The top 11 personal trainers climbing the ladder in Brisbane’s north revealed
From being called ‘Christmas ham legs’ to travelling 160km across the UK on foot carrying 24kg kettlebells – here are 11 of the fittest personal trainers in Brisbane’s north. SEE THE LIST
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North Brisbane gyms are back and booming.
We put the call out for nominations for the fittest personal trainer in Brisbane’s north and we received some amazing responses.
From ex-army men to kickboxers the fitness world has no limit to success.
Here are some of the best personal trainers breaking records and changing lives in the north Brisbane region.
View the full list below:
JASON TOAN
Jason Toan is a 28-year-old gym coach, who has been working at FITAZFK in Kangaroo Point for the past 18 months.
From Belfast, Northern Ireland, the fitness coach found his passion for working out when he was seven after he started boxing at a local gym while also playing soccer.
“My dad would take me to the gym three nights a week, I went on to apply for the military at 16 and this is where my training really took off,” Mr Toan said.
Mr Toan has competed in several fitness and sport competitions over the years, including CrossFit, strong first kettlebell competitions, powerlifting and Olympic lifting.
“I love a challenge and love pushing myself to the limit,” he said.
“My love for helping people improve their fitness and mindset is the only thing I love and enjoy more than putting myself to the test.”
Some of his highest personal records include a 245kg back squat, 290kg dead lift, 147.5kg clean and jerk and a 115kg snatch, 50 calories on the assault bike in just 39 seconds and a 500m row in 75 seconds, which is just two seconds off the world record.
Mr Toan also has a reputation in his home country for his commitment to reaching his fitness goals.
“I once walked 103 miles from Belfast to Dublin carrying two 24kg kettlebells all to prove a point,” he said.
“Safe to say that those 24kg kettlebells felt like a tonne not even quarter the way through.”
BYRON STAUNTON SMITH
Byron Staunton Smith is a 28-year-old personal trainer from UBX Aspley.
Mr Smith has a had a life changing transition after losing 60kg in just 18 months.
“ I reached a point where I was 130kg, super unhappy, unable to keep up with the guys at work, and unsure how I ended up at this point. I knew at this point I need to make a change,” Smith said.
This change in body image provoked a change in occupation as well, with the construction worker changing to work as a personal trainer.
“This is my passion, it’s what I live and breathe, and I also know the highs and lows of what it takes to make a shift. I truly believe everyone has their own story,” he said.
The 28-year-old hopes to inspire others with his journey:
“My philosophy is if I can do it, anyone can,” he said.
Some of Mr Smith’s personal bests in fitness include completing the Spartan 5km obstacle course as well as the Raw challenge on the Gold Coast and reaching a running distance of 21km.
At the beginning of his weight loss journey he struggled to climb Mount Coolum but after a few years he returned to the mountain to reclaim victory.
Mr Smith said he had a love and passion for his career as a personal trainer.
“I wake up every single day grateful for the opportunity I now get to help people change their lives,” he said.
DAVE NAPPER
Dave Napper has been the owner of the Brisbane North Barbell Gym for the last eight years with 20 years of fitness experience behind him.
The 35-year-old’s commitment to the gym started at the age of 15, when he became inspired by the big screen actors.
“I was that typical weak, skinny kid throughout school who dreamt of getting big like Arnie (Arnold Schwarzenegger) having seen too many action movies while growing up,” Mr Napper said.
Some of Napper’s personal bests in the gym include a 320kg squat, 187.5kg bench press and a 331kg dead lift in competition.
Mr Napper’s goal is to educate and help improve others who are on the fitness train.
“I wanted to share my passion and enthusiasm for training with others and help them avoid the many mistakes I had made during years of trial and error with training,” he said.
MATTHEW SKATE
Matthew Skate is the owner of Resultz Gym in Everton Hills with a background in the army.
The 48-year-old started his love for fitness when he enlisted in the army at a young age.
“Keeping fit and exercising regularly has become part of my DNA from a young age and couldn't imagine not doing it,” Mr Skate said.
“When I joined the army I always was in awe of the army physical trainers and how challenging it was to get into that trade.”
After 20 years in the army, Mr Skate claims his experience led him to run a gym a little differently to others.
“We strive on creating a solid community, where those things we do outside of training are just as important as the training itself,” he said.
“Things like social activities outside of training, mental health support and making every individual feel welcome and part of the team.”
Some of Skate’s fitness achievements include being the 2008 Queensland Marathon Champion (finishing in 2 hours and 35 minutes) as well as representing Queensland on the national and international stage, including in races in Japan and being the Australian Defence Force marathon champion for several years.
AARON JOHN HAMMET
Aaron John Hammet is a 32-year-old personal trainer at U-FIT 24/7 in Keperra, where he has worked for the past four months.
Mr Hammet struggled with his weight in his younger years and turned to the gym when he was 16, where he found his passion for fitness and training,
“I love helping people thrive and I love training, so I thought personal training ticks both of those boxes,” he said.
Some of Mr Hammet’s personal bests include being the fittest player at the South Sydney Rabbitohs in 2010 after recording a beep test score of 14.1.
In his short time at U-FIT, Mr Hammet has also managed to hold the record for gaining the most amount of clients within eight weeks.
JESSICA NURZALFA KARIM
Jessica Nurzalfa Karim is a “student turned trainer” now teaching kickboxing at Brisbane Fitness Empire in Stafford.
The 27-year-old started her journey in 2006 after her mum prompted her to join a kickboxing class.
“I passed out after 15 minutes,” Ms Karim said.
“Fast forward to today, I am now a student turned trainer, who has completed fight training with the help of my mentor Crystal Gibson.”
Mr Karim has scored many achievements already during her career including completing two months of intense fight training, earning a Spartan Race Sprint Finisher medal and a Super Finisher medal as well as completing three, three-minute rounds of sparring with a man triple her height (155cm).
Ms Karim said she hoped her unique fitness journey would encourage other young girls to explore kickboxing.
“I want to help teen girls build their confidence and self-esteem with kickboxing and learning how to defend themselves in a safe environment,” she said.
NICK MAUDSLEY
Nick Maudsley is a personal trainer at WINKfit Gym, who can’t wait for ‘weightlifting Crocs’ to be a thing.
“If they make a pair of weightlifting crocs, I’d be the first to buy them,” Mr Maudsley said.
The personal trainer and self-confessed wine expert said he loved being active.
Some of Mr Maudsley’s personal bests in the gym include a 262.5kg dead lift, a 230kg squat, a 140kg bench press, 14 chin-ups and 40 calories on the assault bike in just 20 seconds.
SONJA MAXWELL
Sonja Maxwell is a personal trainer at Body Fit Training in Aspley.
The 37-year-old started her fitness journey shortly after leaving school but kept it on the backburner while she worked her way up in the corporate world before deciding to make fitness her career.
“Two years ago I decided to brush the dust of my fitness certificate and opened up my own group training facility,” Ms Maxwell said.
Ms Maxwell said she encouraged anyone who was willing, to start their fitness journey today.
“You have nothing without your health,” she said.
“So many people are intimidated to go to the gym but I have built a community where everyone is welcome and we all walk the journey together.
“Just show up and do whatever you can but don’t stop moving.”
LACHLAN PIERCE GLOVER
Lachlan Pierce Glover is a personal trainer at BodyFit Training in Aspley.
The 23-year-old has built a reputation for his body physique, especially his legs.
“I have been told I have Christmas hams for legs and that I need to put them away sometimes,” Mr Glover said.
Mr Glover fell in love with fitness at a young age through competitive swimming and school sport.
“After noticing the health benefits associated with consistent exercise, I became addicted to forever pursuing an active, healthy and enjoyable lifestyle,” he said.
He said he also took health very seriously in his career.
“Health and fitness has been, and always will be, a major component of my everyday life,” Mr Glover said.
Glover’s personal bests in the gym include back squatting 182.5kg for three repetitions and deadlifting more than twice his own body weight.
DOMINIC MARCOMBE
Dominique Marcombe is a health and fitness coach at Jetts Gym in Lutwyche whose love for fitness expanded throughout high school and university when he found an “obsession” with nutrition, bodybuilding and mental fortitude.
Mr Marcombe said he believed fitness is a “you versus you” mentality, which brings you success in personal achievements.
Mr Marcombe highlights the importance of improving both physically, but more importantly mental health he puts into his brand when training people in fitness.
“I want to build a trusted fitness brand that helps people unlock their true potential and raise their standards. Particularly as it relates to nutrition, physical and mental fitness,”Mr Marcombe said.
His personal bests in the fitness world include a 180kg dead lift, a 100kg chest bench press, a time of three hours and 50 minutes in a running marathon.
The 29-year-old also runs outdoor bootcamps for women in the Lutwyche area.
KIA MOINI
Kia Moini is a personal trainer at Goodlife Health Clubs in Carseldine.
The 28-year-old is also an accredited sports nutritionist and teaches certificates three and four in fitness to mentor aspiring fitness professionals.
Mr Moini trained for more than 11 years and believes he will continue down this path for his entire life.
“I am proud that I have been very consistent staying active, fit and in relatively good shape most of my life,” Mr Moini said.
“I will most likely keep this up until the rest of my life so that I can stay independent and continue to do the things that I love.”
Moini’s personal bests include 30 unbroken pull-ups and a 210kg dead lift at 75kg body weight.
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