-TopEnd Fitness expands brand with training centre at GMR&SC complex
A vital area that has been deficient in the local sports environment is professional specialised training but TopEnd Fitness Systems has in the last few years pioneered and developed that industry.
TopEnd has now expanded and functions at the Guyana Motor Racing and Sports Club ideally located on Albert, Thomas Lands close to the National Park. The newly renovated GMR&SC gym is furnished with all modern exercise equipment and a full complement of competent instructors. On the second floor there is a convenient open area for the TopEnd instructors to efficiently execute each session. The new TopEnd location also offers specific massages including corrective massages and massages to enhance athletes’ recovery.
The visionary behind theTopEnd brand Kezqweyah Yisrael told Stabroek Sport that he feels the brand is now fully capable of addressing the needs of Guyana’s elite athletes and fitness enthusiasts. Yisrael, who has been the personal trainer of Nicolette Fernandes for over two years, helping her to come back from serious injury, said that the training TopEnd provides is ideal for elite athletes.
“For athletes we attempt to provide sports specific conditioning to help them get to their optimum fitness in their respective sport,” Yisrael said.
Yisrael has also worked with the West Indies Cricket team, Guyana National junior squash side for just over a year helping them prepare to win their seventh and eighth overall titles at the Caribbean Area Squash Association (CASA) Junior Squash Championships.
The local fitness guru said that TopEnd’s approach is full circuit, and they also collaborate with coaches of athletes to ensure all the athletes’ needs are addressed. Currently, clients of TopEnd include several national cricketers including Leon Johnson, most of the national squash players, hockey players, national basketball sensation Akeem Kanhai and a few elite swimmers. Yisrael said that at the moment, there are no track and field athletes but he hopes to work with a few very soon while working along with sprint and distance coaches to help local athletes develop.
The Process
The facility is open six days a week, with the exception being Saturday with convenient opening hours to accommodate members. While TopEnd is ideal for elite athletes, Yisrael said not all athletes are ideal for the type of training that they provide. The 32-year-old former division one basketball player said that TopEnd provides a service only for serious athletes who are committed to excelling and are willing to work hard to accomplish their goals.
With that policy, an interview with instructors and a detailed description of their goals and performances that they aspire to better, are require to be submitted before joining. Athletes are then asked to commit to working consistently with the specifically-tailored programme to attain their goals. One of the latest athletes to join TopEnd is two-time Olympian Niall Roberts who has already began working towards qualifying for the 2016 Games in Brazil.
“When I came home from London I said to myself I can’t be doing the same thing over and over and expecting difficult results, something has to change,” Roberts said.
The 21 year-old Roberts said that he had heard other athletes such as Fernandes speak of the superior fitness training offered by Yisrael at TopEnd but it was not until he experienced it, that he realised how revolutionary it was. After penning his goals and aspirations, Roberts is now able to complete his dry land strength and power training with several modifications at TopEnd.
“I mean I’ve only been doing it for about two weeks but you can already feel the difference in the water. From the first day I started working out here, there was a pool of my sweat around me after like the first 10 minutes,” Roberts said.
The support, guidance and motivation by instructors at TopEndwas also identified as crucial factors by Roberts. He also identified an innovative piece of equipment that he experience at TopEnd that blew him away.
“I’ve used this thing call the TRX and it really engages your core and that is very important in swimming, I think it is a fantastic piece of equipment to use,” Roberts added.
Yisrael said that he is also working on developing Roberts’ explosiveness, endurance and his recovery. According to Yisrael teenage Olympic swimmer Britany Van Lange is also expected to commence training early next month while Goodwill medallist Athena Gaskin is already a member.Yisrael hopes to attract more serious athletes, stating the TopEnd is very cost effective for athletes and can work out programmes to meet each athlete’s needs and capabilities.
