Escape Your Limits & LIFTS

In a one-two punch combo to the fitness industry, Andre Huseman and Vanessa Bourne are bringing customisation for combat sports to the masses, with BoxHaus. If you’re a fan of boxing, or even muay thai and kickboxing, you need to know about this place. Watch the full episode on YouTube – https://youtu.be/lUTRhvIKIHE Mutual friends and an Ecuadorian background brought these two heavy hitters together to build their Newport Beach business. Vanessa has been in fitness for over a decade, having opened a successful Pilates studio and always had a passion for yoga, both personally and professionally. Andre was the source of a lot of hype within Orange County, having also been in the industry for over a decade with gym employment before a passion for boxing took over. His own training for fights and fitness began to seep into the service of training sessions for clients. An innovative approach along with merging previous business with BoxHaus meant that success was already ensured for both Andre and Vanessa. Their existing following and experience brought pre-launch marketing to a viral level, with tangible excitement and commitment that’s often not seen within a start-up scenario. This custom combat offering is something that’s only going to get more popular with these two driving progress. BoxHaus is Orange County’s first boutique boxing studio, driven by passion, incredible visual branding throughout the location and a community spirit that involves all. Building a business through previous contacts, collaboration and creating unbelievable hype on social media meant that BoxHaus surpassed its projections even before the doors opened. With an incredible calorie burn and fun way to raise your heart rate at the base of the business, it’s an offering that also thrives on quality and customisation that brings every benefit possible to members.    Episode Highlights -  The importance of knowing who you’re appealing to and how to go all-in with the look, message and delivery of design. How to anticipate extra costs you may not have thought of, such as soundproofing, and which other areas of the market you can look for efficiency inspiration. Discover why it’s so important to be genuine with your staffing team and trainers, and why real experience suited to the subject material is vital. You can’t pull the wool over clients’ and members’ eyes. How can you find the balance to present an inviting environment and avoid intimidation with a combat sports service provision?    Join Matthew Januszek in conversation with Andre Huseman and Vanessa Bourne of BoxHaus …   Please like and subscribe.

Adam Sedlack of UFC GYM has pioneered worldwide fitness with the biggest name in MMA to help people create, accomplish and win through fighting spirit. Watch the full episode on YouTube – https://youtu.be/UmMS7--wxws Adam started out in a summer job straight out of college with Family Fitness that was later acquired by 24 Hour Fitness. From there, he stayed on board and rose through the ranks to move across three or four different clubs and become a general manager; then started travelling the USA as district manager, regional director, and eventually divisional vice president of the company. Through this loyalty and dedication, Adam benefitted from mentorship opportunities under the likes of Mark Mastrov and Jim Rowley to become a better version of himself within the industry. Not only did this give him the skills and understanding of what it takes to be successful and, more importantly, what members need, but it also forged the relationships that have led to his current achievement. Today, as president of UFC GYM, Adam helps people train different to discover the benefits of a mental and physical approach that surpasses anything else in the fight game. As the name suggests, UFC GYM locations are places where people can train like an athlete in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Between those walls and in the Octagon, it’s all about integrity, character, discipline and dedication. UFC GYM’s signature model has a core of classes that make each location offering great, including boxing, Brazilian jiu jitsu, conditioning, and daily ultimate training (DUT) to teach a safe way for members to become functionally fit. This approach with the right content and UFC DNA enables franchisees to better execute what UFC GYM is all about. On top of this, a boutique model within the gyms allow consistency in brand communication across the business, whether for employees or franchisees.    Episode Highlights -  How to stay humble with great success and continual achievement. Circle of association – how to use influence and mentorship to better yourself and your business. How to look at your industry in different ways by working with different people, and making the most of relocation to boost your career. In Adam’s case, he’s moved 20 times with 24 Hour Fitness. That’s loyalty and dedication. Discover the differences between corporate business compared with a franchise opportunity. What are the challenges and how can you overcome them? How to appeal to an audience or customer base that wouldn’t traditionally be of interest to your brand’s origins and expectations.    Join Matthew Januszek in conversation with Adam Sedlack of UFC GYM…   Please like and subscribe.

Paul Chek of the C.H.E.K Institute has done it all. He’s not only served in the military but got to the point of being invited to join Delta Force. Today, his thirst for knowledge and imparting what he’s learned will leave you with the understanding of how to work with definitive and abstract ideas, appreciate values, and weigh up opportunity with financial benefit on a much bigger scale. That’s just the start… Watch the full episode on YouTube –https://youtu.be/_w1boV_cLrk From a background of sheep farming and manufacturing produce from wool in the family business, Paul juxtaposed the physical with the mental, training in meditation with monks following his mother’s influence as a yogi from an early age. Using this as the foundation of his developmental life, his close-to-the-earth, holistic upbringing set in motion a life of constantly having more energy than anyone around him. He started boxing at 12 before fighting competitively; it all started from there. Following his introduction to the ring, his work ethic and need for competition led him to become a kickboxer, motorcross racer, stock car driver, drag racer, rodeo rider, and played every sport he could play in high school. Later on, logging, working on drilling rigs, working in the fishing industry, and also learning about engineering and mechanics through practical application gave him skillset after skillset that pushed him to another level of challenge. Paul joined the army as a paratrooper. Aside from repairing weapons systems on Cobra helicopters, it also enabled him to join their boxing team, eventually becoming the team’s trainer. From his nutrition knowledge and practicality, he taught even the elite soldiers how to have more energy and application of their incredible abilities in physical combat. Competitive edge is something that has stayed with him throughout his life. In his own words, Paul’s work in the C.H.E.K Institute is a synthesis of the best minds in any profession, integrated into his own findings and developed into new concepts through online education, over 400 exhaustive articles, over 100 videos, 11 books along with audio books, meditation tools and more. As an athlete, author, inventor, speaker, educator, Paul Chek’s skills are paramount in thought leadership and taking people on their own hero’s journey. Internationally renowned, it’s his insight and evidenced opinions that change the lives of countless people around the world.   Episode Highlights -  Learning business from unlikely industries, in the case sheep farming and wool production, and how this can lead to a life of endless achievement through application of the fundamentals. Eat the way you would on a farm. Paul’s diet enabled him to cycle 250 miles a week, run 40 miles a week, swimming an average of a mile a day on top of six to eight hours a day of boxing training. Although it’s not as straightforward as you think… The importance of surrounding yourself with the best. Paul’s friendship group included a world kickboxing champion sparring partner, bodybuilding’s Mr Canada with the biggest gym in town, two nationally ranked motorcross racers, elite skiers, black belt holders in various different martial arts… A melting pot of badass athletes. Learn the difference between people that know what to think and people that know how to think. How billions of people all damaging themselves through poor nutrition, and not in the ways you think.      Join Matthew Januszek in conversation with Paul Chek of the C.H.E.K Institute…   Please like and subscribe.

Few people know the importance of tailoring your offering to a customer base better than Colin Waggett, CEO of Third Space. He’s the master of grasping opportunities at the ideal time to bring growth and new offerings to members interested in London luxury. Watch the full episode on YouTube – https://youtu.be/fsHuhNOddj4 Colin’s professional background in hospitality, finance and casinos brought him to realise his passion for fitness is only matched by his ability to drive progress, implementing this wealth of experience. Since joining the industry, he’s headed up a £500m company to thrive in over 20 countries and, today, provides outstanding fitness spaces that members feel are their own. Following seven years at Fitness First as CEO, Colin went on to co-found a venture into the boutique market with Psycle. This enabled the entrepreneur of opulence to continue to learn about himself in a smaller, premium offering, including discovering the different challenges that every business goes through during growth trajectories. Of course, the work is never done, with behind the scenes propositions in his current venture, Third Space, ever expanding – evolution is always on the cards. While the focus is on London, listen to find out where the next direction is heading. Third Space bills its locations as London’s luxury health clubs, providing outstanding fitness spaces that members feel are their own, and the description doesn’t disappoint. Another_Space offers three class concepts: yoga, cycle, and HIIT. These are pay-as-you-go offerings in two London locations. Colin and his team have found the magic ingredients of theatre, community and innovation, fulfilling members’ love of the “new.” This implemented in fitness offerings, whether group sessions, climbing, cardio or any aspect of functional fitness, ensures that this is a best-in-class business compared to the competition, complemented by every other facility in the clubs to ensure the highest quality of experience.   Episode Highlights:  How you can use the benefit of hindsight to implement lessons learnt for future opportunities. The importance of differentiation and how to stand out with a fitness offering and great service that brings balance to any member’s life. Design is vital. How can you inspire your members or customers through ambiance alone, to complement everything else your business offers. What is the future of the boutique? Will people leave traditional clubs and migrate? Will they stay in full service gyms? Will members continue choose between the two?    Join Matthew Januszek in conversation with Colin Waggett of Third Space….   Please like and subscribe.

Former US Marine, Jim Rowley, set up New Evolution Ventures with Mark Mastrov to act as an umbrella for brands including Crunch Fitness, UFC GYMS, Madonna’s Hardcandy Fitness, YogaWorks and more.  Even after initial accomplishment, reaching his professional goals and working with some of the biggest names in fitness, Jim was responsible for evolving a business that was doing $90 million and took it to $300 million. Hear his success story, experience insights, predictions on the future of fitness and more in this inspiring episode.  Watch the full episode on YouTube – https://youtu.be/QF_pk-XIMlk Born in Nappa Valley, Jim and his identical twin brother were raised by teenage parents in a family with strong lineage in the military. Due to this influence and aspirational approach, he graduated high school and immediately enlisted as a US Marine. After his service, Jim’s future was to be filled with creating a fitness legacy that is stronger than ever. His 15 years in 24 Hour Fitness and expansive list of senior roles within the industry have built on success after success. In the early days in sales, Jim told himself: ‘I want to be the youngest vice president promoted in the history of this company’ at 24 Hour Fitness. It wasn’t long before he reached his goal and was VP before he was 30, with 33 clubs under his belt. The US Marines gave Jim discipline, responsibility, courage and the philosophy to put in the hours. On top of that, Jim broke his approach down to what it was like to be a member, instead of making it all about sales. This was met well with both staff and prospective clients alike from his early days in the industry.  Today, Jim is reaping the rewards of risking it all with a mortgage, three kids in private school and family responsibilities at 40 years old to go in his own direction in a joint venture with Mark Mastrov.  The evolution of fitness is what inspired the name of New Evolution Ventures. Instead of having one brand with a huge presence, NeV is about aggregating multiple brands and learning from each of them simultaneously. This spawned the beginning of the UFC GYMs, the introduction of YogaWorks, and more.   Episode Highlights:  How to get over the apprehension of dramatically changing careers, especially when transitioning from the military to civilian life. Going from calling in every favour in order to get his first job to becoming a pioneer of the fitness industry and how you can achieve anything through hard work. The reasons you need to be accountable and responsible while persevering with your passion. It’s a case of working hard andworking smart. How to achieve and deal with massive expansion through acquisition thanks to celebrity endorsement and efficient ad campaigns; the benefits of creating a lifestyle. Finding the balance to be there for your children while still staying successful in business.   Join Matthew Januszek in conversation with Jim Rowley of New Evolution Ventures.   Please like and subscribe.

Facing physical battles or business challenges, few fighters have more impressive UFC news headlines than featherweight legend, “Killer” Cub Swanson. Watch the full episode on YouTube – https://youtu.be/KPI66yyeQOU One of the most exciting fighters in UFC history, Cub Swanson has 25 wins to his name, but has also been awarded fight of the night, knockout of the night, fight of the year and more on multiple occasions. Despite his explosive actions in the cage, this mild-mannered family man leads a very different life day-to-day, but his fighting spirit and hunger for success still drives everything he does in every aspect of his business life. Dealing with family issues from as young as three years old when his father passed away, Cub is no stranger to coping with a challenge and overcoming adversity, but wholesomely appreciates the love and support he’s received from those close to him. Cub started martial arts at 19, but felt anxious about confrontation at first. Never wanting to fight, he soon got the taste for combat as the ultimate test of him being a man, or discovering whether particular martial arts work against others or in a practical sense. Rough around the edges to begin with, Cub explains how his UFC journey has expanded his horizons, humbled him and allowed him to grow into who he is today with so much on his shoulders. Today, Cub’s business is not just in the cage, but in his Killer Cub clothing line and looking to the future to implement his retirement plan post-Octagon.   Episode Highlights:  Cub is king of balancing business and personal life. In his case, it’s how to channel aggression in the cage but stay relaxed and polite out of it. Learn how you can develop who you are on both sides of life, whatever you do. Hear how being stubborn can be a positive trait and used as motivation or determination to achieve anything. When’s the best time to step out of your comfort zone and put everything into following your passion and becoming the best at what you do? Take inspiration from everywhere, and help it drive you to success and achievement.   Join Matthew Januszek in conversation with UFC featherweight legend, Cub Swanson…   Please like and subscribe.

Three-time Mr Olympia, Frank Zane, is not only known as the bodybuilding champion to beat Arnold Schwarzenegger, but many believe him to have had the best-looking physique ever. Today, he’s passing on his tips for physical perfection and a lot more to benefit others in every way. Watch the full episode on YouTube – https://youtu.be/QLMJqQQZTNA Frank started out as a bit of a scrapper by circumstance, finishing fights for his younger brother before his bodybuilding journey began and the sight of his physique, even at an early age, warded off trouble. Having won Mr Olympia in 1977, 1978, and 1979, his focus was not on getting huge as we know bodybuilding today, but to concentrate on symmetry and proportion. It’s this meticulous attention to detail and determined focus that has dominated his continuous life of achievement and brought success time after time, both physically and in business. Since his competition accomplishments, he’s studied psychology in the ’90s and got a master’s degree to coincide with a fascination of meditation mantras and the importance of clearing one’s mind.  In his spare time, Frank enjoys endless opportunities for education and personal growth, studying spiritual approaches as well as continuing to pioneer fitness. If that’s not enough, he also enjoys playing up to 20 instruments during each day. From training origins to his passion for teaching, Frank is not only one of the biggest names in bodybuilding, he’s an incredible source of knowledge for personal growth and enlightenment, too. Frank puts a lot of his success down to a simple comment given to him by weightlifting legend and entrepreneur, Bob Hoffman, who said: “Young man, if I had a physique like yours, I’d be walking around with my shirt off all the time.” It was this that created much of Frank’s motivation for life. Frank is one of the greatest sources of knowledge when it comes to the business of bodybuilding because he’s lived it for decades. In this episode of Escape Your Limits, he explains how he’s learned a lot over the years, including how to apply his methodologies and lessons to the work of others, transferring his passion from self-improvement to bettering the lives of others. Today, Frank spends his time helping others, keeping in both mental and physical shape, and writing – whether that be music or contributing to his new book, a volume of everything he’s done. The 400+ pages of the Zane Bodybuilding Manual are a background to Frank’s career, spanning from his early days of training at 14 years old right up to now, with all the lessons he’s learned. The book is available from frankzane.com   Episode Highlights:  How to decide what area of business to concentrate on at any one time and how this changes over your career and life. With Frank, this was which body part to concentrate on and what goals to pursue. Learn all about injuries when lifting: how you get them, how to avoid them and how to treat them. How you can overcome damaging comments from others to succeed and avoid the self-fulfilling prophecy of negativity. Ways that you can cope when you get to the point that it’s not about you any more to see the bigger picture, whether in business or bodybuilding.   Join Matthew Januszek in conversation with physique legend, Frank Zane….   Please like and subscribe.

Business partners Brian Blacher and Brian Blacher , co-founders of Brian Blacher , San Diego, have a combined experience that’s perfect to instill an ethos of not only a welcome atmosphere, but enabling people to make friends through fitness in their club. Inviting anyone to experience the next step in fitness culture, Workout Bar is disrupting the industry through detail, whether it’s lighting, technology, music, or the programming itself. Watch the full episode on YouTube – https://youtu.be/-RRL-EiPu0s Brian Blacher has been a fitpro for around 30 years, starting out in nutrition consultation and personal training before moving into management. His passion is based in sports science and nutrition, grounded in functional fitness. Steve Vlchek was intrigued by the world of fitness after retiring from the drilling/exploration industry early and getting into running. Just as many new members do, he found crossing the threshold of walking into a new gym intimidating. It’s this that has driven him to create the benefits that Workout Bar brings to all members. Through this combination of incredibly varied approaches when it comes to design, programming, service offering and opinion, Workout Bar is something new. Whether welcoming, stimulating, soothing or relaxing, even Workout Bar’s visuals throughout the facility follow their approach where every detail has a purpose. They want to be different and give something new to the social side of working out. Forget negative reinforcement when it comes to fitness, Workout Bar is all about positive experience, with three main focus points showing why it works so well. At first, traditionally you feel like you ‘should’ go to the gym. Once finally in the habit, you then ‘need’ to go to the gym. However, the difference comes in the ‘want’ to go to the gym – Workout Bar has created desire. Through a concierge level service and welcoming atmosphere – both in terms of offering and facility – the Workout Bar team breaks down the barriers and insecurities of first time gym inductees for circuit style training with a sports science backing, while creating a home for longstanding members through social appeal and more.  On top of this, it’s the location’s tech and heart rate monitors that not only display a forward-thinking approach, but also provide relationship-building interactions with members new and loyal, young and old. Episode Highlights:  How you can avoid the wasted space of traditional big box gyms by building a ‘box within a box’. Making sure that the people aren’t just welcomed, but ensuring the comfort of members continues throughout their gym experience by using technology and a pre-emptive approach. How a partner with no experience in the industry can bring new insight and a different understanding of what the customer actually needs, with no assumed knowledge. What gyms need to do to start overcoming the intimidation barriers for first time members. How you can bring the biggest benefits for investors before franchising a business model and enabling growth.   Join Matthew Januszek in conversation with Brian Blacher and Steve Vlchek, co-founders of Workout Bar.   Please like and subscribe.

With a pro fight career of 19 wins including 11 KO/TKO victories, Rob McCullough, senior MMA director at UFC GYM, is no stranger to overcoming a challenge. Hear how he made a career of punching people in the face to win a championship before going for gold in business, too. Watch the full episode on YouTube – https://youtu.be/2RkwvZdGeAM The dedication of making weight and facing a different competitive challenge with every fight is something Rob was born for. Youngest of seven children, with his dad in the military, Rob was destined to a life in service to follow in his father’s footsteps. However, his parents’ divorce and a move to Alaska changed his outcome, resulting in Rob struggling to keep up with classes and not graduating high school. In his early teens, Rob travelled back to Huntingdon Beach and met UFC Hall of Famer Tito Ortiz – a relationship that would eventually lead to a further UFC link through President Dana White. It didn’t take long for Rob to discover gym life and try kickboxing at LA Boxing, before progressing to Brazilian jiu jitsu. The passion for the fight game had been born and only bigger things were to come. Working with his BJJ instructor, Rob progressed a career teaching combat classes from basic burpees, jumping jacks and bag work to the robust programming hub he implements in UFC GYMs today. From sparring unknowingly with a kickboxing champion, Rob’s second ever pro am fight was at the Four Queens on Freemont Street in Las Vegas. His first found stoppage of his opponent preceded a night of celebration and a desire to fight as a career. Early on, Rob received advice from Bill Goldberg of WWE and WCW wrestling fame. He said: “Just remember… Potential. It means you haven’t done shit yet.” What followed was Rob’s championship win in World Extreme Cagefighting, before returning to his roots. After getting a job at LA Boxing – Rob’s first fight gym – as director of instructor training, the chain was acquired by Mark Mastrov and UFC GYMs. Today, UFC GYM is the result of a partnership between the Ultimate Fighting Championship and New Evolution Ventures, in an expanding initiative urging people to TRAIN DIFFERENT. Episode Highlights:  Positive thoughts and clear mind through perfect preparation. Laughed at early in his career when he filled out his boxing license, hear how Rob silences the doubters through dedication and hard work. How mindset affects people in business, whether commercial or the fight game. How does family affect your killer-instinct and how you can use personal developments to evolve your motivation and inspiration. Hear why it’s important to get a different perspective through research and collaboration with peers, even if you’re not a studious person at heart.   Join Matthew Januszek in conversation with Rob McCullough of UFC GYM…   Please like and subscribe.

Having acquired business after business, seamlessly integrating staff and suitable skillsets, DW Sports now has over 3000 employees and a dual brand platform that’s getting stronger nationwide. Escape Your Limits talks to DW Sports director, Scott Best, about managing growth, momentum and more. Watch the full episode on YouTube – https://youtu.be/LMt44nK3EnQ Starting out as a contractor working on an oil refinery, the taste of earning money meant Scott put off university, instead concentrating on revolutionising the company, rising to success before heading up the business 12 years later. Scott’s father-in-law and DW CEO, Dave Whelan,built 450 stores under the JJB brand – a fitness giant of retail space. On the back of this sports venture, he expanded into a portfolio of gym and health clubs. Scott joined Dave in buying back the health clubs side of JJB to form DW Sports after Dave left the company. JJB was subsequently bought by Sports Direct and went into administration. Between them, Scott and Dave built this portfolio to 71 health clubs before buying another seven old LA Fitness locations following their acquisition by PureGym. Then followed DW Sports’ acquisition of Fitness First. Gaining strength and experience with every acquisition, DW Sports is now in the position of putting the best of every outfit into practice for the ultimate in exercise experience. Most recently, Scott has been paramount in the process of DW Sports acquiring Fitness First UK. In this new evolution, Scott’s ability of establishing a sense of community through fitness makes it an acquisition supergroup that can do no wrong. With 55 joint sites with retail and leisure club, 123 clubs, and stand alone retail locations, DW Sports knows the power of dual branding benefits and offering tailored experiences in the right locations. On top of these acquisitions and developments, Scott has also set up a successful boutique offering in Best’s Bootcamp – a 50-minute full-body workout with treadmills and functional fitness equipment, and Best Cycle – a 45-minute low impact calorie burn spin cycle session.  Episode Highlights:  How to balance business with education, what you can learn on the job and through experience, where to follow particular career paths and how to deal with the regrets of missing either option available. Why merging business opportunities together is much more beneficial than multiple production / process silos in leveraging customer experience and opportunities. How to recover after overexpansion and when you need to consolidate your business for the greater good. The ways in which you can benefit from a consolidated middle market through maintaining quality service and investment. Learn the importance of integration when bringing two cultures and management styles together, as opposed to dictating one overriding plan.   Join Matthew Januszek in conversation with Scott Best of DW Sports…   Please like and subscribe.