A MARTIAL arts to music workout started by a local couple is heading to Canada.

Ben and Emma Robinson, from near Wheldrake, set up Fight Fit Combat Fitness six years ago with one class in Wheldrake Village Hall. Now more than 2,500 people take part in the high impact hour-long fitness classes every week at a number of venues in York and the surrounding area.

One of their regular class goers, 38-year-old Holly Barritt, from Riccall, is emigrating with her family to Canada. As part of the big move Holly is training to become a qualified Fight Fit Combat Fitness instructor so she can run classes in her new home of Midland, Ontario.

Commenting on her new role, Holly said: “I have been doing Fight Fit Combat Fitness for two years and have loved every minute. The classes were a massive help to get me through a really tough year. My stress and anxiety levels were through the roof and Fight Fit Combat Fitness became a huge part of the tension and stress relief that I desperately needed.

“The instructor training is tough! Ben and Em make instructing the classes look so easy. I’m so excited to have the opportunity to take Fight Fit Combat Fitness to Canada.”

To qualify as a Fight Fit Combat Fitness instructor, you need to complete an intense two-day programme that includes both practical and theory-based assessments. The Fight Fit Combat Fitness team share their knowledge, skills and expertise to ensure the Fight Fit experience is replicated wherever it is taught, be it in the community or in a licensed gym or health club.

Speaking about Fight Fit Combat Fitness’ international debut, Ben said: “It was always our dream to have other instructors delivering the class so more people in the UK can enjoy the Fight Fit experience. The fact that Fight Fit is now going to be rolled out internationally is amazing.”

As well as Fight Fit Combat Fitness going to Canada, to help cater for the increasing demand for classes in Yorkshire the team is working with gyms and leisure centres throughout the UK on a licensing arrangement to enable the classes to be enjoyed by gym and leisure centre members.