The Fitness Explorer

My name is Darryl Edwards, founder of Fitness Explorer Training.  I am a fully qualified REPS Level 4 Personal Trainer (specialising in Movement Therapy).  I also work as a Nutritionist focussing on Paleo/Primal Nutrition for disease prevention, health, body composition, performance and well-being.  I am based in London, England.  

I have certifications which include:

• Gym Jones L3
• MovNat Certifed Trainer (MCT)
• Crossfit;
• C2 Indoor Rowing;
• Kettlebell Strength & Conditioning
• Premier Sports Conditioning Instructor
• POSE running L1 (coached by Dr Nikolai Romanov);
• Olympic Lifting.  

My main focus is Natural Movement, Evolutionary Fitness and Paleo Nutrition.  But I have lots of influences.  I have also had the pleasure of being coached by Frank Forencich (Exuberant Animal), Erwan Le Corre (MovNat) and Robb Wolf (The Paleolithic Solution) leading lights in this fascinating future/past of well-being.  I also enjoy the work of Mark Sisson, Art De Vany and other inspirational figures in the world of primal fitness and lifestyle.

I combine all of the above influences - to teach groups and conduct one-to-one training sessions, focussing on bodyweight exercises, strength/conditioning and play.

Philosophy:

In terms of my philosophy - a few years ago I watched the movie 300 and was fascinated by the training programme these guys undertook and the Spartan 300 challenge.

At the time their trainer Mark Twight, from the legendary GymJones remarked that the actors work as if they were preparing for battle.  Not just training in the arts of handling a sword and shield, but general preparedness for anything.  

From that moment on I viewed my training requirements, as being prepared for anything - and looked to vary training as much as possible with suitable rest, nutrition, recovery and stress management.

I now believe that fitness is a journey, not a destination.  The process is equally if not more important than the result.  

Fitness is not a type of gym class, quick-fix supplement, elitist regime or a prescribed list of activities.  These may help us to get 'fitter' but not fit.  Fitness is not about form, i.e. how good one looks.  It's about function: meaning the ability to perform everyday and occasional extraordinary tasks efficiently and effectively.  It includes being fit in the mind and body, and is ultimately about health and well-being. 

I was like most children prior to the playstation generation.  I played outdoors a lot, enjoyed sports, for competition (or fun) and enjoyed being active.  Then onto adulthood, I sat behind a desk as a computer programmer and everything slowed down...    

Several years ago I decided that was going to change, my increase in activity would work around modern constraints.  I was just going to explore more movement, brief periods of peak output with low-level movement that wouldn't lead to chronic levels of stress production and a lack of motivation.

"Movement is Medicine" -- anon.

The Modern Age

With the use of current forms of transport, communication, labour/time-saving devices (and even conventional gym equipment) - these restrict or reduce our requirement to move.  We often feel we have no choice, many people have to work and live in the real-world of time constraints, motivational challenges and to explore or question the options available at their disposal.

We are bombarded with artificial foods, toxic substances and marketing budgets telling us what is healthy on a daily basis.  Food has become a derivative by-product of itself rather than the wholesome goodness that naturally exists.  Refined, modified and artificially enhanced to the detriment of replenishing and re-fuelling the body.

The Antidote

However there are things we can do to minimise the negative impacts of the modern age.  This is what I intend to investigate.  

This blog is about me sharing my journey, what I think works and what I think doesn't.  This doesn’t mean MY lifestyle will work for you.  But that it will hopefully trigger enough curiosity for you to explore the type of lifestyle that leads to better activity choices and healthier decisions.

Sometimes we want to make this more complicated then they need to be.  Where as in most cases the answer is simple.  Eat real food, lift heavy things and move with brief intermittent periods of very high intensity and lots of play...

The Scope

My terms of reference are vast.  I will experiment, play with different types of movement, from dance, to strength and conditioning, attempt different types of sports, try modern forms of urban movement such as parkour - you name it I want to try it.  Some things I enjoy, some I am good at - many areas I am not so good at, other things I may despise.  But does it really matter?  Variety is the spice of life and I am happy being a generalist when it comes to movement.  I want to share the happiness and health benefits that derive from this exploration.  Not using movement as a form of indirect punishment or as a specialism to the detriment of other areas of fitness or life.

I aim to teach as much as I am willing to learn.  I recognise the collaborative efforts of many to make this venture possible and I wish to find my own path.  It is unlikely my views won't change in future.  But I am having fun with this primal exploration.  As Einstein once said:

"The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing."
-- Albert Einstein