GFC Muay Thai gym in Bury reopens after support from members

Jodie Higson and her partner Luke Phillips, who run GFC Muay Thai at Bright Street Mill on Bright Street, have praised supporters for their generosity and hard work.

Inclusivity is at the heart of the gym, which offers sessions to women of all levels of fitness that could help them protect themselves if they face domestic violence. 

Trainer Jodie said: “It is a problem, and I hope members come away from the gym with the knowledge and confidence to confront these issues if they are ever to arise.

“Most people start unfit so they don’t need to worry about that, everyone goes at their own pace."

Jodie Higson and her partner Luke Phillips (Image: Supplied) Jodie says the sessions can also help women deal with everyday stresses, including how “bills, food, shopping, career and remaining the central point of the family” can be a "nightmare sometimes".

She added: “It is great to see women come in here and punch a bag and take out all the stress they have built up over the week.

"To take all those frustrations out and be in good company while doing it.

“GFC has a community, it's like a second family to us. We cannot thank our supporters enough.

"They came and helped build this new facility, literally."

Members of the women's only group (Image: Supplied) Jodie laughs as she recalls the new gym's building process.

She said: “We had members come here in their own time to help build this place, carrying cement and pushing wheelbarrows.

"They wouldn’t have done that if they didn’t respect us as a business or as individuals."

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Inside the gym (Image: Supplied) Although the gym is ready, there is ongoing work to develop a new kitchen area.

The female-only classes are held on Tuesdays at 8pm and Saturdays at 10.30am.

Enquiries can be made by emailing luke@gfcmuaythai.co.uk.