Jean-Pierre L. Schupp (FT) talks to STRENFLEX president Sylvia Gattiker (SG).
FT: Sylvia, you’ve been in charge since the beginning of March and I’m sure you have something to say to Fitness Tribune readers about STRENFLEX. First of all though, I’ll ask the most important question for gym owners: what benefits does STRENFLEX offer the fitness market?
SG: STRENFLEX actually offers a lot of advantages. STRENFLEX is probably the only universal training system which is a sport at the same time.
• It brings new members into the gyms and they find the excercises easy to understand and they can see definite improvements in their body, fitness, stamina, flexibility and strength. (See the 14 excercises required for STRENFLEX competition on pages 54 and 55).
• Long-time members will receive a boost to their motivation and will set themselves new general fitness training targets. During the many workshops that I have personally supervised over the last few months, this sort of request is typical: "losing weight can’t be the only reason for gym membership. To look better you must be able to reach other targets too".
• It also brings the fitness market a new image, for example, one of preventive fitness. STRENFLEX also forms the basis of the growing "40-plus" market. For the age groups 45+ or 60+ STRENFLEX is currently the only sport, aside from maybe open cross-countries, that can show the whole world what can be achieved at these ages with the help of correct and comprehensive fitness training in the gym.
• STRENFLEX also the answer to not only what health and fitness experts, but also to what the health-insurance industry recomends in respect of the preservation of strength, endurance and flexibility. It is a sport that does not require dieting, forbidden substances, unnatural sequences of movements or a bodywatching. Anyone can learn it, it’s easy to understand and - not to be underestimated - it’s fun. Everyone with whom I have spoken recently, particularly since FIBO, is really impressed with the idea, with the whole concept and with the comprehensive training. STRENFLEX doesen’t just require strength training but endurance training too. The fact that this is the correct method has been personally confirmed to me by "Dr. Cardio" Kenneth Cooper whom I met at IHRSA. There should therefore be hardly any negative expert opinion on STRENFLEX. We are on the right track with STRENFLEX.
FT: Although STRENFLEX was only lauched on the fitness market on March 1st you have already completed many workshops. Why are these workshops actually necessary?
SG: The workshops are needed on the one hand to get the purpose of the sport across, and on the other to demonstrate and practice the correct execution of the competition excercises.
FT: What sort of reaction do you get from the participants?
SG: They are all really enthusiastic because the competition agenda also doubles as the training programme in which all areas such as strength, muscular endurance, stamina, flexibility and coordination, in other words, motor activity, can be covered. It is my experience at every workshop that the spectators too, are so enthused by the training methods that they buy the competition rules straight away and register for the next workshop.
FT: Can STRENFLEX also be introduced in gyms as a group training programme?
SG: In principle yes, but it’s highly dependant on the instructor team in each of the gyms. STRENFLEX is not intended to compete with other types of group training in any way - on the contrary, there are many training methods e.g., Body-Pump which are actually highly suited as preparation for STRENFLEX competitions.
FT: The "STRENFLEX Fitness-Promo-Studio" offers gym owners the opportunity to become STRENFLEX members. What is the advantage of such a membership?
SG: Following a period of training Fitness-Promo-Studios can offer workshops and gym-championships in their own gyms. In this way, new and positive activities are brought to the gym which can also be used as advertising and marketing tools. One of the biggest advantages for the gyms, and one which should not be overlooked, is that it will minimise the still fluctuation in membership rates and provide excellent potential for attracting new members. Additionally, as I mentioned earlier, many new sport-minded people who have long been meaning to join a gym will be given that final "kick" into action that they needed.
FT: I owned a gym myself for years. During that time we had great success with gym-championships e.g., bench-press competitions or other disciplines, that were held in the gym. We know that many gyms worldwide hold the same or similar internal activities and championships. There are however, no national or international championships. Many insiders from our industry have been working for years on such a championship concept. During her visit to FitMess at the beginning of March, Sandra Orth, CEO from FIBO personally confirmed to me that she and some of her friends and colleagues wanted to develop a type of competition for gym-members years ago. On strength equipment manufacturer L+K’s stand at FIBO it was possible to watch a muscular endurance triathlon taking place. The trend is clearly moving towards competition sport for gym-members. But the challenge and opportunity of being measured against other competitors, also nationally and internationally, and competing for European or World titles is missing for all disciplines found in internal gym competitions. How do you view this?
SG: STRENFLEX, as opposed to other types of sport, is very varied and includes all areas. I’m convinced that STRENFLEX gym-championships provide a sound base from which future, well prepared athletes, will be able to take part in national and international championships. STRENFLEX, I emphasise once again, doesn’t only provide strength or endurance disciplines. - It’s all-encompassing, i.e., strength, endurance and the most important excercises that are mostly omitted - mobility. A gym should view STRENFLEX as a popular sport designed for everyone.
FT: The first STRENFLEX World championships are around the corner. On Saturday 15th June, they will take place at the "Festival del Fitness" in Rimini. You’ve already told me that some women have already qualified for these STRENFLEX championships during the workshops. I find it rather unusual that just by completing a workshop it’s possible to qualify for and compete in a World championship.
SG: Although STRENFLEX only exists since 1st March this year many athletes from different countries and continents have already qualified. It is very important for a new sport to be quickly recognised on the international scene. I would like to make it absolutely clear however, that it will only be possible this year to jump straight to international level following completion of a workshop (which is, in effect, a form of qualifying training). From 2003, qualification will follow this format: qualification will be achieved via national gym and/or country and/or Cup championships. When the competitor achieves a certain number of points he/she has qualified for the European or World championships.
FT: This year is only open to women. Why is that?
SG: There was simply not enough time to organise men’s championships too. From 2003 men will also get their chance to compete in STRENFLEX. We’re still not quite sure whether the men’s and women’s championships will take place together or separately.
FT: During FIBO I was asked by many exhibitors whether, as publisher of Fitness Tribune, I’ve now lost my neutrality, and if I will now actively begin to promote and sell STRENFLEX equipment. I would be grateful if, as president of STRENFLEX, you could explain the situation.
SG: I would like to emphasise one point in particular - that STRENFLEX is independent and neutral. This means that we are working together with all organisations, associations, trade-fair and convention organisers etc. STRENFLEX is also unbiased towards equipment brands, gym chains, training organisations etc, and towards independent gyms or fitness-chains or the local market. STRENFLEX is perfect for gyms where there is more and more free weight training. In gyms where there is no weight training area, people interested in STRENFLEX will need to purchase suitable additional weight training equipment from firm X or Y.
FT: Does that mean then, that preparing for STRENFLEX competitions will only be possible in gyms that have a weight training area?
SG: STRENFLEX supports the "back to the roots" trend in the fitness industry. This means going back to integral, co-ordinative training as with free weight training. But all gyms, including those without weight training areas, can be used by their members as training centres for preparing for STRENFLEX competition training. I want to mention too, that STRENFLEX also requires endurance and flexibility training, whether on an ergometer, at indoor cycling lessons, treadmill training, jogging, walking etc. Stretching courses and others that offer mental training are also to be recommended.
FT: And what is STRENFLEX planning as far as selling its own-brand equipment?
SG: Naturally, STRENFLEX is negociating with different training equipment manufacturers. We require an international distribution network comprising of active dealerships who can supply STRENFLEX-specific equipment. But each gym should really be in a position to provide a suitable range of equipment for its members. Coming back to you though, I should mention that although STRENFLEX was your idea and that we worked-out the details together, you have otherwise nothing to do with STRENFLEX. The STRENFLEX organisation and I are happy that we receive active support through your media and know that you will continue to act from your neutral position as initiator and consultant.
FT: I hope that your statement has now clarified the relationship between myself and STRENFLEX. How does the STRENFLEX sporting organisation see the market for STRENFLEX as a popular sport?
SG: The market certainly exists - let me quote a few figures to illustrate my point. Currently, around 3.5 million women are actively training at gyms in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. I’m sure that the STRENFLEX potential is at least 5%, i.e. 175,000 women, who are directly or indirectly interested in participating in championships as STRENFLEX competitors. So the potential number of STRENFLEX competitors worldwide can easily be worked-out using this as a basis.
FT: You just gave the figure of 175,000 as a guide to the number of active STRENFLEX participants just in the German speaking areas of Europe. You can work out similar figures for the around 7,500 gyms which exist in the three countries you mentioned. If only 10%, that’s 750 gyms, were interested in becoming "STRENFLEX Fitness-Promo-Studios", and they were to offer gym-championships, there would be a potential 3,750 athletes who could qualify for national or international STRENFLEX championships. And that’s a conservative estimate, based on only 5 members per gym entering. Or more optimistically, if you assume that the 175,000 potential competitors are divided between 75% of the gyms the result per gym would be around 31 gym members interested in STRENFLEX (175,000 divided by 5,625). This is still a realistically achievable figure. It therefore makes good sense for STRENFLEX Promo-Studios to also become STRENFLEX members.
SG: In the second half of the year the gym Promo-Packages will be ready and they will be introduced to the gyms during seminars. It’s then up to the gym managers if they recognise the advantages and go with the times, and actively move to implement STRENFLEX in their gyms. I can only point out the following: there is only a WIN - WIN situation - not just for the "STRENFLEX Fitness-Promo-Studios", STRENFLEX members and for the STRENFLEX sporting organisation, but for the whole of the fitness industry.
FT: Which STRENFLEX activities are still to be held this year?
SG: There are still many workshops and further referee courses (see pages 120 and 121) to be held, and in October the European championships will take place in Germany. A European or World-Cup is also planned for Austria.
FT: What’s the situation with national championships?
SG: The women’s national championships will be held for the first time in 2003. We’ll start with the men in 2003 in the same way as we did with the women in 2002. I.e. we’re going to start on World Championships for both sexes. The time and place are already set - between March 27th and 30th in Miami, Florida.
FT: Sylvia, I wish you and STRENFLEX continuing success for the future. Until the next issue of FT.
SG: Thank you. I hope we’ve been able to clear-up a few issues during the interview. By the way, I will be representing STRENFLEX at the 7th Sports Explosion / 1st Wellness-Explosion in Stuttgart between June 7th and 9th, and will be available personally for further information. More detailed information is also available on our website at www.strenflex.org. Anyone interested in workshops, competition or referee courses can contact me at any time by e-mail at info@strenflex.org or by telephone on +41 1 883 73 91.
no. 78 / pp. 50-56