WHO ARE THESE JERKS?
WELCOME TO THE WOOLACOMBE FUNCTIONAL FITNESS FAMILY
JERK TRAINING IS MADE UP OF A WIDE VARIETY OF ATHLETES FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE. MOST LIVE IN WOOLACOMBE, MORTEHOE, ILFRACOMBE,BARNSTAPLE AND THE SURROUNDING AREAS.
WITHIN OUR FAMILY OF JERKS WE HAVE LOCAL BUSINESS OWNERS & WORKERS. WE HAVE THOSE INVOLVED IN THE NHS AT NORTH DEVON DISTRICT HOSPITAL & COMBE COASTAL PRACTICES. WE HAVE JERKS INVOLVED WITH EMERGENCY SERVICES INCLUDING DEVON AND SOMERSET FIRE & RESCUE SERVICE. WE HAVE TEACHERS AT LOCAL SCHOOLS ALONGSIDE PARENTS & GRANDPARENTS OF CHILDREN AT WOOLACOMBE SCHOOL, ILFRACOMBE ACADEMY AND BEYOND. WE HAVE JERKS INVOLVED WITH THE WOOLACOMBE SURF LIFE SAVING CLUB, WOOLACOMBE BOARDRIDERS CLUB, ILFRACOMBE PILOT GIG CLUB AND ILFRACOMBE RUNNING CLUB. THE LIST GOES ON AND ON. CHANCES ARE WHEN YOU SHOW UP THERE WILL BE ATLEAST ONE PERSON YOU KNOW FROM THIS WONDERFUL LOCAL COMMUNITY.
HERE AT JERK WE AIM TO ENGAGE AS MANY LOCALS AS POSSIBLE INTO OUR COMMUNITY AND STRIVE TO BRING A SENSE OF COMMUNITY SPIRIT TO WHAT WE DO. WE WILL ALWAYS ENCOURAGE BEING ACTIVE AND WILL FOREVER AIM TO IMPROVE SELF ESTEEM, MENTAL & PHYSICAL WELLNESS FOR EVERYONE INVOLVED.
WE ALSO ENCOURAGE THOSE VISITING THE AREA TO JOIN US AND GET INVOLVED AND ARE ALWAYS WELCOMING TO EVERYONE WILLING TO SHOW UP AND GIVE IT THEIR BEST EFFORTS.
WHO GOES WHERE?
THE JERK ACADEMY
THIS IS OUR NAME FOR ALL OF THOSE THAT TRAIN WITH US.
WITHIN THIS GROUP IS A WIDE RANGE OF PEOPLE AT DIFFERENT FITNESS LEVELS AND A MIXTURE OF BACKGROUNDS AND GOALS THEY ARE HEADING TOWARDS.
THIS TRULY IS A WONDERFUL COMMUNITY OF SUPPORTIVE PEOPLE ALL TRYING TO HELP EACH OTHER GET BETTER EVERY DAY.
THE JERK SENIORS
SENIORS BY EXPERIENCE LEVEL, NOT NECESSARILY AGE.
THIS IS THE ORIGINAL BUNCH OF JERKS THAT HAVE BEEN TRAINING OUTDOORS FOR A LONG TIME NOW.
THE LEVEL OF KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE IN THIS GROUP IS SECOND TO NONE SO ASK THEM FOR ADVICE AND TIPS. THEY'LL HAPPILY TALK YOUR EAR OFF ABOUT ALL THINGS TRAINING RELATED.
MEET THE COACHES
HI FOLKS. ITS ME, JON
HELLO THERE, THANKS FOR CHECKING IN ON ME.
I'M JON, LOVER OF THE OUTDOORS, MY WIFE, MY KIDS AND LIFTING HEAVY THINGS AND RUNNING FAR DISTANCES.
MY MISSION IS TO HELP EVERYONE GET OUT OF EXERCISE AND FITNESS WHAT THEY PERSONALLY NEED.
BE IT A BIT OF HEADSPACE FROM WORK OR THE FAMILY, LOSING A BIT OF WEIGHT, OR EVEN GETTING STRONGER TO CARRY THE SHOPPING HOME.
WE ALL NEED OUR BODIES TO BE FUNCTIONING SO WE CAN ENJOY OUR LIVES. BUT YOU KNOW THAT, THATS WHY YOUR READING THIS. WHAT MAKES WHAT I OFFER DIFFERENT? WELL, I HOPE I'M A NICE GUY TO BE AROUND AND WANT TO HELP YOU ON YOUR JOURNEY TO INCLUDE FITNESS AND WELLBEING INTO YOUR LIFE.
THERE'S NO FULL STOP* ON OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH OUR BODIES SO LET'S GET THE MOST OUT OF THEM AND HAVE SOME FUN ON THE WAY.
WHAT MAKES ME BE ABLE TO HELP YOU?
SO HERE'S WHERE I LIST ALL MY CREDENTIALS FOR YOU TO LOOK AT IN AWE.
REALISTICALLY, ITS ALL THE OTHER LIFE EXPERIENCE THAT MAKES ME BETTER QUALIFIED TO HELP YOU. I'M A DAD OF THREE YOUNG GIRLS, I HAVE BEEN HAPPILY MARRIED FOR YEARS AND HAVE PLENTY OF EXPERIENCE OF ALL THE CRAP LIFE CAN THROW AT YOU POTENTIALLY SIMILAR TO WHAT YOU'VE BEEN THROUGH TOO.
STILL WANT TO SEE A LIST? NO WORRIES, HERE YOU GO:
L3 PRACTITIONER IN PERSONAL TRAINING
L3 AWARD IN SPORTS CONDITIONING
OUTDOOR FITNESS CERTIFICATE
BODY FX COACH
HYROX 365 FOUNDATION COURSE
HYROX GROUP INSTRUCTOR
L3 FIRST AID AT WORK
L3 EMERGENCY FIRST AID AT WORK
SLSGB SURF COACH SAFETY & RESCUE
UKA LEADERSHIP IN RUNNING FITNESS
UKA LEADING ATHLETICS
ASA LEVEL ONE TEACHING AQUATICS
THERE'S MORE BUT I'VE EITHER LOST THEM OR THEY'RE IN A FRAME ON THE WALL IN MY MUMS HOUSE.
I HAVE ENJOYED BOTH ORGANISED AND RECREATIONAL SPORT MY ENTIRE LIFE. I'VE GOT BOXES OF WINNERS MEDALS AND PLENTY MORE PARTICIPANT ONES IN RUNNING, SWIMMING, TRIATHLON, FOOTBALL, ATHLETICS.
SOME OF MY BEST (AND WORST) MEMORIES IN LIFE HAVE BEEN TIED INTO SPORT IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER BUT NOT ALWAYS COMPETING.
SPORT IS ABOUT INCLUSION AND DON'T FORGET THE IMPORTANCE OF THE JUDGES, VOLUNTEERS, ADMIN WORKERS THAT ARE BUSY SQUIRRELLING AWAY TO PUT ON THESE AMAZING TIMES FOR EVERYONE. I'VE BEEN ON THIS SIDE MY FAIR SHARE TOO INCLUDING ONE OF MY MOST TREASURED MEMORIES OF VOLUNTEERING AT THE LONDON 2012 PARALYMPIC GAMES.
YOU'LL MOST LIKELY STILL SEE ME WALKING AROUND IN THE COAT EVEN THOUGH AT THE TIME OF WRITING THIS ITS 10 YEARS OLD.
IN SUMMING UP WHY I CAN HELP YOU ITS SIMPLY EASIER, LIKE MOST THINGS IN LIFE NOT TO DO IT ON YOUR OWN. LETS CRACK ON, EAT FOOD, GET OUTDOORS, EXERCISE REGULARLY AND HAVE A GOOD TIME.
*WELL, THERE IS ONE BIG FULL STOP AT THE END BUT LETS NOT TALK ABOUT THAT RIGHT NOW.
AND THEN OF COURSE
THERE'S MATT
HI I'M MATT, I LOVE ALL THE BENEFITS OF TRAINING WHILST UNDERSTANDING THIS HAS TO FIT AROUND THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS IN LIFE SUCH AS FAMILY AND WORK.
MY MISSION IS TO USE THE POWER OF THE FITNESS COMMUNITY TO ENGAGE PEOPLE AT EVERY LEVEL TO UNDERSTAND THAT YOU CAN MAKE SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENTS IN YOUR LIFE. I BELIEVE IF YOU DO THIS IN A REALISTIC WAY WITH SUPPORT AND KNOWLEDGE ANYONE CAN IMPROVE THEIR HEALTH, FITNESS AND WELLBEING.
WHY DO I EXERCISE? I FIND IN THE FIRST INSTANCE IT IS A LITTLE TIME TO MYSELF NO MATTER HOW LONG OR SHORT TO CONCENTRATE ON YOUR OWN WELLBEING. I AM A COMPLETE BELIEVER IN THE POWER OF FITNESS AND HOW SETTING A REALISTIC STRUCTURED PLAN CAN DRAMATICALLY ALTER MANY OF THE PRESSURES AND STRESS MODERN LIFE CAN PRESENT.
I HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH JON OVER THE LAST 18 MONTHS AND WE REALISED WE BOTH HAVE SIMILAR WAY OF LOOKING AT THINGS TO DO WHAT WE LOVE AND HELP OTHER PEOPLE ACHIEVE PERSONAL GOALS. I HAVE SEEN THAT NO MATTER WHAT YOUR FITNESS LEVEL, AGE, GENDER OR PERSONAL CIRCUMSTANCES WITH THE RIGHT GUIDANCE YOU CAN ACHIEVE MORE THAN YOU THOUGHT.
SO FOR ME, MOST OF MY EXPERIENCE IS VOCATIONAL ALTHOUGH I HAVE PICKED UP SOME BITS OF PAPER ALONG THE WAY.
I AM LEVEL 1 BAWLA QUALIFIED AND WAS A COMPETITIVE AMATUER BODYBUILDER FROM 1992-1997, COMPETING IN THE MR & MISS WALES AND EFBB SOUTH WEST AND WESSEX COMPETITIONS.
LATTERLY I TRAINED AS A PHYSICAL EDUCATION INSTRUCTOR IN HM PRISON SERVICE AND WAS TRAINED AS A POWERLIFTING COACH.
DURING MY TIME IN HMPS I WAS ALSO TRAINED AS A HOSTAGE NEGOTIATOR AND WORKED WITH CATEGORY A AND DISPERSAL UNITS.
IN THE LAST 10 YEARS AND AS I HEAD TOWARDS 50 MY TRAINING HAS MOVED TOWARDS FUNCTIONAL FITNESS AS A WAY TO ENSURE I KEEP MY TRAINING VARIED AND AVOID INJURY. I CAN HONESTLY SAY THAT WITH STRUCTURE AND HARD WORK I RUN A BETTER 5K, A BETTER 15K, HAVE LOWER BMI AND AM LIFTING BETTER IN THE GYM THAN I DID WHEN I WAS 25.
AS TIME HAS PROGRESSED I HAVE REALLY SEEN THE BENEFITS OF ENGAGEMENT WITH YOUNGER AND OLDER PEOPLE.
I WISH SOMEONE WAS AROUND WHEN I WAS 14 TO HELP AND GUIDE ME, I ALSO WANT TO SHOW ANYONE 45+ THAT YOU CAN BE IN BETTER SHAPE NOW THAN YOUR 20’S IF YOU REALLY WANT TO.
WHERE WE TRAIN
WOOLACOMBE BEACH
THE SAND IS OUR SUPER POWER.
IF YOU HAVEN'T TRIED TRAINING ON THE SAND BEFORE, WE HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT.
WE ARE PARTICULARLY FOND OF OUR STRETCH OF SAND AND DUNES THAT FALL RIGHT ON OUR DOORSTEP. WE TRAIN ON THE SAND ALL YEAR ROUND, BECUASE GIVEN A CHOICE - WHY WOULDN'T YOU?
MARINE DRIVE, WOOLACOMBE.
NAME ME A BETTER SPOT TO VIEW A SUNSET OVER LUNDY WHILST TRAINING.
MARINE DRIVE HAS BEEN THE GO TO SPOT FOR JERK FOR OUR FUNCTIONAL TRAINING SESSIONS. FRESH AIR, SEA VIEWS AND THE PORTHOLE A STONES THROW AWAY FOR A COFFEE AFTER.
WE TRULY ARE SPOILT WITH SUCH A WONDERFUL SPOT TO TRAIN.
JERK AT DAMAGE BARTON.
WINTER 2024 SEES US HEADING UP THE HILL TO DAMAGE BARTON FOR OUR TRAINING.
WITH SEA VIEWS THAT GO ON FOR MILES, ON SITE PARKING AND OODLES OF SPACE WHEREVER YOU TURN. THERE'S A GREAT TRAINING SURFACE AND PLENTY OF RUNNING TRAILS TO BE EXPLORED. FUN TIMES AHEAD FOR SURE.
ATHLETE STORIES
"PICTURE A GROUP OF MUMS MEETING UP AT A WEEKLY PLAYGROUP SESSION WITH THEIR CHILDREN. IN THESE SESSIONS, WE TALK ABOUT THE UPS AND DOWNS OF PARENTHOOD, MOTHERHOOD, RELATIONSHIPS AND BEING A WOMAN."
"FROM MY POINT OF VIEW, I WAS DEALING WITH THE REALITY OF NOT ONLY THE LOSS OF MY HEALTH AND WELL-BEING BUT ALSO THE HARD FACT THAT I DIDN'T RECOGNISE THE PERSON I HAD BECOME, AND I HAD NO IDEA HOW TO MOVE PAST THAT. I CERTAINLY DIDN'T HAVE THE CONFIDENCE TO MARCH INTO A GYM OR EXERCISE CLASS. SADLY DUE TO CIRCUMSTANCES COMPLETELY OUT OF MY CONTROL, I HAD LOST THE EMMA L ONCE KNEW AND LOVED, AND IN HER PLACE WAS A GIRL FIGHTING FOR HER LIFE DAILY FOR THE SAKE OF HER CHILDREN AND HUSBAND. IT'S SO STRANGE TO THINK A SMALL AMOUNT OF KINDNESS AND ENCOURAGEMENT IN THE RIGHT SETTING CAN SET A PERSON ON A COURSE TO BETTER THINGS, BUT THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED TO ME WHEN A GROUP OF MUMS AGREED TO MEET AND TRAIN WITH MATT AND JON ONCE A WEEK IN THE MIDDLE OF WINTER ON A MUDDY ROAD OVERLOOKING WOOLACOMBE BEACH."
"HOWEVER, SOMETHING IN ME STOPPED THAT FROM HAPPENING. I REALISED IT WAS THE JERK IN ME. ALL THOSE WEEKS AND MONTHS OF TRAINING HAD BROUGHT ME TO THIS MOMENT. THE MOMENT WHERE I'M ON MY OWN WITH NOWHERE TO HIDE, AND I CAN SEE FULLY FOR MYSELF THE GROWTH THAT HAS TAKEN PLACE WITHIN ME. YES, I'M LAST, YES, I HAVE A LONG ROAD AHEAD OF ME, AND STILL SO MUCH WORK TO BE DONE, BUT L'M HERE, L'VE TAKEN SOME STEPS, AND I'M FINALLY OFF THE STARTING LINE!! AFTER SO MANY FAILED ATTEMPTS, IT CLICKED THAT I WAS MAKING PROGRESS AND SHOWING UP FOR MYSELF AND, IN TURN, FOR MY FAMILY."
"I WAS ABLE TO SEE HOW FAR I HAD ACTUALLY COME AND HOW NO MATTER WHAT LIFE HAD THROWN AT ME, THERE WAS A LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL AND A WAY TO OVERCOME IT IF I CONTINUED TO SHOW UP FOR MYSELF AND CONTINUED TO PUT MYSELF IN THOSE UNCOMFORTABLE PLACES IN LIFE. BECAUSE AFTER ALL BEING IN THESE PLACES PRESENTS US AN OPPORTUNITY FOR TRUE GROWTH TO HAPPEN."
EMMA X
