Former kickboxing champ to open London HIIT gym

London’s Bankside will be the home to the latest HIIT-based gym, when former kickboxing world champion Christian Thomson opens his HiiT Studios concept on 21 March.

Fitted out with Keiser equipment, the gym will combine hi-tech facilities with science-based offerings such as live blood analysis to offer personal insights into metabolism.

Each member will also be assigned a personal coach at the gym, which will eschew contracts in favour of monthly tariffs, ranging from pay as you go to a £100 access-all-areas option.

“HiiT Studios is founded on the principle that all patrons should be able to train like an athlete," said Christian Thomson, a former 80kg kickboxing world champion who is founder and chief trainer of HiiT Studios. "That being said, we all lead such busy lives and struggle to fit everything in. This is why HiiT Studios will, amongst other classes, specialise in HIIT training, which will allow our patrons to fit in a high intensity cardio blast into a 20 minute session.”

The 465sq m site – targeted at professionals aged 25 to 50 – also offers bare-foot running classes and personalised nutrition delivery services, with plans to add a hypoxic chamber as part of a proposed expansion. Thomson has also hinted at additional sites in response to the strong market.