It seems like the Brits are growing a taste for a good old dust-up. For instance, over the past few years fighting-inspired fitness franchises like UFC Gym, 9Round and Matt Fiddes Martial Arts have either announced plans to set up shop in the UK or grown their existing networks tremendously. And the competition just got fiercer with HITIO Gyms, the Norwegian gym franchise, just announcing it’s going to open its first franchised gym in the UK this summer.”
By combining traditional gym environment with martial arts training where families are welcome, HITIO has bulked up 32 chains across Norway in less than 20 years. Having announced its plans to expand across the rest of the world earlier this year, HITIO has now unveiled that its first new British gym will open in South London this summer. It will be owned by fitness facilities investment group BGB Fitness. It will continue HITIO’s popular combat sports training, including taekwondo, Brazilian jiu-jitsu and Thai boxing. HITIO Tiger, a martial arts based training programme for five to seven-year-olds, will also be available. Like previous chains, the new gym will also provide Matrix Fitness’ state of the art equipment to get you in shape.
Commenting on the new franchise, Matthew Blair, director of BGB Fitness, said: “The concept addresses a real gap in the market by targeting both adults and children – this is something that we feel very strongly about and with child obesity an ever-increasing concern for the UK, HITIO Gyms are a fantastic way of engaging families in health and fitness by providing a real sense of community that is often missing from franchised gyms.”
We’re expecting to”see more HITIO franchises alive and kicking globally very soon.
