OE-Blog

Latest Offers For Outdoor Extreme Customers

2007-06-08T12:01:00.000Z

The next Outdoor Extreme Training Course starts on 4th June at all parks for 6 weeks, this is the perfect time to get fit for the summer holidays. If you’re heading for the beach then the sessions will help you tone up and loose a few pounds. If you’re being a bit more adventurous this summer then the sessions will get fit for any challenges you have planned.
We have just bought in some great new offers available to all Outdoor Extreme clients.

Great Offer No 1.
Once you have completed 3 Outdoor Extreme Courses you’ll get a one of our Extreme Training t-shirts completely free. Perfect wear for the training sessions.

Great Offer No 2.
As a way to thank our best customers and those that bring their friends along. If you refer 5 people to us we’ll give you a personal training session completely free. This is a great chance for you to learn new exercises and be pushed that little bit more.
For more information on Outdoor Extreme Classes in your area click on the link below to take you to our website, here you can view what classes are currently available, at what times and a what cost. You can also get in direct contact with your Outdoor Extreme trainer.

The First Outdoor Extreme Franchise Has Been Launched

2007-06-08T11:52:00.000Z

The Outdoor Extreme franchise system allows personal trainers across the UK to replicate exactly what Outdoor Extreme in London has been doing for the past 3 years. Franchisees become fully trained to teach the Outdoor Extreme training concept in their own area. With the launch of the new Outdoor Extreme website clients can now easily find their park and book the sessions they want.
The first Outdoor Extreme franchise was launched in Chelmsford on April 16th and has been an incredible success. Tim Bear the Outdoor Extreme trainer for Chelmsford has already built his classes up to well over 10 people per session. This has been thanks to some hard target marketing by Tim and the great interest the Chelmsford locals have shown in the Extreme kettlebell and Boxing sessions.
The next franchise is set to launch in June in Richmond, London. With a great area like Richmond and a fantastic park to train in, Outdoor Extreme expects to see more people experiencing the benefits of kettlebell training outside.
If you are a trainer and want more information on setting up Outdoor Extreme near you please email tommy.matthews@outdoor-extreme.com

Outdoor Extreme Fitness Franchise System

2007-03-21T09:46:00.000Z

It's finally here! the only structured, periodised outdoor training program available to fitness professional and gyms.

The Outdoor Extreme Franchise system has been set up to allow fitness professionals with high aspirations the opportunity to run their own business under the support and backing of a large successful company. Outdoor Extreme Ltd provides a high quality training service to the public, private, professional and sports sectors. The company has been running along side its sister company Optimal Life Fitness Ltd since 2005. The two companies have always complemented each other and grow together as business from both develops. The Outdoor Extreme franchise system is set to propel the Outdoor Extreme training concept internationally. This is your chance to become part of a growing brand intent on success and quality.

for more information on the franchise system, please contact tommy.matthews@outdoor-extreme.com

It's Getting Cold...

2006-11-09T10:59:00.000Z

...but that doesn't stop our Outdoor Extreme participants, here's a quick look at the Wandsworth Common early birds, making the most of the daylight in our 7am class. The early mornings are still attractig numbers, it seems that people enjoy getting some early morning exercise before a long day in the office. Well done to Matt, Nicky and Jane, pictured here working hard on wednesday 4th Novemeber. keep up the good work.

Extreme Kettlebell Instructor Course London

2006-11-21T13:19:00.000Z

Optimal Life Fitness has just ran their first Extreme Kettlebell Instructor Course at the Premier Academy in London. It was a very succesfull weekend, seeing 8 trainers qualifying as EKI's. Well Done Everyone! The standard was again very high and from all of us at Optimal Life Fitness we would like to thank you for attending the course and hope that you put into practice the skills you have learnt over the weekend. We look forward to hearing from you in the near future and hope to see you on one of our courses at a later date.
Thank you to Premier training for the use of the venue and thanks to our new partner Bsc Body Science for providing us with some great sports nutritional products, which helped all of us make it through the weekend. Optimal Life Fitness will be running one more course before christmas, this will be held in brimingham on the 9th-10th December. for inforamtion on this course please contact us: info@optimallifefitness.com

Extreme Kettlebell Instructor Course Birmingham

2006-11-09T10:33:00.000Z

Last weekend (4th/5th Novemebr) saw Optimal Life Fitness take to the road and head for Birmingham to teach the Extreme Kettlebell Instructor Course at the Birmingham Sports Centre. The 2 days were very tough, but well done to all that attended. The standard was very high and congratulations to all of you for passing the course. You are now EKI's, well done! Optimal Life Fitness would like to thank you for attending and hope that the skills you have learn't will become very useful in your training sessions. The next Extreme Kettlebell Instructor course is on 18th - 19th November in London.

Optimal Life Fitness And GB Fitness

2006-10-30T17:27:00.000Z

Optimal Life Fitness Ltd is pleased to announce that, as part of their continuing development and growth they have partnered up with GB Fitness, one of the industries top suppliers in educational courses. Optimal Life Fitness would recommend any of the courses offered by GB Fitness, due to the high standard of education provided by GB.
For More Inforamtion on the courses they offer you can visit:
http://www.gbfitness.com/

Job Opportunity

2006-10-25T13:37:00.000Z

Outdoor Extreme Development and Fitness Manager

Job Description:

-To develop new training areas nationally
-To maintain existing training areas
-To enhance and improve clients/members experiences, through implementation of new, exciting strategies
-Improve client/member retention and loyalty by introducing new systems and strategies
-Maintain and improve customer care and satisfaction
-Manage outdoor extreme fitness trainers, ensuring a high standard of training, professionalism, and conduct are used all aspects of work
-Ongoing personal development of outdoor extreme fitness trainers
-Run outdoor extreme sessions
-Take personal training sessions

Candidates should be prepared to:
-Travel with the job
-Work extended hours for increased rewards
-Adapt to changes within the business

Who are we looking for?
Candidates need to:
-Come from a sporting background
-Have a good interest in the health and fitness industry
-Have a good background knowledge in sports and performance training
-Have completed the appropriate educational courses to degree or industry level
-Have the desire to develop, improve and progress a growing business
-Be assertive and confident under pressure
-Be a decision maker
-Be very efficient and driven to achieve targets and goals
-Have good communication skills

What are we offering?
-Basic annual salary
-A very competitive target based commissions structure
-Company car
-Mobile phone/blackberry
-The chance to be part of a new, exciting, cutting edge company
-The chance to become an integral part of the business

Optimal Life Fitness Run's First Extreme Kettlebell Instrucutor Course

2006-10-22T16:39:00.000Z

This Weekend saw Optimal Life Fitness hold their first educational course. The 'Introduction to Extreme Kettlebell Instructor Training Course' was held at the K2 club in Crawley, it saw 14 trainers completeing the grueling, challenging course and qualifying as Extreme Kettlebell Instructors (EKI's).
Well Done to all of you!

Women's Range Of Kettlebells Coming Soon!

2006-10-20T11:25:00.000Z

Optimal Life Fitness has decided to develop a range of kettlebells for women. After using kettlebells for years, we've noticed that there is still some misconceptions about kettlebells being used only by men. Wrong! and to help get women experiencing the benefits of kettlebells we've developed a range that's more women friendly. Along with our new range of training DVD's you will soon be able use kettlebells where ever you want with all the instruction you need.

Optimal Life Fitness Has Success At Leisure Industry Week

2006-10-02T16:06:00.000Z

On the 25th of October, Optimal Life Fitness took to the road, bound for the LIW at the NEC Birmingham. We went up to launch our new range of Extreme Kettlebells and the Instructor Training Courses and Workshops.
We had 3 very busy days, demonstrating and talking to hundreds of people from the health and fitness world. We're back in London now and happy to report on the huge success of the LIW. There was a fantastic response to our REPS accredited course and the kettlebells.

We left on Thursday, very tired, but having pre-sold a huge amount of our next kettlbell order and also booking gyms and leisure centres exclusively for our instructor training course.
The stand was a fantatstic place to be for 3 days and made all the difference when trying to compete with hundreds of other companies. So our thanks goes out to Exhibit Europe, for their superd professional pre-show organisation, which allowed us to just turn up and get on with what we know best, Kettlebells! If you came to see us at the LIW thanks for coming and we look forward to seeing in the future, hopefully at one of our courses.
www.exhibit-europe.com

EXTREME KETTLEBELLS

2006-07-26T13:46:00.000Z

Optimal Life Fitness is pleased to announce their new Kettlebells are on the way. Currently being manufactured we have a full range, from 8 kilos through to 40 kilos. Here's just a quick peak at what they'll look like.

We are currently in the process of setting up the most advanced kettlebell training package in the fitness industry and will be unveiling this along with our full range of Extreme Kettlebells at the Leisure Industry Week in September.

Keep watching out for your chance to buy Extreme Kettlebells online through our new commerce site.

The Northern Pirates Start Thier Training Program

2006-07-06T17:53:00.000Z

After 2 months of planning and all of the pirates putting in many a hard hour on the treadmill and the rowing machine. It was time to put their slightly premature confidence to the test. As part of our support to the pirates, OLF has set up a series of special outdoor extreme sessions to get the boys ready before the event. They've got 3 weeks to go and the pressure is mounting. There has been a considerable increase in commitment, seeing some of the boys taking part in the london 10K run on the 2nd July. Where they endured swealtering temperatures rairly seen in England. All of the pirates got through the ordeal with great times.
Well Done Pirates!

A gruelling start to the Northern Pirates training program saw them take on our famous tractor tires and beer kegs in Battersea park. Some of the lads took to it like a duck to water, others had a bit of a shock! See the photos below.

Optimal Life Fitness Sponsors The Northern Pirates

2006-06-24T17:33:00.000Z

Optimal Life Fitness is proud to announce their sponsorship of the Northern Pirates for 2006. This year the pirates have set an almost impossible challenge, but with the help of the OLF team and our Outdoor Extreme training sessions. We hope to get them all through one of the toughest assault courses ever made. To see what the pirates have let themselves in for visit the link below

http://www.toughguy.co.uk

Whats more, the OLF team didn't want to miss out on all the fun. So Tommy Matthews of OLF has joined the pirates in their attempt to complete whats said to be the most demanding one day surivial test designed.

keep checking our site to see how the boys are getting on in their training. The tough guy event is on the 30th July.

Good Luck Boys!

Optimal Life Fitness Gets Ready For The Leisure Industry Week

2006-06-28T20:11:00.000Z

This year Optimal Life Fitness will be exhibiting at the biggest fitness industry show, the leisure industy week. As part of our continuing growth and development in the health and fitness world, we will be launching:

Extreme Kettle Bells - our very own high quality range of kettle bells availbale for the public, corporate and private sectors to buy.

Extreme Kettle Bells for Beginners Training Course - our soon to be REPS certified kettle bell instructor qualification, a must for any personal trainer. Look out for our national tour to cities throughout the UK, where we'll be holding beginners training courses.

Extreme Training System (ETS) - which offers a complete installation service, training course and support program to all health clubs, gyms and personal trainers. ETS includes our wide selection of high quality Kettle Bells, the Extreme Kettlebell Training Courses and a full system of Extreme Workout Training Programs.

You can see our stand below and if you happen to be at the LIW come and visit us. We do have plenty of free tickets to give away. If you need one please contact the office.

http://www.liw.co.uk

Change Of Times

2006-05-17T05:16:00.000Z

Due to the Champions League Final on Wednesday the 17th of May, that evenings session will be moved an hour earlier. The session will now be on at 6:15pm not 7:15pm.

C'mon Arsenal!!

3 Great Exercise's For Strong, Toned Legs

2006-02-15T20:34:00.000Z

The Exercises

Bridge Holds
Lie on your back, bring your pelvis up so your lower back flattens to the floor, squeeze your bum and keep it tight as you raise your hips up off the floor. Hold for 30 seconds or until muscles tire and hips drop

As a variation do as above but hold for a second then relax and repeat 30 times
What's it good for?
Great to strengthen your bum, will give you good tone and a solid base to start lots of more advanced exercises.

Step Backs
Very similar to a reverse lunge, keep the front foot planted on the floor, take the other leg behind you as far as comfortably possible, allowing the knee to drop towards the floor.
As you step back allow the back to come over the front thigh, ensuring you keep your head up and chest up.
Alternate between each leg and do 4 sets of 12 in total.
What's it good for?
Fantastic for the legs, it works all the muscles especially the inner thighs, bum and back of legs thanks to the full range of movement you undergo.

Medicine Ball Swings
Use a medicine ball (with handles) or a Kettlebell (or something similar).
Stand with feet slightly more than shoulder width apart. Keep your head up and chest up; sit back in the hips as if you're sitting back into a seat, allowing the ball to swing between the legs.
As you come up to standing again make sure you squeeze your bum to ensure your hips come up into full extension.
What's it good for?
Great for the bum, back of legs and inner thighs, it also works the core and abs extensively due to the swinging momentum the medicine ball provides.

Optimal Life Fitness Launches New Parks and New Times

2006-02-15T14:26:00.000Z

Folowing a successful first year with their outdoor training sessions at both Highbury Fields and Wandsworth Common, Optimal Life Fitness Ltd is bringing their Outdoor Extreme Sessions with Kettlebells to more London Parks at more times in 2006. The new parks include Primrose Hill and Wimbledon Common (with more to come this Spring!).

Hailed as

the next big thing

in this February's Health and Fitness magazine Outdoor Extreme with Kettlebells is guaranteed to get their participants results.

What is Outdoor Extreme with Kettlebells?
Outdoor Extreme with Kettlebells is an outdoor training session like no other. Not only will participants use their own bodies, but they will also be using Kettlebells, sand bags, beer kegs and medicine balls.

Why Outdoor's?
Too many people spend too much time indoors. Gym's and fancy equipment aren't necessary and can be detremental to a persons health and well being. Optimal Life Fitness get's people outside and into the fresh air! For those who are sick of being cooped up indoors Outdoor Extreme with Kettlebells is just the thing.

The Programme
Classes vary, individuals can tailor make their own programmes by selectingthe style of calss to suit their wants and needs. There ar estrength focused classes, power endurance sessions and more aerobic focused classes. Getting fit has never been so easy or this much fun!

Check The Outdoor Extreme page for more details on new parks and times.

Outdoor Extreme With Kettlebell Training Gets Even Bigger

2006-01-04T16:07:00.000Z

Great news for anybody looking for a new training regime that really works, Our 'Outdoor Extreme' sessions have started in Primrose Hill and Wimbledon Common. To add to the sessions already run at Highbury Fields and Wandsworth Common.
Visit http://www.optimallifefitness.com/outdoor-extreme.php to find out more about the sessions.
'Outdoor Extreme' as seen in Health and Fitness Magazine (Feb 06 ) is the next big thing to hit London. As people become sick of the chrome filled, un-hygienic gyms, they are searching for a better more exciting way to keep fit. This is why Optimal Life Fitness is making the most of London's green spaces. Why don't you?

Lawrence Koomson - Man, 33, seeks puberty

2005-12-06T10:30:00.000Z

Lawrence Koomson is a doctor living and working in London. On the face of it, he seems no different from any other young man but Lawrence has a secret.
At 33, he's never been through puberty.

Tommy Matthews has been training Lawrence as part of his incredible personal & physical development over the last 6 months. Tommy helped Lawrence through the trials and tribulations of under going puberty at the age of 33.

"I was asked by Maverick Tv to try and get Lawrence fit as his personal trainer, little did I know the challenge I was about to face! All will be revelaed in the programme". Tommy Matthews 05

The documentary can viewed on BBC 1, 10.35pm on Tuesday 6th December.
For more info visit http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/4492814.stm

Why Kettlebells?

2005-12-01T12:37:00.000Z

Many of you have now been using Kettlebells for the best part of the year. Some of you have just begun to use them. I am sure you will agree; they are a fantastic tool.

We have achieved a lot of good results in the Outdoor Extreme sessions, a lot of these results can be attributable to the effectiveness of the bells. A lot of you have had questions about what they are and why they are one of our main tools of choice. The following should help to answer some of your questions:

What are they?

Kettlebells are traditional Russian training tools. They were originally a tool of some sort, used as a weighted tool and are called girya in Russian. Russian Strongmen were called Gireviks or kettlebell men. Kettlebells have been used for hundreds of years to train strongman, wrestlers and athletes. Strongmen from the turn of the 20th century from all over Europe trained and used Kettlebells as part of their shows and in their training.

The strongman in the current Britain Tour of the Moscow State Circus, Bikram uses them in his show and for his training.

Why we use them?

They are a fantastic portable tool, that can and has been described as a complete handheld gym. The fundamental kettlebell lift the Swing is possibly the greatest single exercise ever.

Steve Maxwell a Brasilian Jiu Jitsu World Champion and Conditioning Specialist claims that doing the perfect swing is alone superior to 99% of the sophisticated strength and conditioning programmes.

The swing is a whole body conditioner, there is not a muscle that is not used while you swing. Muscles that due to current lifestyle trends are neglected, primarily glutes, hamstrings, hip flexors and lower backs are used to full range range of movement in the swing. They are also strengthened like nothing else in the Swing.

This strengthening can lead to prevention as well as rehabilitation of lower back pain. The main causes of which are proven to be weak as well as tight lower back muscles, weak glutes and hamstrings and tight but weak hip flexors. The swing alone strengthens and utilises a full range of motion (stretches) all these muscles making it a fantastic exercise in attacking lower back pain.

As well as the benefits of the kettlebells the exercises we have selected are responsible for increasing strength, giving you a better posture, stronger bones and joints, and increasing stamina by improving your heart and lung function. The kettlebells and the exercises are specifically chosen to prevent and rehabilitate injury, which can be caused from activity (tennis, skiing injuries) and from inactivity- sitting at a desk all day! Kettlebells and the exercises used by them have been found to be effective muscle builders and fat burners.

Over the last few years Ketlebells have had a resurgence and somewhat of an invasion into the west. US military and special forces have begun to use them because of the benefits due to their effectiveness and versatility. They are used by Russian weighlifters as a cross training tool as well the Russian Special Forces.

The RKC course I recently attended in the US, had World Champion Powerlifters, Martial Artists and all kinds of Athletes, Trainers, Physiotherapists, Chiropractors and Medical Practitioners in attendance.

Hopefully this has answered some of your questions about kettlebells, what they are and how they work, your results and the way you feel should be doing that anyway!

Keep Swinging!!

Outdoor Extreme At Wandsworth Common

2005-11-29T11:50:00.000Z

We've been running Outdoor Extreme session's on the common now since early October. Although it's been cold, it hasn't stopped the people coming along and training hard with OLF.
We have 2 main groups at the moment, the 'early birds' on Tuesday and Friday at 7am and the 'mid morning ladies' on Monday and Friday.
We're always open to new suggestions on training times, so contact us if our current times are no good.

Elspeth, Jenny and Edwina from our mid morning group have been training very hard lately, as you can see in this photo, halfway through a kettle bell circuit. Great work girls!

Strongman Training At The London Broncos

2005-09-02T11:33:00.000Z

Optimal Life Fitness puts the London Broncos through their paces!

Over the summer OLF spent their time working with the London Broncos, now Harlequins Rugby league, as part of their mid season training regime.

So what did they do?

Flipping tyres, dragging sleds, lifting keg's and carrying kettle bells, were some of the competitive events the players took part in.

These events are all part of our strongman training days specifically designed for sports teams.

To see why they are so good for elite athletes, read our strongman training article.

Check out the photo of Joe Mbu from the Broncos flipping a tyre.

The OLF Team

2005-10-20T21:47:00.000Z

tommy r matthews

bj rule

Traditional Strongman Training

2005-11-24T10:46:00.000Z

Are You Tough Enough?

It's unorthodox, it's interesting, different and challenging and quite simply awesome. Wouldn't you be happy if you could improve your mental and physical toughness, your power, strength, speed and endurance with just one type of training? The traditional Strongman is a lean, powerful machine, fit to lift, pull or drag almost anything. The great thing is it’s not just the traditional strongman who can benefit from this type of training. Sportsmen and women from a wide range of events can out perform others with this type of training. They can increase anaerobic condition, muscular endurance, functional strength, dynamic power and speed.

How and why can I say this with confidence? Because flipping a tyre, dragging a sled, throwing a keg or lifting a sand bag is never the same every time. In fact the body can never get accustomed to what might happen next. Which is exactly what happens on the playing field and in most sporting circumstances. Strongman training gives athletes the edge by challenging them physically whilst always being mentally aware to what might happen next.

"The awkwardness of these events builds true, functional strength from head to toe. This enables you to strengthen muscles that are nearly impossible to strengthen with traditional weight training"
Joe DeFranco 2004

What kit do we use?

Kegs
The most famous exercise with a keg is the 'Toss' a great movement to improve hip extension and strengthen the posterior chain. You may also be subject to the 'Clean and Press' a fantastic full body exercise which improves stability and inner strength throughout the whole body.

Tyres
The tyre flip is a huge explosive exercise and works quite simply everything! One of the toughest events you'll ever do and so beneficial everybody should be doing it.

Sand Bags
They're heavy, hard to handle and never stay still for long when you're carrying one. Great for testing you're concentration when physical exhaustion is setting in.

Ropes and Sleds
Seated Sled Pulls and Backward Sled Drags are some of a variety of great competitive exercises that give sports people a similar training stimulus that’s specific to so many sports.

Kettles Bells
Walk with them, throw them, lift them, in fact there's not much you can't do with a kettle bell. They're probably the most versatile training tools ever made and they've been around for years.