Core Health & Fitness is the world’s largest privately-held marketer and distributor of commercial fitness solutions to health clubs, community recreational centers, hotels, government, educational facilities and more. They specialise in cardio, strength, group cycling and high-intensity interval training (HIIT) equipment. Core Health and Fitness’s product brands include StairMaster, Schwinn, Nautilus, Star Trac and Throwdown. With headquarters in Vancouver, Washington, Core is responsible for global manufacturing, sales and support with offices in North and South America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East.
Michael Bruno is the Founder, Chairman and CEO of Core Health and Fitness, Land America Ltd and World Sporting Goods. An asian manufacturing pioneer, Bruno was also the first US citizen to launch a successful fitness equipment company manufacturing in China and exporting goods around the globe. Today his combined companies are the largest privately owned conglomerate of commercial fitness equipment brands in the world including Schwinn, Stairmaster, Nautilus and Startrac.
Bruno is also heavily involved in philanthropic work around the world, including his charity work and financial assistance to disaster relief, disease research and youth support causes.
For Rai Fazio, boxing is in his blood. Trained by his father Joe, Rai could throw a punch by the time he was walking. The Australian native began boxing in 1972 with his first fight at just four years of age. Competing for well over a decade, Fazio became State Champion, Golden Gloves Champion and in his early teenage years, Australian National Champion. At the age of 20, he began assisting his father in training both fighters and those looking to learn boxing for fitness.
Fazio’s knowledge of boxing, as well as his drive for success, lead him to create a world first in the fight and fitness industry in 2012 with Boxmaster. “With the nature of boxing training and the uniqueness of the new product, I knew Boxmaster had to first and foremost be 1. Tough And 2. Legitimate.” Says Fazio.
Boxmaster bridges the gap between old-fashioned punch bags and a trainer holding focus pads “Boxmaster is designed to do the hard work for you,” says Fazio “whilst allowing trainers to focus on their clients’ form and safety, the Boxmaster creates the ultimate boxing training station”.
The key to its design is the spring system attached to each pad. These springs have been designed to replicate punching a focus pad by offering a slight “give” in the pads upon impact. Each pad is positioned specifically to replicate different styles of punching, allowing you to throw any punch or combination of punches. The result is a significant reduction in the risk of injury to both the members and the instructor whilst delivering an unparalleled boxing experience.
Fazio’s development of Boxmaster did not stop there. A robust education and programming module were also established. Followed by the release of the home studio version, Fightmaster, in 2019.
“As a studio operator, my biggest concern was that my members came away having had a great experience regardless of who taught the class. The same principle applied for the clients working out at home. In creating this education and programming, I wanted to ensure that each component of the experience: machine setup, familiarization and workout rounds, could be replicated in a consistent and predictable manner resulting in a great workout every time”. Fazio demonstrates each round and combination, step by step, working alongside the client. Clients can choose to work out in real-time with the trainer using an in-app timer or pause each round and work at their own pace. “The app allows clients to build a workout that’s right for them,” says Fazio “The more exertion you put into the combo the harder it is. You can use the in the app timer for a 2-minute round or set your own intervals. By breaking up the boxing with active recovery rounds like bodyweight exercises, walking or jogging on the spot in between you can get a great whole-body workout”.
Boxmaster has drawn a cult following from some of the biggest Boxers, UFC fighters, athletes and performers in the industry with Conor McGregor recently taking to his social media to thank Boxmaster during the Pandemic. “I love this machine it’s saved me during lockdown. The absorption, plus the separation of the pads makes it quite a unique and beautiful device to thump around”. Click here to read the full review.
The extensive list also includes Undefeated UFC champion Khabib Nurmagomedov, Olympic Boxer Anthony Joshua, Chris Eubank Jr, Actors Robert De Niro and Hugh Jackman just to name a few.
After the launch of Fightmaster in 2019, Fazio began work on designing a non-contact Boxing and Fitness program for Parkinson’s patients. After witnessing the positive effects Boxmaster and Fightmaster had for his own clients suffering from the illness, Fazio began to consider the possible long-term benefits. Although there had been some attempts at integrating boxing with rehabilitation programs before, there was yet to be anything extensive backed by scientific research. In 2020 Fazio teamed up with Professor David Blacker and the Perron Institute for Neurological and Translational Science to begin planning a clinical trial to determine what effect a non-contact Boxing and Fitness program using Fightmaster would have on Parkinson’s patients over a 12-week period. This trial is set to start in early 2021.
Fazio is also currently developing a range of new boxing and MMA products for home and studio use. Be sure to sign up to the newsletter below to stay tuned!
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