Introducing Shaolin Kung Fu Fighter and Martial Artist Dom D

Dom is a 5 x British National Sanda Kickboxing Champion who has a 3rd Dan black belt in Shaolin Kung Fu as well as being a 35th generation Shaolin fighting disciple. As well as this, he is also a qualified personal trainer specialising in strength and mobility, martial arts and gymnastics and full body workouts.

How long have you been training in martial arts and what do you love about it?

I started Western style kickboxing and then switched to Taekwondo which felt like a more holistic style of exercise with emphasis on breathing, forms and tradition. I then went along to a Shaolin Monk’s class in London and although it was impossibly hard, I decided to keep going until I could finish a session without dying. Over the years I began to train there more and more which lead me to fighting at the World Games. Now I’ve been studying martial arts for 22 years and I’ve met my best friends at training. I’ve faced some big fears and challenged myself, pushed myself and found out what sort of person I could be.

What is your biggest client success story?

My most rewarding client story is when I trained an 87 year old man who had suffered serious falls and therefore found it difficult to walk. I taught him to get up off the floor unassisted and he can now move with more confidence which has given him back some of his independence.

What is your top tip for someone just starting out in martial arts?

Find a good teacher. You can learn a technique from anyone but real martial arts training should be inspiring! Find a bad teacher and they might put you off training for life!

How do you keep a balanced diet?

Generally I follow the rule that if my great grandparents wouldn’t know what it was I’ve got no business eating it, i.e. processed foods. I dip in and out of a keto diet to keep myself healthy but I’ve found it doesn’t support my level of activity enough to sustain it for extended periods… having said that, ‘Everything in moderation… including moderation!’

Where is your favourite place to travel?

South East Asia always works. Good food, friendly people, culture and amazing landscapes.

Don’t forget that our TruBe trainers can come to you right in the comfort of your own home!

To book a session with Dom, download the app and find him as one of our featured trainers.

 

NEW! You can now book TruBe in-app and online

The TruBe team have listened to your feedback and we’re excited to reveal that we’ve just launched our website booking platform. Now you can search and book your sessions from your computer.

WHAT IS TRUBE?

For people that are new to TruBe, we offer a service that connects users with highly-qualified trainers from a range of specialist sporting backgrounds. This includes Personal Training, Boxing, Kickboxing, Pilates, Yoga and Ballet Fit. We have an extremely talented London team ready and waiting to deliver one of our signature workouts wherever and whenever you want. That means you can workout in the privacy of your own room, at the park or for the busy travellers amongst you, within an hour and a half you can arrange a personalised session in your hotel room.

With our website booking platform, we’ve made it easy and fast to make a booking, just like our app. You can search our network of expert trainers and send a request in seconds!

We’re excited about this new developments, and as always, we welcome your suggestions.

Should kickboxing be part of your workout routine?

Kickboxing

Kickboxing is a sport that has a multitude of benefits ranging from improvements in overall fitness to stress relief and self defence. During a TruBe kickboxing session you will experience a total body workout using all three of your bodies energy systems. This will help to rapidly develop your cardiovascular fitness and muscular strength.

Burn some serious calories

This takes us into the realms of metabolic conditioning which has been proven to have a high calorie afterburn. This means that not only could you burn between 500-750 calories in a one hour intense kickboxing session, you’ll also have a raised BMR, (Basal Metabolic Rate- calories you burn at rest to keep your body functioning), after the training has finished. This varies between males and females but can last up to 7-12 hours. So the gross calorific burn from the hours kickboxing session could be as high as 900-1000 calories.

Whole body workout

Kickboxing works out the entire body and not just isolated muscle groups. The punching and kicking techniques obviously work the arms and legs, but it’s the effect they have on the core that stands out. Working through all the planes of motion with rapid movements and the multitude of plank drills that accompany any workout puts a varied and high workload on the core.

Alex Lawson

It does everything

It also helps to stretch and tone the muscles and is proven to reduce body fat. Throw into that improvements in flexibility and mobility, coordination, timing and rhythm and you have a complete training system.

Hitting things is fun

On top of the many physical benefits the mental benefits are possibly what separates kickboxing from other sporting activities. Like most sporting pursuits, kickboxing releases the ‘happy hormone’ endorphins, but the act of striking pads can be a great way to relieve the buildup of stress and frustration that living in London can cause. It has a primal effect that allows you to generate focus within the session as they have to concentrate on the techniques and combinations.

Kickboxing
Protect yourself

Having the ability to throw kicks and punches along with the evasive movements can be a genuine plus when you consider self defence situations too.

Trube boast highly trained kickboxing instructors with decades of teaching and fighting experience. This is the real sport taught in a safe and accessible format that will keep you motivated and invigorated.

So why don’t you download the app and try a kickboxing session to see for yourself!!!

Alex – 2013 ICO light welterweight World kickboxing champion

Meet Yogi and Kickboxing Instructor Zeynep

As a kickboxing and yoga instructor, Zeynep has mastered both high intensity and low meditative exercise. She is eager to pass on her knowledge and experience to all, so read her Q&A and book a session with her using our app.

How do you inspire your clients?
I believe in inspiring my clients through my own lifestyle, practice, health and wellbeing. This is proving to be very successful and motivating :). My clients always develop healthy addiction to sport and exercise and I inspire them to take their practice further.

zeynep blog 1

What is your biggest client success story?
I watched one particular client development over their yoga journey, mastering several expert flows. It is such a beautiful honour to see the progress of regular and disciplined practice. This is when you know that all the hard work was worth it :).

What was last obstacle you had to overcome and how ?
I have a solution for everything, therefore I do not believe in obstacles 😉

Where do you like to have fun in London?
I like to hang out everywhere as long as there is good music, cool people and tasty food. Turkish food followed by a mocha in North London, as well as watching stand up comedy in Central London. There is just sooo much choice in here! I love it!

What is the best piece of advice you have received from a mentor?
Be patient and keep practicing.

How do you keep yourself motivated?
By setting myself goals and always trying different things.

Zeynep blog 3

To book a session with Zeynep, download the app and find her as one of our featured trainers.

View our trainers before you book

We’ve listened to your feedback – you can now see a list of our highly-qualified Trainers or Yogis and favourite them before booking a session. This gives you more control over who you would prefer to train with.

Blog screens

Simply tap on Featured Trainers in the app from your profile and start favouriting them.

You can now also view a full list of the trainers and yogis that have passed our recruitment process. Visit the Trainers page on our website and get to know them better.

trainers website

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