Hi my name is Mike.

After 3 years boot camp style training in a nearby park I was looking for something a little closer to home that had the same level of intensity but also provided the same sense of community I found in the park.

Being in my 40’s I was quite prepared to be the oldest at the class, but that certainly hasn’t been the case. My class has a really broad range of ages starting with teenagers and moving up to quite senior students. Everyone is really friendly, Tahir and the other teachers convey confidence and encouragement. I have also been really impressed with the more experienced students who are really supportive of the novices as well and adapt their style to whoever they are teamed up against.

I haven’t been coming long but I have noticed an increased flexibility in my own fitness. Since quitting boot camp I had been focussing mainly on jogging and spin classes, so the same muscle groups got all the attention. The DL drills give you a wide range of movement and make you think about the form and the shape of your body. At present none of my kids join me but I have a teenage daughter who has a long term condition preventing any exercise, but when she gets better she is very keen to join DL.

Thankfully, I have not been in a fight since high school however, there are odd occasions in my work where I feel the skills learned in DL will help me have more confidence in the face of potential conflict.

A lot of my work involves leadership where people are often looking to me for guidance. Strangely, I relish the opportunity just to be told what to do, no questions asked. The DL community is also mutually supportive and encouraging and it’s a great chance to get to know new people. The skills I will pick up on the way are actually a bonus but, rest assured, I won’t be looking for opportunities to demonstrate them in my daily life.