Politically Incorrect Gyms....

Reggy

Hi all,

I am currently a member in Ben Dunne's fine establishment in Lucan and am absolutely fed up of it. Let me say that in no way do i think it is a bad gym, the staff are really nice and helpful and the equipment is extremely well maintained.

However I am absolutely sick to death of the watch our back because of insurance issues, "you cant do that exercise in here" type attitude of these places.

What I mean is, there tends to be no insurance issue regarding the person who comes in and watches home and away on the treadmill, with their laces open but when I so much as move a matt from the designated area, do some hanging leg raises, ice cream makers or attempt to squat on a swiss ball (without weight and with a spotting partner I might add), it is deemed too dangerous.

I have a very good level of strength and fitness, and alot of my workouts involve advanced core stability techniques, explosive/functional training and sessions with my own olympic rings. Many of these exercises are frowned upon and it seems the only people catered for are bodybuilders doing single movement presses and those trying to loose a bit of weight by reading heat magazine (somebody explain the science behind that).

My question is, is there any facility in Dublin (within a reasonable distance to Lucan) where functional training is the norm? I want to train in an environment where I dont see bulbous freaks injecting themselves in the locker rooms, or others sitting on machines, taking rest periods of 5 and ten minutes between sets. www.gymjones.com (those who brought us the bodyweight 300) hit the nail on the head with their set up: "Gym Jones is not a cozy place. There are no televisions, no machines, no comfortable spot to sit (just plywood and diamond-plate), and there are no mirrors. The training is difficult. There are no shortcuts". I cant help but wonder if there is a place in dublin with a similar attitude to training? Im not looking for an over the top, hardcore inyerface environment like that, just something different.

Suggestions?

itsallaboutheL

Crossfit.

dave80

Reggy wrote: »

Hi all,

I am currently a member in Ben Dunne's fine establishment in Lucan and am absolutely fed up of it. Let me say that in no way do i think it is a bad gym, the staff are really nice and helpful and the equipment is extremely well maintained.

However I am absolutely sick to death of the watch our back because of insurance issues, "you cant do that exercise in here" type attitude of these places.

What I mean is, there tends to be no insurance issue regarding the person who comes in and watches home and away on the treadmill, with their laces open but when I so much as move a matt from the designated area, do some hanging leg raises, ice cream makers or attempt to squat on a swiss ball (without weight and with a spotting partner I might add), it is deemed too dangerous.

I have a very good level of strength and fitness, and alot of my workouts involve advanced core stability techniques, explosive/functional training and sessions with my own olympic rings. Many of these exercises are frowned upon and it seems the only people catered for are bodybuilders doing single movement presses and those trying to loose a bit of weight by reading heat magazine (somebody explain the science behind that).

My question is, is there any facility in Dublin (within a reasonable distance to Lucan) where functional training is the norm? I want to train in an environment where I dont see bulbous freaks injecting themselves in the locker rooms, or others sitting on machines, taking rest periods of 5 and ten minutes between sets. www.gymjones.com (those who brought us the bodyweight 300) hit the nail on the head with their set up: "Gym Jones is not a cozy place. There are no televisions, no machines, no comfortable spot to sit (just plywood and diamond-plate), and there are no mirrors. The training is difficult. There are no shortcuts". I cant help but wonder if there is a place in dublin with a similar attitude to training? Im not looking for an over the top, hardcore inyerface environment like that, just something different.

Suggestions?

Start ur own gym cause there not many places where you won't see some of the above

Hercs and raw prob ur best bet

Ps why squat on swiss ball?

Remmy

You make ice cream for people whille squatting on a swissball?now that sounds functional.:D

Teyla Emmagan

Do you mean 'politically correct'?!

itsallaboutheL

dave80 wrote: »

Hercs and raw prob ur best bet

Probably not.

dave80

itsallaboutheL wrote: »

Probably not.

Why not, turn up at hercs and squat on swiss ball and u won't be told to stop.... laught at tho

SanoVitae

Reggy wrote: »

squat on a swiss ball (without weight and with a spotting partner I might add)

That's only functional if you are training to be a clown at a circus....

Mellor

dave80 wrote: »

Why not, turn up at hercs and squat on swiss ball and u won't be told to stop.... laught at tho

It's not near Lucan for a start

dave80

Mellor wrote: »

It's not near Lucan for a start

It's the the closest gym where he:rolleyes:'ll get away wit his crazy workouts

desertcircus

Purely on a language point: health and safety rules have nothing whatsoever to do with political correctness. One is about imperfect rules designed to minimise the risk of injury; the other is about trying not to be grossly offensive to people for no good reason.

On your question, though: it's questionable whether there's a concentrated enough market for a gym like the one you describe to be a going concern. A huge proportion of gym income is derived from people who want the features you're not interested in...

Reggy

SanoVitae wrote: »

That's only functional if you are training to be a clown at a circus....

I knew I'd get hammered for that one. as I said, I have a spotting partner and its not like Im using a barbell on top of the swiss ball. Its not for building brute strength, its more for improving concentration, balance, core stability and foot work, what harm is there in that? there seems to be more smarmy replies here than people actually willing to answer the OP? thanks to those who have........

Hanley

WTF is 'functional training'?

grimloch

Hanley wrote: »

WTF is 'functional training'?

The training protocols of smug jackasses who sneer at isolation movements.

Remmy

grimloch wrote: »

The training protocols of smug jackasses who sneer at isolation movements.

Thats 90% of what I got from the op.

Kev M

As previously said, and it's the only answer you needed, Crossfit.

And 'functional training' LOLOLOL... those 'bulbous freaks' can't even balance on the big bouncy balls. Goddamn.

Reggy

No sneering going on here guys, really. I do as much isolated movements as the next, all Im saying is that I have incorporated exercises from other disciplines like gymnastics. I get why alot of people would have a contention with the term 'functional training' and I guess that is the wrong description for what is essentially just a mixture of plyometric circuits and balance training. In terms of what functional actually means, i guess that is person dependant, for someone like me who plays gaelic football and soccer, the training I do is tailored to optimise my strength and speed and balance in those particular sports. fair enough? apologies if I came across 'sneery' or whatever, just looking for suggestions for a place to train where i wont get chastised for doing something different. nowt wrong with that is there?

Reggy

Crossfit would be great, but its a little bit far from where I live tbh....

itsallaboutheL

Reggy wrote: »

Crossfit would be great, but its a little bit far from where I live tbh....

Crossfit Ireland
Crossfit Dublin
Crossfit North Dublin/ Performance Therapy Ireland

That last place looks fucking class, i'd actually train there.

Hanley

itsallaboutheL wrote: »

That last place looks fucking class, i'd actually train there.

That's just because they have jerk boxes.

G86

itsallaboutheL wrote: »

Crossfit Ireland
Crossfit Dublin
Crossfit North Dublin/ Performance Therapy Ireland

That last place looks fucking class, i'd actually train there.

So that's D4, D18, and Fingal? The OP is in Lucan.

There's the Atlas Gym in Clondalkin OP, that might be worth a look?

itsallaboutheL

G86 wrote: »

So that's D4, D18, and Fingal? The OP is in Lucan.

So he can travel a bit. I fail to see the problem.

Hanley

G86 wrote: »

So that's D4, D18, and Fingal? The OP is in Lucan.

There's the Atlas Gym in Clondalkin OP, that might be worth a look?

So you're giving out to the guy who's not from Dublin for offering suggestions as to the very few places in Dublin that would actually cater for the OPs needs?

G86

Hanley wrote: »

So you're giving out to the guy who's not from Dublin for offering suggestions as to the very few places in Dublin that would actually cater for the OPs needs?

The OP asked for locations near Lucan. I pointed out that the suggested locations aren't near Lucan.

I don't recall giving out to anyone.

Hanley

G86 wrote: »

The OP asked for locations near Lucan. I pointed out that the suggested locations aren't near Lucan.

I don't recall giving out to anyone.

Ok, well then, OP, there's nothing near Lucan. Hard luck.

d'Oracle

G86 wrote: »

So that's D4,

Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown.

G86

OP, no matter where you train you're going to run into people who have different views/opinions/directions in training and unfortunately some that are only to happy to interrupt your workout with them. TBH, it's unlikely you're going to find many places that will accomodate the kind of training you've described, at least not without a few stares thrown in your direction. I saw a guy in my gym today doing that kind of stuff, and I found myself looking at him wondering what the hell he was at, but it was more out of curiosity than anything else.

As posted, crossfit would probably work for you, but then that's class based, and you seem to have your own style of training/programming that you follow already. Also, all the boxes are a bit out of your way. I think you should just look for a smaller less commercial gym and work away on your own there, you'll get away with a lot more and generally be left to yourself in most places like that.

itsallaboutheL

G86 wrote: »

As posted, crossfit would probably work for you, but then that's class based, and you seem to have your own style of training/programming that you follow already. Also, all the boxes are a bit out of your way. I think you should just look for a smaller less commercial gym and work away on your own there, you'll get away with a lot more and generally be left to yourself in most places like that.

Crossfit North Dublin do open gym sessions.:P

Rossin

100-120e a month just to use a gym! you'd want to be doing the classes!

SanoVitae

OP - why don't you build your own garage gym ala Ross Enamait. See www.rosstraining.com.

He pitches it as "the premier site for functional strength and conditioning" so I believe it would be perfect for you and your training partner. He's an absolute beast too - so great tips to get from the site.

LightningBolt

Try Liffey Valley Fitness. It's on the Coldcut Road directly opposite B&Q in Liffey Valley Retail Park. Massive gym (haven't been in the place in over a year so can't comment on what it's currently like) but you should check it out.

Edit: Atlas Gym isn't great space wise so I doubt you'd have a lot of space required to do the exercises you're looking at.