Sophie finished 46th overall out of about 150 in the Racing the planet: Jordan ultra marathon

Sophie has run the Marathon de Sables, the Jungle Ultra Marathon, the Yukon Arctic Ultra Marathon, the Jurassic Coastal Challenge, the Chile Acatama Crossing, the Sahara Ultra Marathon, and the Roving Race Jordan amongst others. An incredible athlete I’m sure you’ll all agree!

We’d like to congratulate Sophie on another fantastic achievement!

We always say FKPro has top level backing from some of Britain’s elite sports people. Just in case you didn’t believe us here’s Liam Broady (junior wimbledon finalist and doubles champion) as well as Scott Quigg, (British Super-bantamweight champion) getting to grips with the kit whilst training with Team Hatton elite coach  Ric moylan (@fightin4fitness).

If it’s good enough for them then what are YOU doing without one…eh?

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Along side the wave of suspension training lies a similar peak or interested in Neolithic eating  -Paleo or primal food. Essentially this is really just common sense, and a great way to get great body compositions.

The general rules are if it doesn’t walk on the land, swim in the sea or fly in the air –don’t eat it! Similarly if it doesn’t grow naturally from the land without the aid of agriculture…the same rules apply.

This means swapping your Sugar puffs of a morning for sashimi style salmon and nuts! Or lean steak and raw carrots.

The health benefits of this style of eat are second to non. Removing refined sugar and un-needed carbohydrate will allow the body to tap into these fat stores for energy whilst the higher protein (coming from the meat, fish and poultry game etc) will assist in saving the lean muscle mass on  the body.

When we match this style of eating with suspension training, we essentially catapult ourselves back to cavemen / women. Functional pushing and pulling I.E. Pushing rocks an dragging carcasses and feeding bodies from the land. Do we ever see a caveman depicted as fat? No! They’re always lean and muscular…

2 great books to help you on the road to “Cavemannery”/ “Cavewomannery” are The Paleo Diet and The Primal Blue Print – you should also check http://www.marksdailyapple.com the best blog for the primal lifestyle!

Hi,

We’re pleased your considering joining the revolution!

Will Bayley is one Sport’s most determined and focussed individuals, he has overcome serious illness and the effects of a rare genetic disorder (that affects all four of his limbs) to become the highest ranked paralympian Table Tennis player in the World!

Fkpro’s Mark Hammond had the good fortune to coach Will for 2 years when he was based at the Bristol Academy of Sport. In that time several students went on  from the BAOS to achieve great things in the world of Elite sport - Toby Faletau (Wales current rugby union international) Ryan Scott
(gold medalist sprint relay commonwealth games)  Eliot Richards (current Bristol Rovers striker)
Yet, perhaps Will’s achievements to date are the most remarkable of all, especially when the obstacles he has overcome are taken into consideration.

Will was one of the first athletes to use FKPRO. It allowed him to get into positions that without the assistance of the Kit would have been nigh on impossible to attain . The improved range of movement , functional strength and enhanced balance that Will achieved through using the apparatus is remarkable. It has helped him develop a strong and stable fitness base on which his unique talents have been founded upon.

Will is one of the most genuine and likeable individuals you could wish to meet. His work ethic is huge and is only matched by a very few.

FKPRO are proud to have Will as such a positive and enthusiastic advocate of the qualities it offers to all -he is an inspiration ……..

We wish him every success for the forthcoming Olympics and the rest of his career 

Read all about Will’s story so far at  www.willbayleytt.com

Ryan Edmundson has become a kickboxing champion of Europe after defeating his opponent
In only 2 rounds.

Ryan is from The famous fighting city of Bristol. At  only 19 Ryan is already carving out a reputation as something of a rising star in the kickboxing world. His power and overall conditioning was evident as he stopped his more experienced French opponent in round 2.

Ryan has based virtually all his strength and stability work on the FKPro. He has worked under the guidance of Mark Hammond ( fitness specialist ) since the start of the year and is looking forward to his next bouts with some relish.

Ryan states
“the FKPro is perfect for me as it develops strength without building too much bulk. It has helped my ability to kick and punch harder. I also am in the best shape of my career. I never really took to lifting weights that well, I did them but not willingly. But since training with Mark Hammond on the FKPro I have found a training system that really works and one I actually enjoy. “

Watch out for Ryan Edmundson in the coming months …….he is definitely one for the future!

International Fitness Showcase.

March 23-25th 2012 saw The International Fitness Showcase once again unleashed on the Blackpool Winter Gardens. This 7000 strong mob of lycra clad, sweatband wearing fitness junkies all descend on Blackpool to sample the latest and greatest fitness experiences from across the globe. The “IFS” is aimed at both consumer and fitness professionals -this is the only convention of it’s kind where instructors can actually work out with their participants.

Inside the cavernous Winter Gardens many of the leading fitness brands showcased their products and skills…from the booty shaking Zumba and Bokwa to the awesome “mash up” combination session from Thump boxing; Powerplate; VIPR and FKPro. Aside from the gallons of fake tan, lack of body hair and inch thick make-up (this was just the guys) there was some serious talent taking to the stages -old and new! One of the highlights was the “IFS Cardio Boys Party”. This may sound like the name of a Bangkok Nightclub and perhaps raise a few eyebrows at the thought but these guys we’re excellent. Ceri Hannon, Steve Watson and Lincoln Brydan (a combined age of almost 150) laid on a flawless exhibition of hi energy aerobics to a 200 strong crowd. The energy in the room was electric. They definitely proved age only exists if you let it.

Accompanying me through the exhibition hall was the head of fitness at Team Hatton -Ric Moylan. An hour later I managed to drag Ric away from the Bokwa stand (which I thought strange knowing that Ric can’t dance) -he insisted he was interested in it…or at least the 12 dancers demoing the new dance craze!

On our stroll round we can across Piloxing -a mixture of Pilates, boxing and dance! Ric didn’t take to this for obvious reasons…so we moved on! In the Olympic room 50 people we’re waiting excitedly for Functional Fight Conditioning. This was a combination session between Thump Boxing; Powerplate; VIPR and FKPro suspended bodyweight training. Participants were trained like MMA fighters for 60 minutes in a circuit on all these pieces of equipment. 

We got some good feedback from the session, one participant even commenting afterwards that “That was the most innovative session I’ve ever been to” 

The energy in the room was phenomenal, music pumping, lights flashing…The participants worked harder than anyone I’ve ever seen. That was the general consensus across the team. I think next year it could be 8-10’000 people strong. I’d recommend anyone from gym goer to instructor to experience IFS.

Strength training for young sportsmen is a contentious area of youth sports development. In this post, Fitness Coach and FKPro founder Mark Hammond explores how suspension training can offer a safe and effective way to build a strong athletic foundation in young people. 

There are so many myths and misconceptions that surround the subject of strength training for the young athlete (and young people in general) that it is hardly surprising that so many parents, coaches and performers are confused-

 ”What age should the young person begin strength training?”
“In what form and how frequently should they perform strength training?”

Many young people do not have access to strength training facilities at their respective schools or local communities due to financial or geographical factors. As a result a lot will miss out on the opportunity to establish a  strength base that will form a foundational platform for future sporting success.

Suspension training offers one of the safest and most effective ways of developing strength for the young person currently available. Far too often young athletes are propelled into heavy lifting programmes before  control and stability of their own bodyweight has been established. Weight training is an excellent form of strength training for the young person but it is important that ligaments and tendons are prepared first. As soon as the young athlete starts suspended body weight training posture, body control, range of movement, joint stability AND strength are all enhanced as opposed to simply developing strength in isolation.

FKPro, and equipment like it, provide an appropriate  fitness foundation for all young people in producing strength with stability rather than strength for strengths sake, in an way which helps to prevent serious injury.

Alex Corbisiero enjoying the kit

England Rugby have been utilising FKPro during the Six Nations. This is a proud association bearing in mind how well conditioned the new look team appeared throughout the tournament.

Alex Corbissero is a big fan of the Fkpro training system and enjoying the improved neck strength and stability training with it develops.

It was great to see that he and his front five colleagues were able to demonstrate an awesome scrummaging power that laid the foundations for Ireland’s defeat last Saturday.

Arguably, it was Alexs’s best game in an England shirt so far. Great news for FKPro as it confirms what an effective neck, shoulder and all round functional strength training the system provides at the highest sporting level.