I first visited Elite, about 12 months ago, when I volunteered for a Charity White Collar Boxing Event, which Elite had volunteered to train a team of beginners for. I had a few aims when I started, firstly to learn a sport that I had always loved to watch, secondly to get fit, and thirdly to gain the confidence that being able to look after your self can provide.
Having never done any form of martial art or combat sport before, I was a little uneasy about my first visit to the club, because let’s face it, for a white collar, pen pusher like me, the typical boxing gym stereotype is a sweat pit, full of unfriendly locals with lots of grunting and testosterone flying round.
That picture couldn’t be further from the truth at Elite. Right from the word go, I felt welcome, encouraged and part of the club – despite being well below average in terms of fitness and skill level initially. This is a place, where you train in small groups, where the trainer knows everyone, their level and needs personally, and you are developed at the right pace for you.
Within these groups you are given one to one tuition in, boxing skills (with the focus on defense and not getting hit first, and offence second) as well as advice on nutrition, cardio training and strength / posture work.
A year into training at Elite, I’ve met a great group of people, I feel fitter than I have EVER been through playing football or pounding a treadmill, more knowledgeable about my body and how to look after it, and confident enough to spar with anyone in the gym – which in turn gives you a greater level of confidence outside it.
I couldn’t recommend Elite highly enough to anyone – no matter what sex orage or fitness level.
Stephen Thompson – Director -Forward Role Recruitment Ltd
