Gym Sport and what the gyms say ...

Its important to give a reflection on how gym sports (Gym X Training) is perceived by gyms outside of the X Training circles and their reaction to running events for their members. To do this you have to actually visit gyms and get their reaction. But just getting in the door is tricky.

A recent visit to a gym in Maidstone Kent again reaffirmed my suspicion that Gym Sport tends to alienate the proposal rather than encourage it. This is quite hard to understand because as a gym member myself I can honestly say that the gym I belong to simply does not give the option for me to train towards an event that is gym specific.

For those of you who have taken part in Gym Sport Event will know the satisfaction and reward of achieving something and fulfilment it brings is unique to your training - but trying to relay that to a gym without them having actually tried to implement it is one of the hardest sells in history and you could be thinking well that's the job of a salesman to make the gym want this product, make them want to compete and give something for their members to train towards, or is it just bad salesmanship ?

If it's not bad salesmanship what is it then ?

Funny enough a chat with a personal trainer in Thailand and marketing expert in personal training brought around the answer, when he happened to mention that gyms are not interested in fitness or performance. And you have to kind of agree. I mean, how many of you walk through the door and are actually tested in any way? And if you are what type of data is there to support your increased fitness?

Gym Sport

It's a simple idea to give members something to train towards which is directly related to the equipment they use.

So much so, that for this gym which gave a free session to try their equipment and facilities I actually created a challenge to which was directly related to the equipment they had.

What is Fitness? Or more importantly what is Gym Fitness ?

Fitness is Fit For Purpose - let me expand on that. If you are about to run a marathon would you consider rowing predominant or running? And vice versa if you were to take part in a rowing competition would predominantly run - so fit for purpose is directly related to the equipment you have in gym.

So I took into account what this gym had in terms of apparatus and equipment and put together a competition that would be fit for purpose, based on what the gym provided.

The aim was to create a Gym Challenge that all members could train towards, with the equipment they have in their gym - have a common focus and then walk away having completed the challenge with a sense of achievement and a marked level of of improvement in their fitness. This is basically how the concept of Gym Challenges work.

Time scale

It was not an immediate challenge - but one that a progressive plan that would lead up to a fixed date. One that personal trainers could train clients towards, or one that gym members themselves could train towards. Something that in a space of 8 weeks the foundation to increased fitness can be built.

What was the reaction of the gym?

It would be fair to say the gym just didn't understand the concept of a gym challenge for their members. They did ask of other gyms that have tried gym sport or challenges, to which I happily relayed information about 'The Hampshire' which is probably the most successful and also mentioned why CrossFit was so so successful because members compete in WODs and train for a reason. But for this gym sadly - it fell on deaf ears. They were not interested in having a sport for gyms and I must add that this was a real disappointment because the venue was very good, the equipment excellent and probably the members were very fit and conditioned. But we will never know because for some reason a sport for gyms and gym challenges for this gym will not take place. Their members will never be given the opportunity to train for an event.

What's next then?

So - time to find another gym then, one that wants to provide a platform for their members to train towards and encourage a sport for gyms.

One that has personal trainers that focused on performance and improved fitness and show results that reflect a community of members that support one another and encourage one another at the gym they train at.

Fitness First and FitBrit ...

Trying to find gyms that offer challenges to their member is proving very hard. But I would add, if you can pop into Fitness First and have a free five day pass to try their FitBrit Challenge its a step in the right direction ... and then enter your results in the World Gym Challenge.com database to show how you are improving.

Closing comment ..

Fitness First will be inviting members through their doors to try this challenge ... maybe other gyms could do the same ? And by doing so try and find their very own Ultimate Gym Athlete .. like WGC member Tracy Davies who won FitBrit in 2014.