10
Jul

Education- Staffs Uni Elite athlete’s take on Matrix.

Matrix fitness is focussing on Education this month and as we are Sponsoring the BUCS 2017 Conference this week we thought we would share what some of our education partners think about Matrix.

Student ambassadors and elite athletes at Staffordshire University have given us an insight into their training and requirements from a Education fitness facility. Our first insight is from Nikkisha Bailey.

Nikkisha Bailey’s passion & pro-sport is karate and she uses the facilities at Sir Stanley Matthews Sports Centre to increase her fitness and performance levels at Staffordshire University.                                                                                                                                                      Here’s what Nikkisha had to say…

Q. How has the new facility at SSMSC contributed to your student experience?

The new facility at SSMSC contributed to my student lifestyle, most importantly when I become stressed with anything. The treadmill especially, as it is one of the best technologically-advanced pieces of equipment alongside the U7XI upright cycle. It allows me to charge my phone while working out, keep in touch with social media, as well as watch my old time favourite program Emmerdale, while blowing off some steam.

Having said that, the facility at SSMSC from the first time going to the gym has been always clean. Which is what I love as it makes the Matrix equipment stand out more compared to any other previous company equipment I’ve used before.

  • What is your perception of the Matrix brand after having access to the new facility at Staffs Uni?

The perception I have on the Matrix brand after having access to the new facility at Staffordshire University is remarkable. This is because whenever I use any of the equipment in the gym, I almost believe I’m a professional (I know it sounds weird coming from an elite athlete) but with a well-known brand, you can’t help but think you are better than what you really are -which for me improves my self-esteem and confidence to want to do another rep even when I’m tired.

  • Is there any piece of kit (more than one if applicable) that has been instrumental in improving your performance as an athlete?

The piece of kit that has been instrumental in improving not only my performance, but my strength would be the Olympic Smith Machine. Within the karate industry, most of your power comes from your legs, even though, there is a lot of hand action to. The ability to drive forward, especially with a low stance and adding speed to any technique becomes tiring. So, doing squats/ different lunges with the weights at 55-60kg really helped to build back the strength I lost in my legs after a twisted knee injury. As they say in karate ‘train low to fight high’

  • Who is your role model and why?

If I had to pick one role model it would be Yildiz Aras (Turkish female fighter) because she has always been my old time favourite female fighter, the way she used to move was immaculate. No one could compare to her speed, strength and spirit. She has won countless European/ World championships as well as World games/cup and to top it off university games. A moment I will cherish forever, is when she stopped me in Germany after I just won the junior girls 16-17 +59kg and said, ‘I am an amazing fighter keep doing what I’m doing’, till this very day I remember that moment like it was yesterday.

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