Funky Pump History

Chris Ware is a well renowned personal trainer, boxer and all round keep fit enthusiast. It was during a travelling expedition to Australia that the Funky Pump concept first came to his mind. With a combined love of fitness and funky house music, Chris used to don the beaches of Brisbane every morning armed with his workout plan and CD player. It was not long before fellow early risers were joining in and before he knew it, he was instructing a 30 plus crowd every morning! It was at this point that Chris realised that a fun, boxing based workout, combined with the latest uplifting tracks created an amazing atmosphere and a unique, uplifting experience.

Since the launch in January 2006, Funky Pump has enjoyed phenomenal growth. Starting with just a few friends in January, word started to spread and numbers were soon beginning to grow. By March, Funky Pump was enjoying average numbers of about 40 per class, 3 classes per week. Using word of mouth as our only source of marketing, numbers have grown month on month and we now enjoy 4 night classes averaging 80-100 people per night and 3 morning classes averaging 30 people per morning.

The Funky Pump School Experience

The concept behind the business is simple - making exercise fun, motivating, different, productive and purposeful. The use of a DJ to supply the music added the spice to already proven exercise techniques to give a more motivating and innovative way of training. As a personal trainer and sports conditioning coach knowing how the body works and what exercises are fundamental in everyday life, the exercises are picked so that people of all ages, and fitness levels can enjoy the sessions.

Combine this with the music supplied by a DJ; you have got a winning formula. Classes have grown from 2 – 3 people when we first started, to over 100 people training each night, all feeling the benefits but more importantly enjoying the sessions and therefore sticking to the programme.

We don’t do anything fancy when it comes to exercise choices. We use full body movements to burn maximal calories, concentrate on the core muscles to improve posture, stability and balance, but we make sure we do these exercises well.

As time has gone on and the classes have grown, the buzz surrounding Funky Pump is evolving. With teams such as Neath Rugby Team, Llandovery Rugby Team, West End Football Club, Enzo Maccarinelli, plus singer Charlotte Church all endorsing and using the sessions to improve and vary their training, we feel that the next step is to take the concept into the schools.

With health issues in young people becoming ever more evident it’s time to change the way we deliver exercise. We aim to provide fitness for children who may not have a natural flare or appetite for conventional sports training such as rugby, football etc and will shy away and avoid exercising if possible. We aim to make exercise fun by adding a small twist to proven exercise techniques.

Boxing and circuit training are the back bone of our sessions. We use the boxing moves as a way to bring lots of muscles into play while not having any weight bearing contra-indications, it teaches a new skill, develops the messages sent between the brain, hands, core muscles and feet, and gives a good cardio vascular response which then in turn elevates the mood and leaves people with the ‘feel good factor’.

We use the circuit training as a chance to reinforce the important movements that our bodies make day in day out. Exercises such as squats, lunges, twists, pushes and pulls are done throughout the day. What we aim to do is make people stronger in these movements.

With minimal set up and equipment we can give a full body workout that has a real purpose. Getting the basic exercises right in a conditioning session like this, is the base for children to go on and develop their training in whatever sport they participate in, activity they do, or simply the way they carry themselves day to day!

With the connection between exercise and benefits it has on lots of different topics like behavioral, social, and lifestyle choices children make these days, we feel it is important to develop the interest in health and fitness and show them that it can be fun whist at the same time learning a new skill without even realising it.

The conclusion is that the combination of boxing, core movements and uplifting happy music with a DJ pitching the tempo and the vibe to suit the class gives positive, enjoyable results to anyone and everyone involved.

The Future for Funky Pump

The future for Funky Pump looks bright. We are steaming ahead with the setup of classes based in Cardiff, Bristol and Brighton due to be up and running by the start of May this year.

Alongside this we are moving the Funky Pump concept into the corporate healthcare and educational exercise markets. With the successful completion of a series of 5 trial sessions with Birchgrove Comprehensive School in Swansea seeing a hugely positive response from both teachers and pupils alike.

The concept of up to date ‘hip’ music being combined with an all round healthy workout concentrating on core stability as well as coordination allowing for the children to develop stability that can be transferred not only into all aspects of sport but also helping them to develop good posture and reduce injuries throughout their growth. As the saying goes … Healthy Bodies, Healthy Minds!!

Another exciting addition to the Funky Pump brand is the Funky Pump Mobile wagon.  Ahead of the coming summer we plan the add a mobile wagon containing fixed DJ decks as well as a range of props ranging from Tractor Tyres, Beer Kegs, Medicine Balls and Resistant Bands to allow for a range of exciting classes for children and adults alike to be held in a range of locations across South Wales.

With the aid of the Wagon we can combine the summer sun, fitness and music….. It all makes for an all round fitness package!!