Featured Gym of the Month Exile Gym Southampton UK
This month we had the chance to talk with the owner of Exile Gym to discuss what makes them one of the go to gyms in the UK. Here is the breakdown of what we discussed.
Exile Gym is a premium martial arts gym in the South of the UK. They have two 7500sqft units in Southampton. They offer classes in many martial arts disciplines as well as MMA classes for men and women, teens and kids. This month we had the chance to talk with the owner of Exile Gym to discuss what makes them one of the go to gyms in the UK. Here is the breakdown of what we discussed.
Elite: Thanks for taking time out of your busy schedule to talk with us about your gym. First off what inspired you to start an MMA gym?
Exile: I think I always wanted to teach or coach within a martial arts environment. In Southampton we were crying out to have a professional facility that provided everything with the staple MMA arts. Using the contacts I had in Martial Arts I managed to get some great coaches under one roof. We are now the only MMA facility in Southampton based over two sites.
Elite: What is your definition of the words Mixed Martial Arts?
Exile: Mixed Martial Arts to us at Exile is combining the best and most effective elements of any system that works. We don’t narrow anything down to just the conventional Thai, Wrestling and BJJ combination. We look at styles like Kyokoshin karate, Savate, Catch Wrestling and anything else that can make our fighters and students have the biggest arsenal when competing.
Elite: Is there any practitioner in your gym that is fighting as professional now in any known MMA promotion or organization?
Exile: Yes, Benn ‘Brutal’ Carr. He came to us in 2012 to work on his wrestling and now is part of the Exile Roster. He has fought on some popular South coast shows in the UK but made his debut on BAMMA in 2014.
Elite: As an owner, what is the hardest problem you encountered and how did you solve it?
Exile: I would say convincing coaches to come under one banner. A lot of clubs and organizations thought that when I was putting my gym together it was me asking them to assume a new identity. It was exactly the opposite. I wanted them to be part of something bigger. So our BJJ is under #1 ranked IBJJF competitor Trevor Birmingham as Trev BJJ. Our Thai is under Look Borai. The clubs compete under their individual banners in the respective area. But the MMA is under the Exile Gym banner.
Elite: Among recent fighters who practice in your gym, do you have a favorite? And if so why?
Exile: This is like asking to pick a favorite child. I would say I have individual favorites in different areas. Benny Carr is one because of his journey to get where he has got. His back story of having a troubled youth and tough background to become a top professional and great guy is inspiring. Another is Arthur Frost because of his hard work/training ethic while fitting in his wife and two children and difficult work schedule. Lastly, Bryony Tyrell because of her ability to be a true warrior. She’ll fight any discipline, while holding down a career as a nurse. She also has two young children and manages to run her own franchise of Exile Gym at our City Centre branch, phenomenal woman.
Elite: Please provide us with some personal history about you. (Who you have trained with, when, and for how long) Do you hold any ranks in traditional martial arts?
Exile: I started martial arts at 6 years old in Japanese Jiu Jitsu. I gained my black belt when I was 17 years old. I also studied Kumuso Ryu, Taekwondo, Muay Thai and Sambo for the last 13 years. I’m a qualified SPEAR instructor where I teach a special armed police unit in the MOD. I hope to start training combatives under renowned instructor Lee Morrison soon.
Elite: How is the chemistry around the gym?
Exile: The chemistry is fantastic. It is like huge family. We are all there for each other and I would say that some of the fighters probably see the Exile guys and girls more than their own families! The training is hard and rewarding, but everyone who comes to gym as a new member always comments a few weeks down the line how they were worried it may have been “clicky” and how they feel they were welcomed like an old friend. I couldn’t hope for anything better to be honest.
Elite: Please explain the area and location your gym is in? (Attractions near and around you)
Exile: Our main gym is in the west of Southampton in Shirley. It’s a 7500sqft unit with a matted area, cage, ring, weights area and 1000sqft studio. We also have treatment rooms where we have a tattooist, barber, and sports injury clinic. Our other gym is located in the middle of the city centre.
Elite: Do you do anything different or unique that other gyms in your area are not doing?
Exile: Surprisingly the UK is quite sparse for Wrestling. Outside of London wrestling coaches are very rare. We have a dedicated wrestling coach in Janis Mieksans. This gives us a great advantage over many of the other gyms locally or in fact in the South.
Elite: Great thank you! I typically leave this section for anything you want me to add to the article.
Exile: Just want to give a big thank you to all the fighters at the gym. You guys make us what we are and fearlessly represent what the gym stands for; Professionalism, hard work and family. To all the coaches who give hours of their life to the gym and the fighters and members. To my business partners who make sure the gym runs smoothly. A massive shout out to our head MMA coach Dan Bourne. This guy lives and breathes MMA.
Our Facebook pages are: Exile Gym Southampton & Exile MMA Central
Our twitter is: @Exilegymuk
Our Website is: www.exilegym.com
Thanks again and if you are ever in the UK Exile Gym would like to extend you an invite to stop by and say hi!
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Elite MMA Shirt Club will reveal a new shirt each month from a top level MMA gym that you may have heard about or may know nothing about at all. You receive the tee, and during the month Elite MMA Shirt Club hopes to educate on the back story of that MMA gym.
