio, core & calisthenics, then evening boxing, sometimes mixing in weightlifting. Saturdays are for heavy sparring, & Sundays are for strength & conditioning. On top of that, he has a full-time job, manages media commitments, & handles sponsorship obligations like he has perfected the concept of time management.
Yari first connected with Megan via Instagram through the fitness community years ago. Fast forward to current day, he then supported Guts & Grit. He resonated with the brand’s fierce quotes & unapologetic designs. The message behind “All Guts, No Glory” fits his life because he isn’t in it for attention, he’s in it for the fight.
Yari is self motivated. He wakes up every day hungry for progress, never satisfied, & always reaching higher. His mantra says it all: “I may be against all odds, but I will never retreat nor surrender — forever the Underdog”.
Follow Yari on Instagram: @yari513 or find him on Facebook. And remember, when you wear Guts & Grit, don’t forget to carry the mindset of warriors like Yari, who remind us that no matter how hard life gets, you never stop fighting.