February 2018 by Lisa J.
I discovered Erik offered self-defense classes a couple years ago and decided my daughter and I should at least know the basics. He is incredibly knowledgeable, an amazing teacher, and really fun to work with. He set up real life scenarios for us to work through and wore a protective suit so that we could actually practice on him using the SPEAR technique he taught us to defend ourselves. I've also taken his fighter fitness class which is a challenging and fun workout that incorporates fighting techniques with weight training and cardio. My husband and I also used Erik as our personal trainer to get in tip top shape for our wedding. He focused on areas of my body I wanted in optimal shape for the one shoulder, knee length dress I was wearing for my big day (arms, shoulders, and calves). At 45, I never looked better my whole life. Erik is quick to listen to your needs, concerns, and fitness goals and customizes personal workouts accordingly and gets you SERIOUS results. My mother, while in her 70's, went to Erik when she lived in the area and absolutely LOVED working out with him! The first time she went, he did a fitness assessment to get a baseline of her fitness level. She went down for a squat, but couldn't get up and fell over. By week 2, she was doing weighted squats with him. He is patient, but pushes you past what you think you are able to do. FYI, he ignores whining (I know this from personal experience) and when you complain/whine, expect to hear him tell you, "You'll be fine." And you are. His results are real and he tracks your progress. His gym is located in a detached garage from his home. It is a very professional set up with ample, top notch equipment. His gym is neat, clean, and super organized. I also think it's notable, he always plays great music while you workout. If you need a personal trainer, want to learn self-defense, or interested in fitness with an emphasis on combative techniques, search no more. Dare I say you won't find anyone in the area close to Erik's level of expertise. Give him a try and see for yourself!
