Health Club Management January 2010

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The founder of The Academy in Suffolk, dubbed one of the most sustainable health
clubs in the UK, talks about his dual passions – karate and being green
How long have you been in fi tness? What’s the number one weakness
I’ve worked in the fi tness industry for only in the fi tness industry?
three years, but have taught Shotokan Contracts. Why should members be tied
karate for 30 years at an international level. in to a social activity? Many are leaving
at the end of their contracts and coming
How has your career progressed? to us. They don’t want to be tied in again.
I spent six years in the army, followed by We have a ‘moral’ agreement for three,
19 years as a detective sergeant in the six or 12 months, where the customer
Metropolitan Police’s Flying Squad. I left agrees to pay us the required monthly fee.
in 1994 to pursue my dream of teaching If they leave before the end of the period,
karate, which I still do six days a week. we ask for the balance; both sides know
that, in practice, this is unenforceable,
What’s your current role? Gym is heated by a coal/wood burner but most of our customers honour their
I’m the chief instructor of a large karate part of the bargain and, in return, we
group with clubs in Norway, India and building. We renovated the whole place give good service and a warm welcome
the UK. I’m also sports director and ourselves using many materials bought when later they choose to return to
owner of The Academy Health & Fitness second-hand from auction sites. us. This seems to work well for us.
Centre in Suffolk, where my role is to The only heating in the main reception
develop sports and facilities, especially and gym is a large wood/coal burner. The What drives you?
in relation to karate and the gym. studios are both air conditioned, but use The fear of losing it all. Everything I do is
a new, effi cient, Panasonic inverter system. to enable The Academy to be sustainable.
How did the idea of All the lights in both buildings are low
The Academy come about? energy or LED, and the toilet/shower How can operators help in
The dream started about 20 years ago areas are controlled by infra-red sensors. the fi ght against obesity?.
when I built a similar place with a business This is particularly important for us, as Invest in quality staff who are prepared
partner in London. However, one week we have more than 100 young dancers to listen more. Rather than giving them
before opening, he sold it to a pop band in and out of the toilets most evenings! an automatic programme that fi ts easily
as a large recording studio! I then decided We build our own log cabins for into the operator’s system, listen to what
to go it alone and it’s worked well, even if residential camps using materials from the customer really wants to achieve and
it is a little daunting at times. auction sites. A typical example would spend time encouraging and sharing their
be the new set of wooden patio doors excitement throughout the journey.
What was the motivation behind and fi ve windows for the cabin, which
making the facility sustainable? we purchased on eBay for £15! The What’s been your career highlight?
Money! I hate to see it burning away in archery range, meanwhile, is built from The completion of my self-build sports
bills. There’s great pleasure in knowing second-hand telegraph poles, and we’re academy three years ago and fi ghting
everything you design and implement will in the process of building an outdoor bar in the England karate squad in 1994.
use the least amount of energy required. made from the same materials.
We build most of our new facilities out We have our own chickens and What are you goals?
of wood, using telegraph poles, sleepers vegetable plots to feed the staff, with My personal goal is to continue teaching
and reclaimed timber. It’s great fun and any excess being sold to members. karate into my eighties. I’d like to continue
you can do it yourself. It’s far more to develop The Academy into a very
pleasing to the eye and the customer What are your tips to operators large sports and social complex where
supports us with their membership. for improving green credentials? everyone from families to athletes can
Lighting. Count the number of light come and train in the same environment.
What methods were used to bulbs you have in the whole facility
make The Academy sustainable? and work out what wattage they’re What’s your favourite life motto?
The Academy was originally an old pig using. Low energy or LED lighting has “If you want to soar with the
farm, so we’ve simply re-used an existing seriously reduced our electricity bills. eagles, don’t mix with chickens.”
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