Looking to smash your fitness goals with an unconventional workout? Get some Olympic-level training at The Gentle Art Academy in Katong, where Suples Pro head coaches Brendan Foong and Ashley Chong will whip you into shape with its Suples Training systems, as well as Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) classes. Also deemed as Singapore’s first Suples Experience Centre, The Gentle Art Academy sets itself apart from other gyms and fitness studios by offering calorie-blasting, strength-building workouts with the Suples Bulgarian Bag.
For the uninitiated, the Suples Bulgarian Bag is a leather, crescent-shaped tool that is sand-weighted from eight-kilograms up to 38-kilograms, and has multiple grip options for various dynamic exercises to be safely performed. It's also used by athletes across all sports, including BJJ, wrestling, and rock climbing, to improve their cardio, strength, endurance and coordination.
The Olympic-level Suples Bulgarian Bag training programme was first introduced at The Gentle Art Academy as a means to stay connected with students and keep fit during the circuit breaker last year when no contact was allowed for BJJ classes. But due to popular demand, it has been developed into a complete programme of its own – even making its way into the kids' BJJ classes.
With similar Suples Bulgarian Bag programmes making waves in the US, Europe and South Korea, The Gentle Art Academy has no qualms that it'll take off in Singapore too. "This program is exciting for students because of the flexibility of its programming. No one can ever fully know what to expect in a class or fully prepare themselves for the (good) hurt that comes together with it," says head coach Brendan Foong.
The Gentle Art Academy is also the official Suples certification body in Singapore, and will soon introduce courses for fitness enthusiasts and instructors who are keen to get their basic Level 1 Suples Bulgarian Bag certification. For more information on the Suples Bulgarian Bag training programme, as well as BJJ classes for adults and kids, check out thegentleart.co.
