Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson has had a long journey. From struggling to get into his college football team to winning 17 wrestling championships to becoming one of the most loved Hollywood stars, The Rock has come a long way. The man works out like a beast and has never shied away from hard work. 

© Instagram/The Rock

In a moving post on Instagram, The Rock shared how his father taught him an unforgettable lesson in life – one that made him the man he is today. He revealed how his father pushed him to strive harder in life, to give his everything to a task at hand. To sweat it out even if it meant getting his ass whipped. 

He says: “Leaving it all…means you give every f*cking ounce of effort you can, to give the best performance you can give. Whatever it is you do, whatever job you have.. at the end of the day, leave it all there.” 

Leave it all on the set.  Back when I was a punk kid my dad would take me to the gym on weekends and kick the shit outta me in the weight room and on the wrestling mats. He’d say you didn’t get up early to come here and give half ass effort. Leave it all in the gym.  Years later when I played ball at The U, we applied the same principles: we left it all on the field. When I became a pro wrestler, that was part of my nightly pre match prayer. Asked for the strength to leave it all in ring – whether I was wrestling in flea markets or sold out stadiums.  Leaving it all…means you give every f*cking ounce of effort you can, to give the best performance you can give.  Whatever it is you do, whatever job you have.. at the end of the day, leave it all there.  Rampage has been the most physically grueling role of my career. Got my ass kicked and handed back to me the whole movie. But I’m grateful to go to bed ???? satisfied I left it all on the set.  Who the fuck am I kidding, I don’t sleep, but if I did, I still left it all on the set.  #LeaveItAllPhilosophy #Rampage

A post shared by therock (@therock) on Jul 8, 2017 at 10:22am PDT

The full text of his post: 

Leave it all on the set. 

Back when I was a punk kid my dad would take me to the gym on weekends and kick the shit outta me in the weight room and on the wrestling mats. He’d say you didn’t get up early to come here and give half ass effort. Leave it all in the gym. 

Years later when I played ball at The U, we applied the same principles: we left it all on the field.

When I became a pro wrestler, that was part of my nightly pre match prayer. Asked for the strength to leave it all in ring – whether I was wrestling in flea markets or sold out stadiums. 

Leaving it all…means you give every f*cking ounce of effort you can, to give the best performance you can give. 

Whatever it is you do, whatever job you have.. at the end of the day, leave it all there. 

Rampage has been the most physically grueling role of my career. Got my ass kicked and handed back to me the whole movie. But I’m grateful to go to bed ???? satisfied I left it all on the set. 

Who the fuck am I kidding, I don’t sleep, but if I did, I still left it all on the set. 

#LeaveItAllPhilosophy #Rampage

Dwayne’s father Wayde Douglas Bowles, also known as Rocky Johnson, is a former professional wrestler and a winner of many wrestling championships. His life hasn’t been easy but the man overcame hardships and taught his son a lesson in strength. Dwayne shared his dad’s heartbreaking story last year, when he bought his father a car as a Christmas gift. 

He says in the post: “In front of the entire family, my dad’s mom looked at him and said get out. He was 13yrs old and now homeless. That f*cked up true story happened in Amherst, Nova Scotia, Canada in 1954.”

Bought my dad a Christmas gift and surprised him. He’s had a hard life. This one felt good.  My dad, Rocky Johnson is a minimalist. Always has been. Never asks me for much and over the years his needs are always the barest. Crazy story, my dad’s dad died when he was 13yrs old. That Christmas, my dad’s mom had her new boyfriend over for Christmas dinner. Her boyfriend got drunk and pissed on the turkey. My dad went outside, got a shovel, drew a line in the snow and said if you cross that line I’ll kill you. The drunk crossed it and my dad laid him out cold as a block of ice.  Cops were called. They told my dad’s mom that when her boyfriend regains consciousness, he’s gonna kill your son so one of them has got to go. In front of the entire family, my dad’s mom looked at him and said get out. He was 13yrs old and now homeless. That f*cked up true story happened in Amherst, Nova Scotia, Canada in 1954. He needed the bare minimum then, just like does now.  Over the years, I’ve moved him into a big home, got him trucks to drive – which he’ll literally drive into the ground until I get him something else. Hell, I’ll get him anything he wants, but the SOB just won’t ask;). Every Christmas, I always think about that story and my dad having every odd stacked against him at 13, but he fought thru it and still made something of himself. Makes me appreciate his struggle and hard work. Also, makes me appreciate the fun times he would beat my ass in the gym so bad when I was 13 and say “If you’re gonna throw up, go outside.. and if you’re gonna cry, then go home to your mother”. I hated it then, but I embrace it now. Made a man outta me. Without pissing on my turkey. ????????????. Just a small way of saying thank you dad and Merry Christmas! #DwantaClaus????????

A post shared by therock (@therock) on Dec 30, 2016 at 10:15am PST

The Rock has often been vocal about his admiration and love for his father. His father’s tale of struggle is an inspiration for many, but the lessons he taught his son are even bigger. Fathers can give you immense strength and now we know from where Dwayne Johnson gets his.