Zak Hines

Personal Trainer

All aboard the Gain Train choo choo

Hi! I’m Zak Hines. You may recognise me from documentaries such as ‘Honey, I got the kids strong as f*ck!’ or ‘3001: A Gym Odyssey’.

You’re likely reading this wondering if you should take the step and get yourself a coach

Someone to help you navigate the often confusing terrain of health and fitness. Well, you’re in luck cos’ you ain’t Frodo and this ain’t Mordor. What can seem daunting to newcomers and gym regulars alike becomes simple and approachable once you put the right principles into practice. That’s where I come in.

Now, a bit about me:

I’ve been a physical culture enthusiast for well over a decade. Before that, the only ‘exercise’ I got was running around Azeroth in World of Warcraft or headbanging to obnoxiously loud metal while raising a pint or two. I was out of shape physically, mentally, and emotionally, dealing with all the low confidence that comes with it. A chance gym visit with an old work colleague completely diverted what was looking like a pretty bleak trajectory.

From my very first lifting session, which left me unable to fully extend my arms for a week (I promise not to do that to you), I discovered a drive to find progress through consistent effort and self-discipline. Results didn’t come easily, so I immersed myself in the whats, whys, and hows of effective strength training, muscle building, and necessary conditioning.

The transition from Lardarse to Meathead is a thing of beauty

Balancing a demanding schedule in the brewing and hospitality industry, I applied everything I learned through plenty of trial and error, backed by help from the wider lifting community. Powerlifting was my first love: the predictable but punishing grind of chasing heavy 1-rep maxes clicked well with my more analytical, systematic side, while smashing past PBs cultivated some much-needed confidence and self-determination.

These days, my training revolves around the not-so-gentle art of grappling, and the brown belt I’ve earned is only part of that story. Keeping myself strong, mobile, and resilient in the gym allows me to express those attributes creatively on the mats. Feeling solid and assertive both during rolls and under the bar, I’m now a distant dream from the person I used to be.

So what does all that mean for me and you working together?

That drive stoked a passion to help others make their own transformation. Teaching you to move with strength, control, and self-belief is my top priority. Aesthetic goals are completely valid, but I’m a firm believer that form follows function. Proper, effortful training and intelligent programming are foundational to real progress, and it’s something I take serious pride in.

My preferred delivery method of unholy gains and abominable strength comes in the style of ‘Powerbuilding’.

(To my Grapplers: if you want to skip straight to how we can develop your strength and conditioning, scroll down!)

POWERBUILDING!? What the Ferrigno is that!? I hear you cry.

Powerbuilding is the beautiful bastard child of Powerlifting and Bodybuilding. It combines the heavy grind of chasing max-effort lifts across two to three primary strength movements with the high-volume pump and exercise variety of bodybuilding.

While this style of training won’t get you platform or stage ready for specialised competition, it’s an incredibly fun, engaging way to train year-round while yielding big returns in both strength AND aesthetics. Strength and muscle go hand in hand. They just need thoughtful placement in your training, session to session and block to block.

What I Aim to Deliver as a Coach

• Tailored, reactive programming: Delivered seamlessly through an intuitive training app.
• Regular check-ins & communication: Keeping you accountable, adaptable, and progressing week after week.
• Collaborative goal setting: Building a sustainable plan that actually fits your life and routine.
  Focus on fundamentals: Giving you the why behind your training so you can apply these principles for life.
• Time-efficient workouts: Cutting through the guesswork so every session is engaging and productive, meaning no more spinning your wheels.
• Technique refinement: Ironing out your movement patterns during in-person sessions or via video feedback.
• Practical nutrition & recovery guidance: Helping you build habits that fuel your training and support overall well-being.

To the Grapplers out there 

Balancing time on the mats with time under the bar takes fine-tuning, but the juice is very much worth the squeeze.

In my view, strength work is non-negotiable for grapplers. If you fell in love with Jiu-Jitsu later in life after a non-athletic background, just like I did, I can help you unlock your physical potential on the mats. I focus on effective, simple sessions that will slot into your training week, helping you to grow your athleticism while still having the energy for rolls and rumbles. That said, a committed 3-6 months where you focus on strength and conditioning while easing off on the mats will give you exponential returns in the long run.

The stronger, faster, more mobile, and better conditioned you are, the more options will open up in grappling… all while filling out your favourite rashguard a bit better.

Ready to get stuck in?

Get in touch. I’d be honoured and privileged to discuss your goals and how we can achieve them together. A heartfelt word of advice: even if you don’t end up training with me, reaching out to a coach was one of the best decisions I ever made on my own fitness journey, and it very likely could be for you, too.