About Me

Our Training

Why do athletes train as they do? Because it works!

Our programme is based on functional movements that have been around for thousands of years. These movements, like the squat, have survived the test of time for one reason only – they get results. Whether you’re a beginner or have years of experience, functional training that closely parallels real life and sporting movements, and that challenges your mind and body works the best – in spite of all the modern technology and machines you see at most gyms today. When we combine this with variation, movements that require skill, balance, accuracy, agility and power, you’ve got our programme. Our sessions draw from gymnastics, weightlifting and cardiovascular training – they will present a workout that challenges you to your core, at whatever your level of experience.

Exercise Selection

Why is it that gymnasts never have to do a bicep curl to get big and strong biceps? How about weightlifters... you ma y not know it, but they NEVER do leg extensions, leg curls, leg press, or adduction/abduction exercises. Weight machines were designed by engineers to simulate the isolated movement of one muscle in your body. In real life, your body rarely uses one muscle at a time independently of all others. So while you may be getting bigger biceps, you are functionally less strong.

At Rebel Fitness, you'll NEVER do a bicep curl or a leg extension. We choose exercises that make large demands on your nervous and muscular systems and require many muscle groups to work together synergistically. Body weight exercises challenge you to be strong and agile enough to be in control of your body (pull ups, dips, handstand push ups, push ups, etc). Weightlifting exercises require technique and skill, and call upon a large number of muscles in your body to work together at the same time (squat, deadlift, clean, jerk, snatch, kettle bell, etc).

Equipment

Most gyms emphasise training on benches or with weight machines. They also have trainers teaching exercises originating from bodybuilding. They do this because it is "safe", easy, and requires little thought or effort outside the specific movement for which the machine or exercise was designed. Next time you're in your gym sitting in a weight machine, ask yourself, "How closely does this resemble a movement in real life?" How would it look to kick a ball from just your knee down or to take a drink out of a glass by moving just your forearm? Single joint movements (like those done with typical weight machines and and traditional bodybuilding exercises) will isolate a specific muscle, however, rarely in life does our body activate isolated muscles without the support from others. As soon as you sit or lay down on a bench or machine, all of the balance, stabilization, proprioception, and accuracy functions that your body must use in normal activities of real life and sport completely shut down, their functioning unnecessary.

At Rebel Fitness, most of what you will see when you come to the gym is open space. Our "machines" are free weights - to simply use them pick them up requires skill, balance, stabilization, proprioception, and accuracy. The skills and movements we teach are all functional and multi-joint (require movement across 2 or more joints in your body). These neuromuscular activities are commonplace in both life and in sport, and since our objective in training is to mimic both, we find that free weights, with proper instruction and coaching, do this best.

Training vs. Exercising

Exercising is something many people do to make themselves feel fit. You’ve seen examples of this: people on the treadmill reading the newspaper; a person moving through the machines, taking lots of breaks, talking to their trainer, looking hardly like they’re “working”. These people get to feel good about themselves because they’ve “checked the box” on their to do list labeled “workout.” These are also the people you see whose physiques never seem to change.

You will never see our clients doing "cardio" while sitting on a bike, reading a magazine. Nor will you see them "exercising" using a weight machine. Our workouts are intense - challenging you and your body to do things you never dreamt possible. They require you to be mentally alert, present and focused and will call upon your coordination, agility, strength, speed, endurance, stamina and flexibility. This is what we call "training" - and its purpose is to make improvements regularly in all areas of fitness.

Space

When you step into most gyms, the first thing you usually see is a multitude of weight and cardio machines configured as closely as possible together to fit as many as possible into the space. Moving around without bumping into something is next to impossible. After you’ve found the little space that is available, you must squeeze between people, weight machines, off in the corner, or in the middle of a walkway. And forget about leaving your spot or bench or piece of equipment for more than 30 seconds – it will be taken by someone else. In this environment, athletic training is not only impractical, it is impossible.

Our emphasis is on space - space to move, to jump, to lift to balance, to climb, tumble, or in other words, train as an athlete, unencumbered by equipment, people and/or other “stuff” in the way.

Meet The Team

Tom Bold - Owner and Coach

Hailing from a background in professional rugby, Tom has always been involved in sport and fitness. After being selected for Great Britain under 18's squad and playing 3 seasons for Harlequins RL he decided it was time for a change.

Whilst acquiring the highly sort after Premier Diploma in personal training and sports massage therapy Tom was introduced to a training system called CrossFit. At first it was a very foreign concept to him and he dabbled in and out, never really committing to it as a training method. Gradually, as he learned more about CrossFit it became clear that the positive effects were so profound and overwhelmingly obvious that he switched to this method for good. Tom is now a fully fledged CrossFit coach and is dedicated to bringing CrossFit to the community.

Tom has also worked as a strength and conditioning coach on Harlquins RL scholarship programme and continues to work with young aspiring athletes outside of training clients. During his spare time Tom enjoys doing handstands in inappropriate places and learning to play new sports.

To get in touch with Tom please email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Adam Janowski - Coach

Adam has played both rugby league and rugby union to international standard for England at age group level and has also played in the Super League for Harlequins RL. Unfortunately, he suffered a severe hip injury as a youngster making his achievements in the game all the more astounding. As a result has been forced to discontinue his sporting career, albeit temporarily.

Adam studied Sports Science at Whitfgift School in South Croydon before being accepted onto a graduate course in Stength and Conditioning Science at St Mary's University in Twickenham.

Adam is currently working closely with the strength and conditioning team at Harlequins RL and has recently been accepted as an intern with the club.

To contact Adam please email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Anna Marsh - Nutritionist

Anna Marsh is a qualified and registered Nutrition Consultant with a BSc(Hons) from the Centre for Nutrition Education and Lifestyle Management (CNELM) aligned with the University of Middlesex. Anna has worked in the fitness Industry for 10 years, initially starting out as a group fitness instructor and going on to complete a degree in Biochemistry and Human Kinetics and Ergonomics from Rhodes University, South Africa. She has several years of personal training experience, particuarly in abbreviated high intensity training. For this reason Anna understands the physical demands of a personal training session and the importance of fueling and refueling to support performance and to help you achieve your goals.

Anna uses the functional medicine approach to nutrition which means that each person is considered based on their individuality and specific biochemistry. The consultations that Anna offers at Rebel Fitness are aimed at basic "dietary clean up" however should you wish to address more specific health concerns such as elevated cholesterol, digestive disturbance, hormonal imbalances, stress, fatigue or low mood, please ask for more information. Anna also offers a wide range of functional tests which may indicate functional requirements for nutrients or biochemical disruption. She can also advicse on supplements should you be interested, please ask for more information.

Please direct any nutrition enquiries to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Rebel Fitness

An Overview

Rebel Fitness is a primarily a personal training facility located in Earlsfield, South London. We teach basic to advanced level clients in functional exercise, athletic conditioning, plyometrics, kettlebell training, Olympic weightlifting, medicine ball and dumbbell training, power-lifting, gymnastics, running and jumping rope. Our athletes are extremely diverse in their experience, conditioning, and lives; and include students, business executives, stay-at-home mums, athletes, writers, producers, and martial artists. We utilise CrossFit as our primary training method, and focus our athletes on optimising physical competence in each of 10 recognised fitness domains (Cardio-respiratory endurance, Stamina, Strength, Flexibility, Power, Speed, Coordination, Agility, Balance, and Accuracy.) The stimulus provided is always varied and the results are dramatic. The atmosphere is one of support and camaraderie to anyone willing to put in the work.

Mission

To provide the world's most effective health and fitness training.

Vision

A community that is healthy, strong and vital, who'se participants have the courage to live outside the generally accepted as "normal" belief that health, fitness and vitality must decline with age.

How We're Different

Most personal trainers rely on their clients to not think. They are happy when their clients leave the gym and have no idea what they did. They also count on their clients not quite achieving their goals. It’s called job security. If your client never achieves his/her goal, and never really knows what to do in or out of the gym for a workout, he/she will always need you!

At Rebel Fitness, when you hire us, you are hiring a coach. Our job is to help facilitate your listening, thinking, learning, being aware and being responsible. We guide and steer you on a course and are there to help you maintain your heading when a “storm” throws you in the wrong direction, however, it is clear from the start of our relationship that YOU are ultimately responsible for your health, fitness and vitality. Our instruction focuses on movement techniques and skills, physical conditioning, and the development of healthy workout, eating habits, and self-discipline, so that after a period of time, you’ve got all the essential elements, experience and confidence to make it through your life with health, fitness and vitality.

Philosophy

To us, fitness is a state of mind, way of being. It shows up in the way you talk, walk, sleep, eat, work, play, dress and relax. It is the physical embodiment of the character traits of honor, courage, confidence, discipline, integrity, responsibility, dedication, and joy. It is also instrumental in reducing the immediate and cumulative effects of stress and anxiety. We’ve found that the fitter a person is, the more he/she is physically able to do the things that bring joy and fun to life – everything from feeling strong, confident and energetic through your normal work day, running around with your kids, being physically active and playing sports, to traveling to remote corners of the earth. Being physically fit is inspiring, feels good, enriches your life, and adds both years to your life, and life to your years. People that are fit seem to have a clearer, more optimistic view of life. For us, the bottom line is this: Fitness allows you to live your best.

Living Your Best

“Live Your Best!” Who do you know that when asked, would say that they don't want to live their best? Yet how many people actually do it? We've found that truly enjoying life, making the most out of it, and having fun at the same time requires commitment and hard work. It's difficult, yet its also as rewarding as it gets! When you're "Living Your Best," you are getting the most out of life, truly "sucking it dry" - but you're not necessarily having "fun." Instead, you are committed, challenged, confronted, and very often afraid, and yet somehow, especially when required, you find the courage to press on. Rebel Fitness is committed to that somehow – helping you find that ability – in your mind, and subsequently your body. To do this, we offer the most effective coaching available in fitness conditioning, diet and nutrition, and re-conditioning.

Our Difference

The primary difference between us and most other gyms and trainers is in our comprehensive approach to health, fitness, longevity, vitality and life. Have you ever noticed when you go to the gym that most people rely on their trainers to walk with them, leading them around from one exercise machine to another? Can you imagine this in real life? You go to the supermarket and are met at the door by your personal shopper who walks you around from item to item and tells you what to buy and how much? Then meets you again two days later to tell you almost exactly the same thing? To some that may sound nice, but for most, it’s not real life. At Rebel Fitness, we require you to think, to use your brain as well as your muscles, to learn, to challenge yourself, to try new things you never thought you could, to practice new skills that require you to be focused and present. We teach you how to move your body with proper mechanics, stability, balance, and agility. We do this so that when you’re NOT with us, you can truly have fun, suck life dry, Live Your Best!

Written by steve

Tuesday, 01 September 2009 11:36

To be honest, I didn't want to have a section about me on this website. I always found the idea of writing in detail about myself quite narcissistic, but then I realised I'd named my business after myself so having a website with nothing about me wouldn't make sense. I'll make it brief.

Looking cooler than usual in Australia

I'm a CrossFit trainer based in Wimbledon, London. I have a deep passion for my industry and take great pride in the service I render for my clients. Fitness has always been a huge part of my life as I have always played sport, primarily rugby league in which I spent three seasons on contract at Harlequins RL.

As sad as it sounds my spare time nowadays is primarily spent doing fitness/work related activities. It's interesting, when you find something you love to do the line between work and play becomes blurred, I feel very lucky to have found such a thing.

If you'd like to know more or book a training session with me please contact me.

Alternatively you can connect with me on Facebook.