Yep for insurance reasons it's a club rather than a gym which means it can't have more than 50 people on the books afaik, but it's quickly become one of the best powerlifting gyms in the country.
ᕙ(⇀‸↼‶)ᕗ ||| The 2023/2024 Gym Rats Thread ||| ᕙ(⇀‸↼‶)ᕗ
- Thread starter Somnambulist
- Start date
How do they decide which 50 to give membership? Do you have to compete for it?
It's probably invitation only. So friends etc.
Guessing it's quite cliquey?
It does seem weird to limit it to 50 people, limits how much money they can make surely?
Last edited:
Basically it's a local supplement brand that's been around for 10ish years, they've always had a section of their warehouse setup with some kit for the friends of the business but since moving units they've now got enough space for a proper setup.
It's a loss maker and the owner is entirely happy with that he just wants a place where people really serious about their training can go and use all ipf spec kit, infrared sauna, hyperbaric chamber, cryo chamber, get their bloods done, their shockwave therapy, sports massage, etc. He's got a section set up for martial arts because he's really into his BJJ.
Effectively it's passion project for him that he doesn't have to make any money on, membership is limited i.e. they need to know you're not a complete nipple as it's open to us 24/7 so they want people who will treat the kit with respect.
From my understanding the 50 people limit is like I said a paperwork thing, if he wanted to run as an official public gym rather than a club it then becomes much more of a pain and expense.
With regards to cliquey, yep that's exactly what you'd expect but in reality it's the total opposite we've got world record holding powerlifters, pro bodybuilders, worlds strongest men competitors and people like me who just like to train but everyone is there for the love of it and is happy to chat, share tips, give you a spot, call you a weak little bitch if you're about to fail a lift and need some encouragement
Got a bit gushy there
but honestly it's the best place I've ever trained in 20+ years and has really pushed me in the last 5 months it's been open.Sounds amazing! Especially the cryo chamber shockwave therapy bloods etc part!Basically it's a local supplement brand that's been around for 10ish years, they've always had a section of their warehouse setup with some kit for the friends of the business but since moving units they've now got enough space for a proper setup.
It's a loss maker and the owner is entirely happy with that he just wants a place where people really serious about their training can go and use all ipf spec kit, infrared sauna, hyperbaric chamber, cryo chamber, get their bloods done, their shockwave therapy, sports massage, etc. He's got a section set up for martial arts because he's really into his BJJ.
Effectively it's passion project for him that he doesn't have to make any money on, membership is limited i.e. they need to know you're not a complete nipple as it's open to us 24/7 so they want people who will treat the kit with respect.
From my understanding the 50 people limit is like I said a paperwork thing, if he wanted to run as an official public gym rather than a club it then becomes much more of a pain and expense.
With regards to cliquey, yep that's exactly what you'd expect but in reality it's the total opposite we've got world record holding powerlifters, pro bodybuilders, worlds strongest men competitors and people like me who just like to train but everyone is there for the love of it and is happy to chat, share tips, give you a spot, call you a weak little bitch if you're about to fail a lift and need some encouragement
Got a bit gushy there
Good for them and whoever has membership!
Man of Honour
- Joined
- 5 Jun 2003
- Posts
- 91,817
- Location
- Falling...
I don't think I could ever go back to a commercial gym but I do miss some of the equipment they have. Also you get motivation from people/friends that you meet there. But I seem to have enough motivation for myself and I'm not chasing big numbers or big things. Just fight fit and mobile, but of course elements of strength
Such width. Yes.
Just come off holiday from a gym with a leg press, hamstring curl and knee extension machine set.
I'm normally a "free weights" kind of guy (because I don't have anything else at home), but we lift what we kind find, right?
Interestingly, I found the machines stressed my legs in places that dont normally get touched by squats/RDLs/single leg variants:
- the isometric machines hammered the distal ends of my quads/hamstrings
- leg press was a lot harder because it started from the flexion end of the press (I.e. bottom of the lift) and this felt like a massive limitation...
- I felt wary of lifting something that would tax me as it felt like I would rip something...
- I felt like I had to do some lunges/DBSS after the machines because it felt like there was some nasty residual tension in the quads/hammies...
However, some amazing leg pump was had and my jeans feel suitably tight now I have returned to my normal wardrobe.
It would be interesting to include this sort of thing in my leg days - as they should be - for finishing off any leftover aspirations of walking (after compound lifts). I almost feel like I have missed out.
Almost.
I'm normally a "free weights" kind of guy (because I don't have anything else at home), but we lift what we kind find, right?
Interestingly, I found the machines stressed my legs in places that dont normally get touched by squats/RDLs/single leg variants:
- the isometric machines hammered the distal ends of my quads/hamstrings
- leg press was a lot harder because it started from the flexion end of the press (I.e. bottom of the lift) and this felt like a massive limitation...
- I felt wary of lifting something that would tax me as it felt like I would rip something...
- I felt like I had to do some lunges/DBSS after the machines because it felt like there was some nasty residual tension in the quads/hammies...
However, some amazing leg pump was had and my jeans feel suitably tight now I have returned to my normal wardrobe.
It would be interesting to include this sort of thing in my leg days - as they should be - for finishing off any leftover aspirations of walking (after compound lifts). I almost feel like I have missed out.
Almost.
Man of Honour
- Joined
- 21 Nov 2004
- Posts
- 47,227
I swear to god if one more person tells me I look well. I get it work colleagues, I’ve trimmed down, partly by changing eating habits, partly due to not being able to eat properly for weeks. I’d much rather have not lost as much of the bulk.
Just enjoy a bit more lightness. It is there, even if you dont feel great about it.
I tactically lost weight to fit more easily into an old tux, and the additional chub lost makes me "feel" bigger, weirdly.
Soldato
- Joined
- 2 May 2011
- Posts
- 12,326
- Location
- Woking
Dude, it's such a complement. I always hated people saying, you look so much better. "what, you mean I was a fat ******* before?" but more recently people have been telling me that I look really well. For a while I didn't understand it, but I found some photos of me from my birthday in October last year. I'm fat, wonky, and look pretty rough - I'd had 5% of my intestine removed in July and was still recovering I guess. But I had no idea how rough I looked.
Now I'm down 10 kg, bulked up a bit, not very wonky any more, cut my hair, and my Crohn's is more or less completely under control.
So take it as a complement - they might see something you don't.
got my first ever upper body injury. fell off a bicycle, landed on my shoulder. can hardly move it now 
find out in a couple of weeks what the damage is, if any
hope im not kissing my PR goodbye
140kg x7 @88kg
find out in a couple of weeks what the damage is, if anyhope im not kissing my PR goodbye
140kg x7 @88kg
Soldato
- Joined
- 2 May 2011
- Posts
- 12,326
- Location
- Woking
got my first ever upper body injury. fell off a bicycle, landed on my shoulder. can hardly move it now
hope im not kissing my PR goodbye
140kg x7 @88kg
I thought that was going to be a deadlift. I am hilariously disappointed.
Sorry to hear about the injury.
Man of Honour
- Joined
- 5 Jun 2003
- Posts
- 91,817
- Location
- Falling...
I get people at the dojo saying - wow you look like you've trimmed down a lot but say "I'm so sorry hope that doesn't come across teh wrong way"... I say thank you, and yes I have lost a lot of bulk from being over 100kg and relatively lean, to around 96-97kg with very low bodyfat I definitely fill my clothes less tightly, possibly a lot less water retention too. I eat so well 99% of the time now, and still have the odd blow out now and again. I don't really drink alcohol anymore, I've never drunk fizzy drinks, and have been avoiding UPF as much as possible. It's really helped a lot. However, the cardio that martial arts brings has been the game changer. I can still lift weights and eat loads, but the cardio is getting me shredded as I end up in a higher metabolic state. Do I wish I was over 100kg and as lean as I am now? Yes, but it's not feasible really (at least not naturally). I need to be quicker on my feet, and nimble, and fit but strength (no matter what people say) is still so important. 5x a week training (3x MA, 2x Split work out), and I do my 10k steps most days. It's not complicated, just need to keep at it.
Yes I would love to still be considered "big", but I'm fit, healthy, and that's far more important to me now, although I wish I was still as strong, but I have to be realistic too.
Yes I would love to still be considered "big", but I'm fit, healthy, and that's far more important to me now, although I wish I was still as strong, but I have to be realistic too.
I have no sympathy for you, you big sexy beast
Man of Honour
- Joined
- 5 Jun 2003
- Posts
- 91,817
- Location
- Falling...
Ha! I wasn't seeking it, just saying that when people say "oh you've lost weight" doesn't mean it's a bad thing. I think a lot of us in here suffer a little bit of body image awareness / issues etc... or we're just more conscious of how we look.
I just have to accept holding on to bulk and martial arts aren't always beneficial, strength is good though!
It's nice to receive compliments, people often mean nice things but its on how you interpret them.
I guess my point was that 97kg lean is still a big beast in my eyes, although I can appreciate it's all relative!
Last edited: